This isn't THE Disney streaming service though is it? That's expected to launch next year, with a rumoured moniker of 'Disney Play'.
The "Disney Play" name is a result of a reporter at
Variety
misinterpreting what Bob Iger did say in a telephone meeting. (
Variety
have since amended the report in question.)
Jeremy Darroch outlines that Sky intends to reduce the volume of niche movies it buys and reduce it lineup of linear entertainment channels. What channels could face the axe? He has to be talking about Sky owned/part-owned channels as Sky can't exactly cut other linear channels as they operate an open EPG https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sky-ceo-jeremy-darroch-says-he-intends-to-stick-around-1202993815/
Jeremy Darroch outlines that Sky intends to reduce the volume of niche movies it buys and reduce it lineup of linear entertainment channels. What channels could face the axe? He has to be talking about Sky owned/part-owned channels as Sky can't exactly cut other linear channels as they operate an open EPG
https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sky-ceo-jeremy-darroch-says-he-intends-to-stick-around-1202993815/
I reckon Sky 2 could be at risk, and maybe some of the +1 channels.
There's also similarities between some of the Sky and NBC Universal channels, for example Sky Atlantic and Sky Witness have similarities with Universal and Syfy, and Real Lives has similaries with E!. I expect the Sky channels will remain operationally separate from the NBC Universal channels to begin with, but I expect that will change at some point, which could result in channel closures.
If they're looking to cut down on the number of acquired films, this could also result in the closure of some of the Sky Cinema channels, especially when you consider changing viewer habits with increasing on demand (Sky Store) viewing, which was the main reason behind the closure of the Sky Box Office channels. I reckon Sky Premiere +1 will be one of the first to go.
Jeremy Darroch outlines that Sky intends to reduce the volume of niche movies it buys and reduce it lineup of linear entertainment channels. What channels could face the axe? He has to be talking about Sky owned/part-owned channels as Sky can't exactly cut other linear channels as they operate an open EPG
https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sky-ceo-jeremy-darroch-says-he-intends-to-stick-around-1202993815/
I reckon Sky 2 could be at risk, and maybe some of the +1 channels.
There's also similarities between some of the Sky and NBC Universal channels, for example Sky Atlantic and Sky Witness have similarities with Universal and Syfy, and Real Lives has similaries with E!. I expect the Sky channels will remain operationally separate from the NBC Universal channels to begin with, but I expect that will change at some point, which could result in channel closures.
If they're looking to cut down on the number of acquired films, this could also result in the closure of some of the Sky Cinema channels, especially when you consider changing viewer habits with increasing on demand (Sky Store) viewing, which was the main reason behind the closure of the Sky Box Office channels. I reckon Sky Premiere +1 will be one of the first to go.
I’m pretty sure that Sky’s three main entertainment channels will be unaffected anyway. Pick and Challenge possibly too.
Sky Arts was rumoured to be going FTA, but nothing has come out of it months on. It’s just Sky Two and Real Lives that are the complete poor relations here, only kept alive by share of commercial impacts and whatever ad revenue they can earn from them. Won’t be surprised if they’re the ones that are being culled. +1 channels cost peanuts to run.
Based on viewing figures, Sky 2 and Real Lives do look like they are most at risk.
From the BARB weekly top 10, the highest rating programmes on these channels are typically in the region of:
Real Lives (total): ~30,000
Sky 2: ~70,000
Sky 2 and Real Lives will surely be the ones that could go? They'd hardly get rid of their FTA channels Pick and Challenge.
Could this start a trend where we see other operators start to close some of their least performing pay TV channels like has been done in the US? NBCUniversal have closed down several pay channels in the US in recent years. Discovery could surely cut a few
Sky 2 and Real Lives will surely be the ones that could go? They'd hardly get rid of their FTA channels Pick and Challenge.
Could this start a trend where we see other operators start to close some of their least performing pay TV channels like has been done in the US? NBCUniversal have closed down several pay channels in the US in recent years. Discovery could surely cut a few
NBC Universal also closed some channels in the UK a few years ago, with Style Network and Diva TV as a couple of examples.
Jeremy Darroch outlines that Sky intends to reduce the volume of niche movies it buys and reduce it lineup of linear entertainment channels. What channels could face the axe? He has to be talking about Sky owned/part-owned channels as Sky can't exactly cut other linear channels as they operate an open EPG
https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sky-ceo-jeremy-darroch-says-he-intends-to-stick-around-1202993815/
I think you're conflating two different issues here aren't you?
You're correct that Sky can't restrict channels from being in the EPG if they are FTA (or pay Sky to be FTV) - if they pay Sky to be in the EPG, they are in the EPG (subject to slots being available)
However that doesn't mean Pay TV channels can demand to be part of a Sky subscription package. Sky can absolutely decide that they no longer want to pay third party channel operators for their channels included in Sky TV pay-TV packages. Sky are well within their rights to decide that the value added by a third party channel or channels being present in a pay-TV line-up isn't worth the money they are paying the channel operator, and can drop them.
If that channel operator wants to go FTA and be funded by advertising, or be funded via a separate bolt-on subscription (which they'd pay Sky an amount to manage) they could do that - but third party channels don't have an automatic right to be included in Sky's pay-TV line-ups.
Remember when Eurosport were dropped by Sky briefly after they failed to agree terms. This is not really different to that.
Always struck me as an odd one, it’s a sport Sky has hardly any rights to. Presumably the thinking was that cycling fans would be unlikely to already have Sky and were worth advertising to.
Always struck me as an odd one, it’s a sport Sky has hardly any rights to. Presumably the thinking was that cycling fans would be unlikely to already have Sky and were worth advertising to.