RTL pay channels dropped by Sky

German commercial broadcaster RTL’s pay TV channels will cease to broadcast on pay TV operator Sky’s platform from July 17 after the pair failed to reach a mutually acceptable commercial agreement.

The lack of a deal means that RTL pay channels RTL Crime, RTL Passion and RTL Living will be dropped from the Sky platform. RTL’s free-to-air channels will continue to be broadcast by the pay TV operator.

Sky said that the change reflected its increasing focus on in-house produced content and partnerships with international content providers such as HBO and Showtime.

Thomas Henkel, EVP of strategy at the pay TV operator, said that the operator had decided to focus on the expansion of its new Sky Q and Sky Ticket offerings with an emphasis on in-house productions such as Babylon Berlin and Das Boot, as well as partnerships that delivered exclusive content such as its deals with HBO and Showtime.

RTL said it regretted that the three channels would no longer be available on Sky, despite what it described as intensive efforts to reach a deal.

Sky’s dropping of the three channels follows earlier moves to drop the pay TV channels of rival commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1: ProsiEben Fun, Sat.1 Emotions and Kabel Eins Classics.

The RTL pay TV channels will continue to be available via cable and IPTV platforms.