German health channel loses Sky carriage

[khurramdar]

German health channel loses Sky carriage
Written by Jörn Krieger
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 20:14

German health channel Focus Gesundheit will terminate its transmission on pay-TV platform Sky Deutschland on Jan 7. The broadcaster, which held an exclusive carriage contract with Sky, will thereby lose its only distribution platform.

The decision to go separate ways was a “mutual agreement” by both sides, Sky said in a statement, adding that Focus Gesundheit has opted for an alternative distribution strategy and the expansion of its brand on the internet.


The channel, which is operated by the TV subsidiary of news magazine Focus, aims to launch on Eutelsat’s direct-to-cable platform KabelKiosk platform on Feb 1 and hopes to sign carriage contracts with further platform providers.


It is expected that Sky will use the vacated slot for distribution of its Big Brother channel. The service will offer 24-hour coverage of the 10th series of the well-known reality format which will commence on Jan 11 in Germany.