Negotiation ‘impasse’ could see Animal Planet, TLC among 11 Discovery channels dropped from StarHub after June 30
From June 30, StarHub television subscribers could lose seven popular channels, including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC.
SINGAPORE – Accusing StarHub of not being prepared to “pay fair value” for its programmes, American entertainment firm Discovery said on Wednesday (May 30) that all 11 channels under its brand could be dropped from the pay-TV platform after talks broke down between both companies.
From June 30, StarHub television subscribers could lose seven popular channels, including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC. Then, after August 31, four more channels – Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel and Asian Food Channel – could also be axed from StarHub.
“All we are asking for is the equivalent of a cup of coffee per customer per month,” said Discovery in its press release.
"In Discovery's recent negotiations with StarHub, we have unfortunately reached an impasse as StarHub is not prepared to pay fair value and have announced their decision to cease transmission of all 11 Discovery channels on their platform.
“We have a responsibility to now take the extraordinary step of informing our viewers that they may lose all the Discovery channels they are paying for on StarHub.”
Responding to queries from TODAY, Mr Shavkat Berdiev, Vice-President and General Manager of Southeast Asia Discovery Network stressed that the company “really wants to resolve the issue". He also stressed that Discovery’s portfolio includes “not just one or two channels, but eleven”, and that the firm wants to be paid fairly for their content.
Discovery’s channels will still be available on Singtel TV, said the company.
In response, StarHub said on Wednesday that it is “still in renewal negotiations with Discovery”. While the local telco declined to reveal the channel carriage fees, it said the firm had been in talks with Discovery since last year to “secure a deal which would allow us to offer our customers the same content at a reasonable price”.
While StarHub declined to reveal viewership data for Discovery’s channels, citing “commercial sensitivity”, it told TODAY: “Based on the viewership data taken directly from our set-top boxes, we can share that Discovery’s channels have seen a steady decline in viewership over the last three years.”
Should renewal negotiations fail, both firms will end a partnership that has lasted for 23 years. However, Starhub said on Wednesday that it is “acquiring fresh content”, and that it would announce the launch of several new channels to “ensure a continued good range of education and lifestyle channels”. More information is expected in the coming weeks, added the telco.
News of the impending pullout of Discovery’s 11 channels drew mixed reactions from StarHub subscribers.
Communications specialist Sophia Ho, 30, said she would reconsider her StarHub subscription if her favourite Discovery channels are axed.
She said: “With the rise of on-demand entertainment platforms like Netflix, it’s going to be a tough sell to continue subscribing to StarHub.
“Aside from NatGeo, Discovery’s programming really resonates well with my family because it’s focused on animals, food and travel.”
Other StarHub subscribers were unperturbed by the impending changes.
Ms Christine Quek, 57, who works as a business system analyst, said that she was not aware of the upcoming Discovery pullout, and added that it would not affect her as her family “does not subscribe to many channels.”
Student Jaren Ong, 17, said he would turn to other alternatives such as Netflix and YouTube.
He said: “Most of (Discovery’s content) can be found on YouTube, so it’s no big inconvenience.”
