RCS&RDS has taken Discovery channels off its cable networks throughout Romania.
Media Expres reports that the action took place on Thursday, November 29 in the evening and followed the withdrawal of the channels from RCS&RDS’s DTH operation a few days ago.
It adds that in Bucharest the company’s Digi TV cable operation replaced Discovery Channel with History and Animal Planet with a localised version of BBC Entertainment. The other Discovery channels (Investigation, World, Science and TLC), which were previously in an extra package, were replaced by blank screens.
Discovery is estimated to have lost around 2.5 million subscribers in Romania as a result of its withdrawal from RCS&RDS, brought about by a dispute over carriage fees between the two companies.
Although its channels are still carried by other leading cable operators including UPC, Romtelecom and AKTA, there are indications some may wish to renegotiate their contracts with Discovery.
On Thursday, November 30, Discovery Communications has issued a response to the criticism levelled against it by RCS&RDS.
