Action and entertainment channel AXN will terminate its distribution on pay-TV platform Sky Deutschland in Germany and Austria on October 24, 2016.
The decision was taken unanimously by both parties, spokespeople from the German pay-TV broadcaster and AXN parent company Sony Pictures Television Networks explained to Broadband TV News.
AXN will continue to be carried by all other platform partners via cable and IPTV in Germany, Austria and Switzerland including Vodafone (formerly Kabel Deutschland), Unitymedia, Deutsche Telekom and Swisscom.
Notably, following AXN’s removal, no TV channel operated by Sony Pictures Television Networks will remain available on Sky Deutschland. Animax was transformed into a video-on-demand service on July 1, 2016 and left Sky while Sony Entertainment Television has only been available via cable and IPTV.
The also move marks a further decline of third-party channels on Sky Deutschland. On 30 June, 2016, the pay-TV channels operated by ProSiebenSat.1 – Sat.1 emotions, kabel eins classics and ProSieben Fun – left the platform.
In return, Sky Deutschland takes further in-house channels aboard its line-up: Sky Arts launched on July 21, 2016, Sky Cinema Family will follow on September 22, 2016 and Sky 1 on November 3, 2016.
From autumn 2016, Sky Deutschland will also offer two Ultra HD sports channels showing selected live games of the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League.
