Discovery Communications remains open to reaching a channel carriage agreement with its “former partner” M7 Group.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Rozhlas.cz, Lucie Bayer, Discovery’s regional manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, added that despite M7 Group turning off Discovery channels in the two countries on Skylink, and indeed its other platforms in Europe, on June 1, Discovery’s “doors are open and it will depend on the situation”. However, “conditions must be mutually acceptable”.
Bayer said that proof Discovery has something to offer and is willing to agree on mutually acceptable conditions even during the coronavirus crisis can be seen in the recent agreement it reached with Deutsche Telekom. This includes its operations T-Mobile Czech Republic, Slovak Telekom and Digi Slovakia. Bayer conceded that the failure to reach an agreement with M7 Group was down to pricing.
However, she refused to discuss Discovery’s pricing policy, adding that in the case of the Czech Republic and Slovakia its channels continue to be carried by all major operators. Aside from they Telekom companies, these include Anti Telekom, Orange, Nej.cz and UPC Slovakia.
Bayer added: “I believe that this speaks for itself”.
