Sky and Warner Bros Discovery announce a deal that gives most Sky TV subscribers access to Discovery+ at no extra cost.
Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers in both the UK and Republic of Ireland can now sign up for discovery+ as part of their monthly Sky TV subscription. The deal encompasses the discovery+ entertainment and sport option and will save £6.99/€6.99 a month.
New subscribers can set up their discovery+ account on Sky Marketplace and take advantage of the freebie with immediate effect. Alternatively, to sign up, simply head to the discovery+ app on Sky, or say ‘Get discovery plus’ to your Sky Glass or into your Sky Q/Sky Stream voice remote.
Featuring eye-opening documentaries, reality TV, exclusive originals spanning true crime, paranormal, dating and relationships, home, food, plus some of the most exciting live sports events, Sky TV customers can enjoy the full discovery+ line-up.
Highlights coming up include live Australian Open tennis, plus coverage of the Roland-Garros French Open in May. Discovery+ will also provide coverage of every moment of the 2024 Olympics.
What if… I’m already using the 12 month discovery+ Entertainment pass?
Sky TV subscribers who already added the 12-months’ discovery+ Entertainment pass will now be able to access the discovery+ Entertainment and Sport service on an ongoing basis as part of their Sky TV package. You will be automatically upgraded.
Who doesn’t quality for the deal?
Customers with Sky Q Essentials, Sky Q Lite and Sky+ are excluded. Business subscribers (clubs/pubs) are also excluded.
What happens if I cancel Sky?
You will lose access to your discovery+ account that’s linked to Sky. However, there’s nothing stopping you from creating a brand new account with discovery+, but you’ll need to pay the going rate for the service.
What other freebies do I get with Sky?
Sky is also bundling Netflix basic with its TV packages. And subscribers also get access to (what’s left) of Peacock from the equivalent of £1 a day. The ‘£1 a day claim’ by Sky doesn’t include extras.
Analysis
The announcement comes ahead of Sky’s annual TV and broadband price rises, when subscribers may want to evaluate the services they have access to.
It also is the latest step taken by a major streaming company to retain subscribers. Current costs of living are forcing growing numbers of consumers to decide which services to retain. Some providers have taken to offering cheaper ad-funded versions to retain access.
But viewers who don’t need full access to Sky may still find it cheaper to access discovery+ as a standalone service, on top of a NOW Entertainment Membership, which provides access to Sky’s entertainment and factual channels. These can be easily added or cancelled on a month-by-month basis.
Corporate comments
Elizabeth Wynn, Managing Director, Sky TV, said:
“We know value is incredibly important right now, so we’re pleased to bring discovery+ to our Sky TV customers at no extra cost, saving £6.99 a month. Offering even more incredible entertainment and sport to enjoy this year for less. And if you’re a Sky Stream or Sky Glass customer, you can stream all this content, including must-watch TV, world-class film and thrilling sport straight over wi-fi with no dish, bringing together all your channels, shows and apps into one place.”
Antonio Ruiz, GM UK & Ireland Warner Bros. Discovery, said:
“We’re delighted to build on our partnership with Sky and give Sky TV subscribers in the UK & Ireland access to both discovery+ Entertainment and Sport as part of their Sky TV subscription. Through this offering we can bring our extensive real-life entertainment and exciting sports line-up, with the Australian Open starting today, to even more Sky customers.”
By Iain Hatton