Sky Deutschland, a major German pay-TV broadcaster, is making significant changes to its programming. The company will reintroduce National Geographic and National Geographic Wild to its channel lineup, replacing the Discovery Channel. National Geographic’s return to linear TV is set for July 1st, with National Geographic Wild following in early August.
This strategic move signifies an expanded collaboration between Sky and Walt Disney, the parent company of the National Geographic channels. “We’re excited to bring back two strong channel brands featuring premium content and popular series and documentaries, while deepening our partnership with Disney,” stated Wolfram Wildhagen, Senior Vice President Consumer & Commercial at Sky Deutschland.
National Geographic is renowned for its high-quality documentaries encompassing nature, history, science, and technology. National Geographic Wild focuses on wildlife and nature, showcasing the work of leading filmmakers. This announcement reverses a decision made in January 2023, where Sky Deutschland removed these channels to emphasize its own brands, Sky Nature and Sky Documentaries. Despite the removal from the linear channel portfolio, Sky customers can still access extensive Discovery content through the Discovery+ app on Sky Stream and Sky Q.