Red Bull changes stance on Servus TV’s fate

Red Bull Media House has reversed its decision to stop operating commercial broadcaster Servus TV in Germany and Switzerland.

In July, Red Bull said it would withdraw Servus TV from Germany and Switzerland at the end of 2016 in order to focus on its home market of Austria.

Servus TV is operated by the Red Bull Media House division of energy drinks brand Red Bull. Its exit from Germany and Switzerland referred to its distribution through cable and satellite operators.

Red Bull at one stage planned to scrap Servus TV entirely, as the broadcaster had "become economically unsustainable”, but it stepped back from this position in May.

A Red Bull Media House statement read: “The very positive response from TV viewers, advertisers and agencies that has reached us in the last few weeks and months has motivated us to continue the new online offering of Servus TV in the classic TV area, to remain accessible in this way and round out the marketing potential.”

Servus TV holds various sports rights in its portfolio for its home market, such as Austria’s Eishockey Liga, the top division of ice hockey in the country, and the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 motorcycling championships.