Energy drinks brand Red Bull has said it will withdraw its commercial broadcaster Servus TV from Germany and Switzerland in order to focus on its home market of Austria.
Servus TV is operated by the Red Bull Media House division of Red Bull. Its exit from Germany and Switzerland refers to its distribution through cable and satellite operators and will take effect at the end of 2016.
Servus TV said in a statement reported by German media magazine w&v: “Servus TV will focus on its home market and its Austrian programme identity. Consequently, the broadcast licences in Germany and Switzerland will be handed back and transmissions will be terminated in these countries at the end of this year.”
The move comes after Red Bull performed a u-turn in May by scrapping plans to close down Servus TV. Red Bull had earlier announced that the broadcaster would be shut down as it had apparently “become economically unsustainable”.
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.