UK digital-terrestrial pay-television broadcaster Top Up TV is to withdraw from the premium sports channel business after failing to agree a deal to resell pay-television operator BT Vision’s new sports channels on the digital-terrestrial service Freeview, according to the Broadband TV News website.
BT Vision will now bypass Top Up TV to sell its sports channels directly to customers.
Top Up TV has also opted to cease broadcasting of pay-television broadcaster BSkyB’s sports channels Sky Sports 1 and 2 at the end of this month.
The Freeview platform has reached an agreement with Sky to recommend Top Up TV customers switch to Sky at a reduced rate in order to continue receiving the channels.
Top Up TV will also cease broadcasting pay-television broadcaster ESPN’s sports channel in July.