Global vs Sky

Global launches Radio Plus

Global launches Radio Plus, a new subscription service offering ad-free live radio, Replay and Catch Up services for its music brands and Britain's biggest commercial news talk brand.

Global Launches Ad-Free Radio on Global Player

Global, a UK media company, has launched an ad-free radio experience on its Global Player app. The new feature allows listeners to enjoy commercial-free radio stations, likely as a premium subscription or a perk for registered users. This move reflects a broader trend in the audio streaming industry where platforms offer ad-free tiers to enhance user experience and drive subscription revenue. The exact details of the offering, such as pricing or which stations are included, are not provided in the article body.

• Global launched ad-free radio on Global Player.
• The feature is offered on the Global Player app.
• The launch date is September 23, 2026.

Global Chief Commercial Officer Mike Gordon to step down in 2027

Global Chief Commercial Officer Mike Gordon to step down in 2027. After a remarkable 18 years at Global, our Chief Commercial Officer Mike Gordon is stepping down. He’ll stay with Global as Executive Advisor to Simon Pitts, Global’s Group CEO.

NBCUniversal Cuts Hundreds of Streaming Jobs

NBCUniversal is cutting hundreds of employees from its global streaming technology organization, with the deepest impact on its European Sky unit and some US-based staff. The reductions, affecting engineering and quality-assurance roles supporting streaming products, were announced internally on Wednesday. Due to UK labor rules, Sky-side dismissals will follow a consultation period. The move comes as Comcast prepares to spin off NBCUniversal, including Peacock and Sky, next summer. Company leaders frame the reorganization as aligning resources with future growth and ensuring effective operation post-separation. Peacock recently reported its first adjusted EBITDA profitability, but investor pressure on traditional media remains. The cuts follow an earlier round in March after Showmax shut down.

• NBCUniversal is cutting a few hundred employees from its global streaming technology organization.
• The cuts most heavily affect Sky, Comcast's European media business, and reach some US-based workers.
• Employees were told of the reductions on Wednesday, with UK consultations starting the next day.

Consumer Protection Group Sues Netflix, Sky, Apple TV+ Over Price Hikes

The Austrian consumer protection association VSV (Verbraucherschutzverein) has announced class-action lawsuits against streaming services Netflix, Apple TV, and Sky's streaming service Wow over unilateral price increases. The VSV claims these companies raised prices for existing subscribers multiple times, relying on price adjustment clauses in their terms of service without obtaining separate consent from customers, which the association deems unfair and invalid. The VSV seeks reimbursements between 200 and 700 euros per affected customer and is partnering with a Berlin law firm and a litigation funder, who will receive a 9.9% cut of any proceeds. Sky confirmed the lawsuit is under review, while Netflix stated that the lawsuit has not yet been served and emphasized that it did not rely on such clauses in Germany, instead obtaining explicit consent from customers. This legal action follows similar past cases against DAZN and Prime Video.

• Consumer protection group VSV announced class-action lawsuits against Netflix, Apple TV, and Sky's Wow over price increases.
• VSV alleges price increases on existing subscriptions relied on unfair price adjustment clauses without separate customer consent.
• VSV seeks refunds of 200-700 euros per affected customer.

Formula 1 Scores Strong Ratings, NFL Struggles on RTL

On Sunday, RTL's Formula 1 broadcast outperformed its NFL coverage, drawing 1.49 million viewers and a 16.7% audience share among 14-49 year-olds for the Spanish Grand Prix. Sky's F1 coverage also performed well, with 17.3% share. In contrast, the NFL season opener between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans attracted only 350,000 viewers for the first quarter, with a 5.7% share in the target demographic. Ratings improved slightly later in the game but remained below RTL's average. The NFL also aired a German-language conference on Nitro, drawing 190,000 viewers. Data sourced from AGF Videoforschung.

• RTL's Formula 1 broadcast of the Spanish Grand Prix reached 1.49 million viewers and a 16.7% market share among 14-49 year-olds.
• Sky Sport F1 achieved a 17.3% market share in the same demographic, slightly higher than RTL.
• NFL season opener on RTL attracted only 350,000 viewers for the first quarter, with a 5.7% share among 14-49 year-olds.