Sky strikes deal to add Netflix to its European pay-TV bundles

LONDON

Sky, the European pay-TV group at the centre of a fierce takeover battle, said it would add online video service Netflix to a new TV bundle, bringing drama like “The Crown” to its sport and entertainment offer for the first time.

Netflix’s mix of original drama and movies has proved popular globally, with subscriber numbers reaching nearly 118 million at the end of 2017, bringing new competition to traditional pay-TV cable and satellite providers. Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said the tie-up would enable customers to access even more entertainment on its platform. Netflix will launch on Sky’s premium Sky Q product in Britain and Ireland this year, and in Germany, Austria and Italy thereafter, Sky said.