Sky to cut 1,000 jobs in UK & Ireland as engineers bear brunt of satellite decline

Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything (Source: Sky)

European media giant Sky is cutting 1,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland, as it focuses on streaming rather than satellite delivery.

The cuts are expected to hit the company’s engineering teams who are tasked with installing satellite dishes, which customers are shifting away from in preference for streaming.

The move comes after the Comcast-owned firm launched its Sky Glass integrated TV, which uses streaming tech.

“The launch of Sky Glass and Sky Stream represents a shift in our business to deliver TV over IP (an internet connection) rather than satellite,” a Sky spokesperson said.

“Increasingly, customers are choosing Sky Glass and Sky Stream which don’t require specialist installation, and that has led us to change the number of roles we need to deliver our services.”

Cuts have been hitting many parts of the UK media landscape so far this year, with Channel 4 unveiling 200 job losses earlier this week and rumours swirling that ITV will also trim its workforce.

Sky’s UK chief Stephen van Rooyen confirmed last week that he would be stepping down after almost two decades with the pay TV operator, with group CEO Dana Strong taking on his remit.

Less than 18 months ago, the company had been talking up plans to launch more than 200 original programmes in 2022, with new commissions including The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Sheridan Smith-starring comedy Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything.