Sky has placed 900 roles at risk as part of a restructuring drive to compete with US streaming giants like Netflix. The Comcast-owned broadcaster expects the consultation process to result in about 600 redundancies, with 300 staff redeployed, out of its 23,000-strong UK workforce.
This is the third round of cuts in just over 18 months, following recent product launches including the second-generation Sky Glass smart TV and the budget-friendly Sky Glass Air. The redundancies will primarily affect Sky's technology and product teams, along with related corporate functions, as the company shifts focus to improving existing services.
Since the start of 2023, Sky has cut nearly 3,500 roles as it transitions from traditional satellite pay-TV to internet-based streaming services. Over 90% of new subscriptions now come via products like Sky Glass and Sky Stream, a new streaming set-top box.
A Sky spokesperson said: 'Over the past few years, Sky has launched a set of market-leading products including Sky Glass, Sky Stream and our full fibre broadband service. These products are now firmly established and used by millions of customers. As we look ahead, we are shifting our approach to bring customers the next generation of experience by investing in digital-first service, unbeatable content, and even better performance from our products.'
The latest cuts bring Sky UK's employee numbers back to roughly the 23,000 level seen in 2018, when Comcast acquired the business for £31bn. Earlier this year, Sky cut 2,000 customer service jobs and closed three sites, and in January 2023, it cut about 800 installation roles as demand for traditional pay-TV equipment declined.
