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Sky to acquire Discovery NZ

M&A21 July 2025SKTCommunication Services

Sky New Zealand
PO Box 9059

Newmarket

Auckland 1149

New Zealand

10 Panorama Road

Mt Wellington

Auckland 1060

New Zealand

T. +64 9 579 9999

sky.co.nz

22 July 2025

Sky to acquire Discovery NZ

Sky today announces it has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Discovery NZ Limited

(Discovery NZ) from Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd (a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

Discovery, Inc.) (WBD) for $1 on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Completion of the sale is

expected to take place on 1 August 2025.

Discovery NZ owns and operates:

•Broadcast-video-on-demand (BVOD) streaming platform ThreeNow

•Free-to-air linear channel Three

•And a range of other linear and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels in

New Zealand.

Sky expects the acquisition of Discovery NZ to:

•Deliver Sky revenue diversification and uplift of c.$95m on an annualised basis, with

~25%from digital sources

•Add to Sky’s existing audience a growing digital audience via ThreeNow, a BVOD platform

that recently recorded its 12

th

straight quarter of viewership growth

•Grow Sky’s combined total linear television advertising revenue share to ~35%

1

and total

digital television advertising revenue share to ~24%

2

•Deliver material cost synergies primarily across Sky’s content and broadcasting

infrastructure

•Deliver a pathway to achieve incremental, underlying free cash flow from FY26 and

sustainable EBITDA growth of at least $10m from FY28.

Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney said: “This is a compelling opportunity for Sky that directly

supports our ambition to be Aotearoa New Zealand’s most engaging and essential media

company. It positions us to scale faster, accelerates our growth, and further diversifies our

revenue streams, particularly in advertising and digital. We are acquiring a business with

complementary operations that is a strong strategic fit for Sky, in an accretive way for our

shareholders.

“In particular, acquiring the established and fast-growing ThreeNow BVOD platform adds an

important missing component to Sky’s portfolio, without incurring the significant brand and

1

ASA Advertising Turnover Report 2024, noting Newshub restructure took place in mid-2024.

2

Based on actual Sky and DNZ data and ASA Advertising Turnover Report 2024.



platform development costs and inherent revenue risks associated with building a BVOD

service ourselves. The combined portfolio will give Sky significantly increased scale, diversity

and mass reach that will unlock more opportunities in advertising and maximise the return on

our investments in content through a strengthened, multi-platform approach.”


Michael Brooks, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand for WBD, said: “This is a

fantastic outcome for both WBD and Sky. The continued challenges faced by the New Zealand

media industry are well documented, and over the past 12 months, the Discovery NZ team has

worked to deliver a new, more sustainable business model following a significant restructure in

2024. While this business is not commercially viable as a standalone asset in WBD’s New

Zealand portfolio, we see the value Three and ThreeNow can bring to Sky’s existing offering of

complementary assets. The transaction includes a significant and ongoing content supply

agreement for WBD’s premium content, for the mutual benefit of both parties.”


Sophie Moloney said: “Notwithstanding the ongoing challenges faced by the Discovery NZ

business, Sky is uniquely placed to give effect to this opportunity to accelerate our growth

strategy.”


On completion, Discovery NZ’s balance sheet

3

will be clear of certain long-term obligations,

including property leases and content commitments, and will include assets such as the

ThreeNow platform, a portfolio of content rights acquired in the normal course of business and

clear of content payables, and a normal level of other net working capital (subject to a

customary post completion adjustment process).


This transaction structure enables a pathway to achieving positive underlying free cash flow

from year one. Longer term, the transaction is expected to deliver sustainable EBITDA growth of

at least $10 million by FY28.


A structured transition plan will be in place to facilitate a smooth integration. This includes the

provision of transitional services by WBD on commercial terms for 12 months post completion,

and a contribution towards integration costs. The net integration costs for Sky are expected to

be approximately $6.5m. Juliet Peterson, Vice President, Head of Networks, will continue to

lead the Discovery NZ business, reporting to Sophie Moloney.


Irrespective of this transaction, Sky remains confident in achieving its 30cps dividend target for

FY26.


Sophie Moloney commented: “I am excited by the possibilities this transaction unlocks for our

business, by delivering transformative scale in advertising and digital, and significantly

advancing our revenue growth strategy. We look forward to welcoming the excellent and highly-

regarded Discovery NZ team to Sky, and to working together to deliver on the opportunities this

transaction presents for our customers, partners and shareholders.”


Sky and Discovery NZ gave the Commerce Commission confidential advance notice of the

transaction. The Commission looked at the commercial circumstances and advised the parties

that it did not intend to consider the acquisition further.



3

The DNZ balance sheet will be subject to fair value acquisition accounting, to be completed in due course.



An investor presentation has been released to the NZX and ASX with further detail on the

acquisition.


Ends

Authorised by: Kirstin Jones, Company Secretary



Investor queries to: Media queries to:

Amanda West Maree Wilson

Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability Corporate Communications

Amanda.West@sky.co.nz Maree.Wilson@sky.co.nz

---

© SKY 2021
Sky Network Television

Acceleration of growth strategy

through the acquisition of

Discovery NZ

© SKY 2021
Page 2

Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

Acquisition of Discovery NZ enables Sky to go further,

faster

✓Sky is uniquely positioned to realise this opportunity, which delivers a step

change in its growth strategy

✓Expected to deliver underlying incremental free cash flow in year one, and

long-term sustainable EBITDA uplift from FY28

✓Strong strategic fit from a highly complementary business creates

immediate scale in Advertising and Digital in a cost-effective way

✓Sky’s balance sheet remains strong, and the transaction does not change

our confidence in achieving our 30cps dividend target in FY26

© SKY 2021
Acquisition

Summary

© SKY 2021
Page 4

Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

Financial

✓Nominal cost acquisition of 100% of Discovery NZ for $1

on a cash free, debt free basis

✓Immediate revenue uplift of c.$95m p.a., including 25%

from digital sources

✓Underlying free cash flow positive in year one; confidence

in 30 cps dividend target in FY26 remains

✓Future earnings and integration de-risked through pre-

structuring actions and robust synergy due diligence

✓Significant financial synergies available, primarily in

content and broadcast infrastructure

Strategic

✓Creates significant audience presence, aligned with Sky’s

ambition to be Aotearoa NZ’s most engaging and

essential media company

✓Delivers immediate Advertising scale in linear and in the

growing digital category, further diversifying revenue

✓Accelerates digital reach through established, high-growth

BVOD

1

, strengthening Sky’s multi-platform approach

✓Connects to a younger, more diverse audience through

established brands, creating opportunities for growth

✓Increases return on content investment, leveraging Sky’s

portfolio-based strategy across a broader audience

Compelling strategic and financial rationale underpins

the transaction

1. BVOD: Broadcast Video On Demand, free to access streaming platform ThreeNow

© SKY 2021
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Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

NEXT

Sky is uniquely placed to realise this opportunity to

accelerate its growth strategy

Transaction expected to deliver positive underlying free cash from FY26

NOW

•Purchase price of $1 on a cash free, debt free basis

•Pre-structuring provides: a clean balance sheet largely clear of long-term obligations,

including property leases and content commitments, and will include assets such as

the ThreeNow platform, a portfolio of content rights, acquired in the normal course of

business and clear of content payables, and a normal level of net working capital

•Structuring gives a high level of confidence in FY26 outcome, with low reliance on

synergies

Sustainable EBITDA uplift of at least $10m expected from FY28

•Content on completion reduces net working capital requirements in the first 12-18

months providing a runway to rollout Sky’s content strategy and realise synergies

•Content supply agreements provide cost certainty along with mutually beneficial

revenue share arrangements, while the transitional services agreement enables a

smooth transition pathway

•Significant cost synergies, primarily in content and broadcast infrastructure, identified

through robust due diligence

Actions taken over the

past 12 months,

including the closure of

Newshub, have

substantially reduced

the cost base, creating a

leaner, more digitally

focused business

Revenue has stabilised

at a new level, delivering

improved margin

Significant

Discovery NZ

transformation

✓DONE

© SKY 2021
Strategic

Rationale

© SKY 2021
Page 7

Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

•Lifts total combined audience reach to 2.2

million linear and 1.2 million digital viewers

per week

1

•Adds established and much-loved brands

with complementary strengths in audience

and content genres including local news and

reality

•Boosts Sky’s position in digital through

established and fast growing ThreeNow

BVOD, missing from Sky’s portfolio, without

incurring the significant development costs

of building from scratch

1. Digital – Nielsen CMI AP15+. Weekly. Linear TV - Nielsen TAM, Jul 2024-Jun 2025, 18+.

Creates significant audience presence

with powerful reach

© SKY 2021
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Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

Revenue Share

2

1. ASA Advertising Turnover Report 2024. 2. Linear Revenue Share: ASA Advertising

Turnover Report 2024, noting Newshub restructure took place in mid-2024.. Digital Revenue

Share based on 2024 Sky and DNZ data and ASA Advertising Turnover Report 2024.

•A step change for our advertising ambitions,

delivering immediate addressable audience

scale that would be difficult to achieve

organically

•Increase in linear revenue share delivers scale

in the largest TV category (linear makes up

approx. 80% of TV Ad spend of $490m

1

)

•Significant increase in digital revenue share

drives scale in this growing segment

•Creates ability to sell across a multi-

platform suite and enhances appeal to

brands and agencies

Delivers immediate Advertising scale and

a strong market position

© SKY 2021
Page 9

Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

Expands Sky’s reach to a more diverse audience

•Significantly increased reach, to younger,

more diverse viewers, particularly in digital

•Unlocks opportunities for cross-platform

marketing and content windowing

strategies to drive long-term margin growth

•Delivers advantages for partners

-Attractive opportunities to grow

exposure and fan base through broader

free to air reach

-Unlocks powerful advertising offer to

broader segments complementing Sky’s

existing strengths

Incremental weekly reach

1

1. Incremental to Sky’s current audience reach, by age and gender groups. Linear: Nielsen

TAM July 2024-June 2025, Digital: Nielsen CMI Q2 2024-Q1 2025

© SKY 2021
Page 10

Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

Summary of key deal terms

Key deal terms

•Acquisition of 100% of Discovery NZ Limited for $1 on a cash

free, debt free basis

•Balance sheet largely clean (property leases and certain content

commitments cleared prior to completion)

•Three and ThreeNow brands and BVOD platform are acquired

assets

•Content on completion acquired in the normal course of business

and clear of payables reduces net working capital requirements

and provides a cash flow benefit in the first 12 – 18 months as

Sky executes its content strategy and synergies are unlocked

•Content supply agreements provide cost certainty along with

mutually beneficial revenue share arrangements

•TSA agreement in place for 12 months on commercial terms to

support a smooth transition

Transaction cost estimates:

-Transaction fees: $3.0m

-Net integration costs

1

: $6.5m

Timetable

Completion expected 1 August 2025

Note:

Acquisition accounting is subject to a PPA

process to be completed within 12 months of

acquisition

1.Includes a contribution from WBD towards integration costs

Page 11
Acquisition of Discovery NZ │22 July 2025

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Page 11

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