Sky TV and Telecom end agreement to resell TV service to phone customers

Sky Network Television, New Zealand’s dominant pay television operator, will no longer resell its service through Telecom Corp., the nation’s largest phone company.

The companies have agreed to end the resale agreement, which saw Sky’s television service sold in a bundle with Telecom’s phone services, the Auckland-based TV company said in a statement. Telecom customers who take the TV services will be migrated back to Sky by the end of May, the company said.

No reason was given for the end of the agreement. The companies remain open to working together in the future, Sky said.

Last year, Telecom entered into a distribution deal with web-based broadcaster Coliseum Sports Media to play the English Premier League football.

Sky shares fell 0.5 percent to $5.74 in trading yesterday, while Telecom stock slipped 0.4 percent ot $2.335.