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Thick Thighs Save Lives · Dec 1, 2023

Update: PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all

There's a new licensing agreement between Warner Bros and Sony

PlayStation will no longer be removing over 1,300 Discovery TV shows from its platform next month.

Sony had previously announced that users will not be able to watch Discovery content on PlayStation from December 31, even if they had already purchased it.

However, the firm now says that due to an 'updated licensing agreement' with Warner Bros -- which owns the Discovery brand -- consumers will now be able to access their previously purchased shows 'for at least the next 30 months'.

"Similar to other services, we do not own the licensing rights to TV/movie content that was previously available for purchase on PlayStation Store," PlayStation stated in the update. "However, we’ve worked with Warner Bros to update our licensing agreements, ensuring that consumers will be able to access their previously purchased content for at least the next 30 months."

Discovery shows include the likes of MythBusters, Cake Boss, Deadliest Catch, American Chopper, An Idiot Abroad, Shark Week, How It’s Made, Animal Planet Presents and Street Outlaws.

PlayStation stopped selling movies and TV shows from its stores in 2021. In August last year, it also removed purchased content from Studio Canal due to "evolving licensing agreements" leaving users unable to view the shows they had bought.

PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all

PlayStation will no longer be removing over 1,300 Discovery TV shows from its platform next month. Sony had previously …

www.gamesindustry.biz

The promise of digital media is that it can last forever, pristine and undisturbed by the forces of entropy constantly buffeting the material world. Unfortunately, a mess of online DRM and license agreements means that we mostly don’t own the digital stuff we buy, as most recently evidenced by the fact that Sony is about to delete Mythbusters, Naked and Afraid, and tons of other Discovery shows from PlayStation users’ libraries even if they already “purchased” them.

The latest pothole in the road to an all-digital future was discovered via a warning Sony recently sent out to PlayStation users who purchased TV shows made by Discovery, the reality TV network that recently merged with Warner Bros. in one of the most brutal and idiotic corporate maneuvers of our time. “Due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library,” read a copy of the email that was shared with Kotaku.

It linked to a page on the PlayStation website listing all of the shows impacted. As you might imagine, given Discovery’s penchant for pumping out seasons of relatively cheap to produce but popular reality TV and documentary-based shows, there are a lot of them. They include, but are not limited to, hits such as: Say Yes to the Dress, Shark Week, Cake Boss, Long Island Medium, Deadly Women, and many, many more.

“Is there a way I can save this content?” asked one panicked PlayStation user on Reddit. “I use PS4...But I have bought many seasons of shows such as Dual Survival that I do not wish to lose. I was actually under the impression since I owned it, I wouldn’t ever lose it…”

Movies and TV shows first came to the PlayStation Network in 2008 via the PS3. At the time it was possible to transfer the content you bought between devices for viewing on things like the PlayStation Portable. Sony removed that option beginning with the PS4 and beyond. Now, essentially anything you buy on PSN, whether a PS5 blockbuster or, uh, Police Women of Cincinnati, is essentially just on indefinite loan until such time as the PlayStation servers die or the original copyright owner decides to pull the content.

This isn’t the first time Sony has done something like this and it won’t be the last. I’d say just buy your favorite shows on Bluray instead, but Sony and Microsoft also appear to be planning to slowly phase out optical disc drives in the future. Even the new PS5 slim’s detachable disc drive will require an online DRM check every time you plug it in. Fortunately, generic Blu-ray players are cheaper than never. Unfortunately, they don’t really print discs of Pregnant Behind Bars Season 1 anymore.

PlayStation To Delete A Ton Of TV Shows Users Already Paid For

Sony says Mythbusters and more Discovery TV shows are going away whether you bought them or not

kotaku.com

Heisenberg007 · Dec 1, 2023

Welcome to the all-digital future!

R3TRODYCE · Dec 1, 2023

Who tf buys tv shows on a console...

graywolf323 · Dec 1, 2023

“Due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library,”

I mean that sounds like it’s Discovery’s fault? though Sony should have never negotiated a contract that required this to happen once it expired

pasterpl · Dec 1, 2023

That’s my main issue with all digital future. I am buying most of my media digitally movies, games etc. But I am always have the above(what Sony is being forced to do) in the back of my head.

Omnipunctual Godot · Dec 1, 2023

If any digital product I buy leaves my library I will happily torrent that shit. Fuck these thieves.

Punished Miku · Dec 1, 2023

That's a huge bummer.

R3TRODYCE said:
Who tf buys tv shows on a console...

I've been getting into buying movies on the Xbox store recently. Some of the sales are insane. Blows away anything I've seen on Amazon or Google store. I haven't paid more than $5 for a movie or full TV season to own. Most stuff is $4-6 to rent once these days.

R3TRODYCE · Dec 1, 2023

Punished Miku said:
That's a huge bummer.

I've been getting into buying movies on the Xbox store recently. Some of the sales are insane. Blows away anything I've seen on Amazon or Google store. I haven't paid more than $5 for a movie or full TV season to own. Most stuff is $4-6 to rent once these days.

RIP

StreetsofBeige · Dec 1, 2023

Everyone knows when it comes to sub plans that games and tv/movies come off the rotation sometimes. Some seem to last forever and some come off faster than others.

But for digital purchases how often does the e-store prevent you from using a digital product you actually purchased?

diffusionx · Dec 1, 2023

when this happens, Sony needs to step up and refund people who bought it. heck, do it with store credit - people will spend it. I don't see how this is allowed.

FunkMiller · Dec 1, 2023

Of course they offered a refund to everyone who bought one of those shows, didn't they?

Magic Carpet · Dec 1, 2023

I hope they delete that Powers show, the price was having it stink up usable space on the drive.

Danknugz · Dec 1, 2023

imagine if MS did this

Skyfox · Dec 1, 2023

Digital theft

Omnipunctual Godot · Dec 1, 2023

Punished Miku said:
That's a huge bummer.

I've been getting into buying movies on the Xbox store recently. Some of the sales are insane. Blows away anything I've seen on Amazon or Google store. I haven't paid more than $5 for a movie or full TV season to own. Most stuff is $4-6 to rent once these days.

A lot of those are backed up by Movies Anywhere, fortunately. But TV shows aren't.

Skifi28 · Dec 1, 2023

I wonder when the first purchased game will get deleted. It'll be a bloodbath.

rodrigolfp · Dec 1, 2023

#4thepayers

tmlDan · Dec 1, 2023

you mean Discovery are removing it, its not PS fault - probably cause they want people to use Discover+ or w/e.

Don't buy shows/movies digitally unless its downloadable and saved on a hard drive, common sense

MarkMe2525 · Dec 1, 2023

I can understand removing the ability for users to purchase the content going forward, but taking away already paid for content licenses without any reimbursement is awful. There should have already been a contegincy plan in place by Sony to address circumstances such as this. Even a store credit, while not ideal, would be a smart move to maintain customers confidence in the platform.

EverydayBeast · Dec 1, 2023

I welcome digital content.

TrebleShot · Dec 1, 2023

Delete your pain for content?! Nah man.

Let me guess , if you sub to discovery plus you can watch them there via ps5…

analog_future · Dec 1, 2023

Good luck to those buying digital games on Sony's platforms in the years to come.

Trogdor1123 · Dec 1, 2023

Completely unacceptable. Stuff like this is what makes it more appealing to start downloading again.

Could you legally download if they revoked your license like this?

Salty Popsicle · Dec 1, 2023

People who purchased these TV shows through the PlayStation digital storefront should receive at least a partial refund if this is true.

LavitzSlambert · Dec 1, 2023

Here's the full list (in two posts),for when the inevitably take down the webpage announcing this.

Edit: Some fun stats...

1318 seasons/titles
20 seasons of Mythbusters
0 recourse

graywolf323 · Dec 1, 2023

Danknugz said:
imagine if MS did this

they have, I learned this the hard way with stuff I bought back during the 360 era

Mr Hyde · Dec 1, 2023

GoG is the only digital storefront I trust these days. The rest can just wipe your content without any explanation. They can even wipe your account. An all digital future is scary from a consumer standpoint.

LavitzSlambert · Dec 1, 2023

Post 2 of 2 with the rest of the list. Mythbusters is definitely the biggest loss here.

adamsapple · Dec 1, 2023

Bojji · Dec 1, 2023

Heisenberg007 said:
Welcome to the all-digital future!

Exactly.

Once consoles are full digital (we are starting to see new games with only digital releases) they will fuck us in the ass even more!

Digital only cheerleaders don't know what they are doing.

Neofire · Dec 1, 2023

Heisenberg007 said:
Welcome to the all-digital future!

Yup, people seem to have forgotten about the Psp and Vita situation.

OmegaSupreme · Dec 1, 2023

Buy physical if you really care. That's all there is to it. I'll be able to watch Battlestar as long as I live. Somebody will have to pry the discs out of my cold dead hands!

MarkMe2525 · Dec 1, 2023

graywolf323 said:
they have, I learned this the hard way with stuff I bought back during the 360 era

I missed this. Could you be more specific?

diffusionx · Dec 1, 2023

OmegaSupreme said:
Buy physical if you really care. That's all there is to it. I'll be able to watch Battlestar as long as I live. Somebody will have to pry the discs out of my cold dead hands!

honestly I read these sorts of articles and my first thought is to pirate, not buy discs. If these companies are not going to respect our purchases and our spending then why should we even do it.

Spukc · Dec 1, 2023

R3TRODYCE said:
Who tf buys tv shows on a console...

LakeOf9 · Dec 1, 2023

That's actually really shitty

Deerock71 · Dec 1, 2023

graywolf323 said:
“Due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library,”

I mean that sounds like it’s Discovery’s fault? though Sony should have never negotiated a contract that required this to happen once it expired

Sony would naturally word it to make it sound like it's Discovery's fault, wouldn't they? But honestly, what do Sony and Discovery care for? They've already got the poor saps' money.

theHFIC · Dec 1, 2023

Misleading title: not Sony or PlayStation brand's fault. Warner Discovery being Warner Discovery.

mayham2199 · Dec 1, 2023

Heisenberg007 said:
Welcome to the all-digital future!

I joined the all digital future 15 years ago. Except I downloaded everything to a media server I keep in my house. I do feel a bit bad freely taking from creators who are making content I enjoy so I've started buying official apparel for those shows whenever I can. I only feel so bad though because of exactly reasons like this.

Punished Miku · Dec 1, 2023

MarkMe2525 said:
I missed this. Could you be more specific?

I'm wondering as well. Xbox I even still have Omega Five and Geometry Wars on my account to download. Literally the first digital games I ever purchased.

TGO · Dec 1, 2023

FunkMiller said:
Of course they offered a refund to everyone who bought on of those shows, didn't they?

I mean while it's true Sony does get a cut from Sales.
The majority of the sales still go to the other company that created it and is pulling it.
So I agree you should be refunded, but does the middle man have to payout the full amount which would end up being multiple times as much they made off it while the creator walks away with your money and content?

The Google Play store is probably the worst I've experienced.
I had both the Tomb Raider games just removed from my device with no notice or refund.
I had to search for the reason it was no longer available on the store.
But to have it removed without my knowledge is, it was like someone stealing something from me.... because it was.

ChuckeRearmed · Dec 1, 2023

Considering that they added movies to PS+ it makes it double hilarious.

graywolf323 · Dec 1, 2023

Punished Miku said:
I'm wondering as well. Xbox I even still have Omega Five and Geometry Wars on my account to download. Literally the first digital games I ever purchased.

not games… tv shows, I’m not sure if I even still have the email receipts but I had bought several tv shows (especially when HD was first a thing because the 360 was the only device I had at the time to watch tv shows in HD on) and they did not port to current Microsoft Movies & TV app you can watch stuff on on XBS

Astray · Dec 1, 2023

The digital future in all it's glory!

ZoukGalaxy · Dec 1, 2023

Another digital future dream baby, everything can be changed/ canceled in a click, that's only the beginning

*cough... 1984... cough, cough*

adamsapple · Dec 1, 2023

MarkMe2525 said:
I missed this. Could you be more specific?

Punished Miku said:
I'm wondering as well. Xbox I even still have Omega Five and Geometry Wars on my account to download. Literally the first digital games I ever purchased.

I never bought any TV content on 360 so I can't comment first hand what

graywolf323 may have had on their console.

But this is the only semi-relevant thing I can find, any content you bought on the X360 TV and movie store will be forward compatible even after the 360 store itself closes next year.

MarkMe2525 · Dec 1, 2023

graywolf323 said:
not games… tv shows, I’m not sure if I even still have the email receipts but I had bought several tv shows (especially when HD was first a thing because the 360 was the only device I had at the time to watch tv shows in HD on) and they did not port to current Microsoft Movies & TV app you can watch stuff on on XBS

Ok, but they still work on your 360 right? I still have mine hooked up and all my games, movies, and the few shows I have are still available.

MiguelItUp · Dec 1, 2023

To be fair, anyone should be allowed to purchase whatever they want, however they want, and it's theirs. It's a transaction, and you keep the goods you paid for, that's how it works.

Except with digital apparently, lmao.

BennyBlanco · Dec 1, 2023

Shit like this is just gonna push people back to piracy.

Was this same content available to buy on Xbox? Apple TV? Amazon? I’ll hold off on the Jim Ryan laughing gifs until we see how everyone handles this.

graywolf323 · Dec 1, 2023

adamsapple said:
I never bought any TV content on 360 so I can't comment first hand what graywolf323 may have had on their console.

But this is the only semi-relevant thing I can find, any content you bought on the X360 TV and movie store will be forward compatible even after the 360 store itself closes next year.

this was stuff bought before the Movies & TV app was a thing which is I think the key difference, they brought that later in the 360’s life span IIRC

I’m talking stuff bought when it was still the Blades Dashboard

MarkMe2525 said:
Ok, but they still work on your 360 right? I still have mine hooked up and all my games, movies, and the few shows I have are still available.

some stuff does but there’s other things that have disappeared, even in purchase history it’ll just show as content unavailable IIRC, I’ll try to hook up my 360 again later and see if I can get a screenshot demonstrating what I’m talking about

I did find a Reddit thread about this issue though (coincidentally it happened with a Discovery show)

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Merge of Discovery and Warner Bros. renders PlayStation licensing agreement worthless. (Up: new licensing agreement, shows will not be removed)

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Update: PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all​

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Update: PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all