PlayStation Store is removing 1,300 seasons of Discovery TV shows, even if users bought them

The PlayStation Store will soon be removing more than 1300 seasons of Discovery TV shows, even for users who bought them.

Sony recently sent messages to players who had previously purchased Discovery shows on the PlayStation Store, informing them that they will soon be unable to watch them.

“As of 31 December 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,” the message reads.

“We sincerely thank you for your continued support.”

A page on the PlayStation website lists the content that will be removed at the end of the year, consisting of 1,318 separate seasons of TV.

This includes such shows as MythBusters, An Idiot Abroad, Cake Boss, Deadliest Catch, American Chopper, Shark Week, How It’s Made and Street Outlaws.

The situation is notable in that it differs from the typical policy when games are delisted for licensing reasons. In most cases like this, players are usually still able to play and even re-download delisted games.

It would appear that the same is not true for video content, however. Indeed, this isn’t the first time content has been removed in this way from the PlayStation Store.

In August 2022, Sony removed StudioCanal content from the PlayStation Store, with 314 pieces of video content removed in Germany and 137 removed in Austria. As with the Discovery content, players who had bought any of these videos were unable to watch them after they were delisted.

The PlayStation Store stopped offering TV and movie content for purchase or rental in August 2021. However, when it initially announced this, it said existing purchases would still be available to access.