PlayStation to Delete Discovery TV Shows You Already Paid For

Digital media critics often circle back to one exasperating point: You don’t truly own anything you don’t have a hard copy of. For those whose whole lives have been spent streaming music, TV shows, movies, and games, this argument favoring physical media might sound extreme. But the point isn’t so ridiculous, as we've seen time and again. The latest is Sony, which has perfectly illustrated how purchasing digital media doesn’t equate to ownership by preparing to delete everyone’s Discovery content. 

In a legal notice published to the PlayStation website late last week, Sony shared that users will soon lose access to the Discovery shows they’ve already purchased. The list includes hundreds of seasons from series like Mythbusters, Pit Boss, Outrageous Acts of Science, Say Yes to the Dress, and other slice-of-life content Discovery is known for.

“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 notice reads. “We sincerely thank you for your continued support.”

Credit: Warner Bros. Discovery

That last bit is a tad presumptuous. A slew of Reddit posts and X threads illuminate users’ rage at having paid-for content taken away and the concerning reality we're adopting by accepting digital media as the new norm.

“This is why owning a physical movie is better. They may take away my digital movies, but they will never take away my physical movies,” /u/Johnboy_245 commented on one post in /r/PS5. 

Sony didn’t specify why Discovery content is specifically being targeted. However, the network merged with WarnerMedia last year to become Warner Bros. Discovery, leading to speculation around the shows’ licenses. 

Some users have openly wondered if Sony will issue refunds for the deleted content à la Google’s Stadia. Though it’s always possible that Sony will do the right thing, it isn’t required to issue refunds, as digital content purchases involve only the license to view that content, not the content itself. As a result, it could be well within Sony’s right to yank the rug out from underneath its Discovery devotees—even if doing so is in bad taste.