Faze TV scraps launch

New gay channel Faze TV has decided not to launch after being unable to agree carriage terms with Sky.

An email sent to interested parties received by Digital Spy reads:

"Despite an exhausting last 8 months working to secure funding and an agreement with Sky for the channel, we have been forced this week to admit defeat. We heard last Wednesday that Sky would not offer a licence fee for the channel which would have enabled us to launch. We needed at least some payment from Sky, as advertising revenue alone will not generate enough income to pay for a programming budget of sufficient quality and we could not secure funding for a subscription channel.

"We really wanted to deliver the quality channel which you deserve reflecting the lives and interests of gay men today in the UK. Anything less would be a mistake, and this is why with considerable sadness we have decided not to go ahead."

In August, the channel asked potential viewers to lobby Sky in favour of a bid to join the provider's basic package.