It is understood the broadcaster is launching a dedicated Irish feed of the Discovery Channel and wants to open this up to advertisers in the Republic of Ireland. Currently, Discovery is not sold separately in Ireland.
In October, Sky Media retained the ad sales contract for Discovery Networks UK, a four-year deal starting on 1 January. Sky Media has been its ad sales partner since 2002.
The new Irish Republic contract runs for at least three years and begins on 9 December.
Discovery is available in Ireland through Sky's satellite pay-TV platform and UPC, the country's biggest cable operator.
Martin Heaton Cooper, vice-president of advertising, Discovery Networks UK, said the company has a "valuable commercial relationship with Sky".
