Comcast's ambitious plans to launch a new international news channel have reportedly been ditched as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the company's acquisition of Sky in 2018, Comcast announced proposals to unite the NBC and Sky brands in a new global endeavour called 'NBC Sky World News'.

The new channel was slated to launch later this year and was planning to position itself as a rival to CNN International with a launch staff of between 100 to 200 operating out of eight new bureaus around the world and a headquarters in London.

According to the Financial Times, however, staff were informed on Wednesday that the financial implications of COVID-19 mean that Comcast has deemed the new venture unviable in the current climate.

More than 50 staff had already been hired for NBC Sky World News, and they will now be consulted on the plans to shelve the channel while being given the ability "to suggest alternative options".