Sky_Atlantic

Sky Atlantic

Sky Atlantic

British television channel

Sky Atlantic is a British pay television channel owned by Sky Group Limited broadcast in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel is primarily dedicated to imported programmes from the United States, and holds the domestic rights to HBO programming until 2025 (this doesn't cover Max original programming). It also broadcasts many original British produced Sky dramas. It is exclusively available on the Sky satellite TV platform (including Sky Go) and Sky's Now TV platform. Unlike the other channels from Sky Group, Sky Atlantic is not on Virgin Media.[1] On 15 January 2024, select programming begun being simulcast on Sky Showcase.[2]

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Sky Deutschland broadcasts a German-language version of the channel in Germany and Austria, while Sky Italia broadcasts an Italian-language version of the channel in Italy. Their programming is also dominated by HBO and Showtime series, usually dubbed in the domestic language. The Italian channel also premieres Sky Originals produced in the country, like The Young Pope and Gomorrah.

Background

Sky Atlantic launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[3][4][5] Separated channels with the same name operate in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Sky Atlantic is available in both standard definition and high definition, the latter on Sky Atlantic HD.[6] Stuart Murphy extended his responsibilities to become director of programmes for Sky One, Sky Two, Pick and Sky Atlantic.[4] On 5 May 2011, Elaine Pyke, the head of drama at Sky, was promoted to director of Sky Atlantic, reporting to Murphy.[7]

Programmes on the channel are also offered to Sky customers via on-demand channels including the On Demand and Sky Go services and Now TV. Both BT TV and Virgin Media had held talks with Sky over the new channel but have been unable to agree a carriage deal,[8] in Virgin's case due to pricing.[9]

It was announced on 25 October 2010 that Sky Atlantic would launch on Sky channel 108, which was previously occupied by Sky 3.[10] Sky Atlantic also utilises the HD swap bouquet system developed by Sky, which switches SD channels with HD channels for HD Pack subscribers, meaning Sky Atlantic HD is on channel 108 and the standard definition version appears on channel 808.[11]

Sky Atlantic +1

A one-hour timeshift of Sky Atlantic started broadcasting on 20 September 2012 on channel 173.[12] It moved to channel 170 on 9 June 2015 as part of a reshuffle which also included the closure of Sky 3D, Sky Livingit becoming Real Lives and Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2 merging to become simply Sky Arts. It moved to channel 217 on 18 July 2017 as part of the Sky Sports reshuffle which included Sky Sports Mix moving to entertainment, and again to 208 on 1 May 2018 as part of Sky's major EPG reshuffle due to Sky Atlantic being channel 108.

Sky Atlantic VIP

Sky Atlantic VIP was a rewards channel for subscribers of Sky TV who had been with Sky for 2 or more years and for subscribers who had the Sky Original Bundle (later Sky Entertainment pack, then Sky Signature pack). The HD version also required the HD pack in the UK and the Sky Box Sets pack in Ireland.

The channel only broadcast brand new episodes of a popular show a week or so before being shown on the main Sky Atlantic channel. An example of this is when episodes of Riviera were shown first on Sky Atlantic VIP, then a week or so later on Sky Atlantic. Sky Atlantic VIP was under Sky VIP's "See-It-First" offer. Sky VIP is a rewards programme for long-term Sky subscribers.

When the channel was not broadcasting a brand new episode of a programme, the channel was off-air resulting in the channel being on-air only for a few hours per week. The channel only broadcast adverts for programmes on Sky channels. The SD version was on Sky channel 994 with the HD version on channel 995. The channel closed on 12 June 2019.

Current programming

For Italian Sky Atlantic original programmes, see Sky Atlantic (Italian TV channel).

Drama

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Co-productions

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Acquired programming

Upcoming programming

Comedy

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Co-productions

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Acquired programming

Former programming

Drama

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Comedy

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Unscripted

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Acquired programming

Sky Atlantic relies heavily on screenings of US television programmes, with more than 50% of all programming coming from HBO.[23] Although the channel mainly screens dramas, blocks in the channel's schedule are dedicated to comedies and movies.[24][25] The launch of Sky Atlantic in 2011 followed the broadcaster's £150m,[26] five-year deal to buy exclusive UK and Irish TV rights to HBO's entire archive, new HBO programming and a first-look deal on all co-productions.[27] Although it has been renewed since, the exclusivity deal with HBO is currently set to expire by the end of 2025, allowing for the launch of Max in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy.[28][29]

In January 2016, Sky expanded the acquired programming on Atlantic after purchasing the exclusive rights to Showtime programming; however, Sky Atlantic does not broadcast all Showtime programmes, as some series would later air on Channel 4.[30] The exclusivity deal with Showtime expired in December 2021, with future series becoming exclusive to Paramount+.[31]

HBO programming

Showtime programming

Most watched programmes

The following is a list of the ten most watched programmes on Sky Atlantic (all of them being episodes of Game of Thrones), based on Live +7 data supplied by BARB up to 20 May 2019.[32] The number of viewers does not include repeats or Irish ratings. Additionally, all of these episodes were the most viewed programme of the week on non-terrestrial television in the UK. Game of Thrones is Sky's most popular show.[33]

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Notes

  1. The first series was initially co-produced with Cinemax but was later moved to AMC who became co-producers from the second series onwards.
  2. HBO Max / Max programming
  3. The series was initially co-produced with AMC but was later moved to Starz.
  4. Cinemax programming
  5. Moved to Sky Comedy for season 4
  6. Moved to Sky Comedy for seasons 11–12
  7. Moved to Sky Comedy for seasons 4–5
  8. Moved to Sky Comedy for season 7 onwards
  9. Moved to Sky Comedy for season 18 onwards
  10. Moved to Sky Comedy for seasons 2–4
  11. Moved to Amazon Prime Video for season 2
  12. Moved to Sky Comedy for season 3
  13. Moved to Paramount+ for season 3
  14. Moved to Paramount+ for Ray Donovan: The Movie
  15. Moved to Paramount+ for season 2 onwards
  16. Moved to Paramount+ for season 2

References

  1. [1]
    "How can I watch Sky Atlantic? | Virgin, NOW TV, TalkTalk & BT - Cable.co.uk". Cable. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Sky Showcase guide to new shows in 2024".
  3. [3]
    "Sky Atlantic: The Home of World Class Television". British Sky Broadcasting. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  4. [4]
    "Sky Atlantic HD is new home of HBO & Mad Men". British Sky Broadcasting. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  5. [5]
    "Sky Atlantic to launch today". RTÉ News. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  6. [6]
    "Sky to launch Sky Atlantic channel". Digital Spy. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  7. [7]
    Sweney, Mark (5 May 2011). "BSkyB promotes Elaine Pyke to Sky Atlantic director". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Rivals miss out as Sky launches Atlantic channel". The Independent. London. 6 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Virgin Media to miss out on Sky Atlantic". Digital Spy. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  10. [10]
    "Sky confirms strengthened entertainment line-up". British Sky Broadcasting. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  11. [11]
    "Sky Atlantic to launch next month". Digital Spy. 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  12. [12]
    "Sky Atlantic +1 launching, September 20th". imediamonkey. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  13. [13]
    Goldbart, Max (6 February 2023). "'Save Me' Season Three In Development At Sky". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  14. [14]
    Akinwumi, Stella (30 November 2022). "Gangs of London renewed for season 3 and fans are already buzzing". Metro. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  15. [15]
    White, Peter (12 February 2020). "Top Of The Lake Producer See-Saw Films Adapting American Psycho-Meets-Fleabag Novel Sweetpea For Sky Atlantic With Pure Writer Kirstie Swain". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  16. [16]
    Banks, Ethan (17 November 2023). "Sky Atlantic Sweetpea: Southend turns into film set for show". Echo-News. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  17. [17]
    "What to watch in 2024". Sky Group. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  18. [18]
    Goldbart, Max (28 November 2023). "Matt Smith To Helm Adaptation Of Nick Cave Novel The Death Of Bunny Munro For Sky". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  19. [19]
    Goldbart, Max (3 November 2022). "The Day Of The Jackal TV Adaptation Greenlit By Sky & Peacock With Top Boy Showrunner Ronan Bennett Attached". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  20. [20]
    Goldbart, Max (24 February 2022). "Sky & Peacock Behind Miniseries About Notorious Lockerbie Disaster; Oscar-Nominated Jim And Kirsten Sheridan To Write". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  21. [21]
    Whittock, Jesse (23 January 2024). "Colin Firth To Star In Sky & Peacock Limited Series Lockerbie As Campaigner & Grieving Father Jim Swire". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  22. [22]
    Goldbart, Max (28 May 2024). "Sky Swoops For Max's The Penguin TV Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  23. [23]
    Baker, Matt (31 January 2011). "BSkyB bets on Sky Atlantic to boost subscriber numbers". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  24. [24]
    "Welcome to Sky Atlantic HD" (PDF). Sky Media. 16 November 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  25. [25]
    "Programme Information Highlights; February Sky Atlantic" (PDF). Sky Programme Information. 21 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
  26. [26]
    Sweney, Mark (1 October 2010). "BSkyB to launch Sky Atlantic". London: guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  27. [27]
    "Sky agrees output deal to become the UK home of HBO". British Sky Broadcasting. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  28. [28]
    Hayes, David (8 September 2021). "HBO Max Confirms European Launch Date & Initial Territories". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  29. [29]
    Whittock, Jesse (26 August 2022). "Sky's Content Pact With HBO "Will Continue One Way Or The Other" — Edinburgh TV Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  30. [30]
    Szalai, Georg (21 January 2016). "Pan-European Pay TV Giant Sky Strikes Exclusive Deal for Showtime Programming". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  31. [31]
    "PARAMOUNT+ REVEALS UK LAUNCH DATE, PRICING, DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS & MORE" (Press release). Paramount Global. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  32. [32]
    "Four-screen dashboard | BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  33. [33]
    "Game of Thrones most popular Sky series ever with 5m viewers". The Guardian. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
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