Sky Atlantic

Last updated

Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic - Logo 2020.svg
Logo used since 1 October 2020
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast area
  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed.)
Timeshift serviceSky Atlantic +1
Ownership
Owner Sky Group (Comcast)
Sister channels List of Sky UK channels
History
Launched1 February 2011;13 years ago (2011-02-01)
Replaced Channel One
Bravo
Links
Website www.sky.com/watch/channel/sky-atlantic
Availability
Streaming media
Sky Go Watch live (UK and Ireland only)
Now Watch live (UK and Ireland only)
Sky Atlantic VIP
Logo used from 2017 to 2019
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast area
  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed.)
Ownership
Owner Sky Group (Comcast)
History
Launched25 July 2017;7 years ago (2017-07-25)
Closed12 June 2019;5 years ago (2019-06-12)
Links
Website skyatlantic.sky.com

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]

Contents

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

Drama

TitleGenrePremiereSeriesLengthStatusNotes
Save Me Mystery drama 28 February 20182 series, 12 episodes46–51 min.Renewed for final series [13] Retitled Save Me Too for the second series

Co-productions

TitleGenrePartner/CountryPremiereSeriesLengthStatusNotes
Gangs of London Action crime drama AMC/United States [a] 23 April 20202 series, 17 episodes53–93 min.Renewed [14]
Sweetpea Dark comedy Starz/United States10 October 20241 series, 6 episodes41–50 min.Renewed [15]
The Day of the Jackal Thriller Peacock/United States7 November 20241 series, 10 episodes49–57 min.Series 1 ongoing
Renewed [16]
Awaiting release
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth [17] [18] Drama Peacock/United States2 January 2025 [19] 1 series, 5 episodesTBAPending

Acquired programming

Upcoming programming

Comedy

TitleGenrePremiereSeriesLengthStatusNotes
The Death of Bunny Munro [20] Comedy 2025 [21] 1 series, 6 episodesTBAPost-production
Small Town, Big Story [22] Comedy 2025 [23] 1 series, 6 episodesTBAPost-production

Former programming

Drama

TitleGenreOriginal BroadcastSeriesNotes
Hit & Miss Crime drama 20121 series, 6 episodes
The British Docudrama 20121 series, 7 episodes
Fortitude Psychological thriller 2015–183 series, 26 episodes
Riviera Crime drama 2017–203 series, 28 episodes
Tin Star Crime drama 2017–203 series, 25 episodes
Little Birds Historical romance drama 20201 series, 6 episodes
This England Biographical drama 20221 series, 6 episodes

Comedy

TitleGenreOriginal BroadcastSeriesNotes
This is Jinsy Comedy 2011–142 series, 17 episodesPreviously aired the pilot episode on BBC Three
Walking and Talking Teen comedy 20121 series, 4 episodes
Hunderby Historical black comedy 2012–152 series, 10 episodes
Common Ground Comedy 20131 series, 10 episodes
Mr. Sloane Historical comedy 20141 series, 6 episodes
Doll & Em (series 2) Comedy 20151 series, 6 episodesPreviously aired on Sky Living for series 1.
Camping Comedy 20161 series, 6 episodes
The Trip (series 3) Sitcom 20171 series, 6 episodesPreviously aired on BBC Two for series 1–2. Moved to Sky One for series 4.
I Hate Suzie Black comedy 2020–222 series, 11 episodesRetitled I Hate Suzie Too for the second series
Dreamland Comedy 20231 series, 6 episodes

Unscripted

TitleGenreOriginal BroadcastSeriesNotes
Thronecast Talk show 2011–198 series, 77 episodes Aftershow for Game of Thrones
The Devil's Dinner Party Game show 2011–121 series, 20 episodes
Cleverdicks Game show 20121 series, 30 episodes
Morgan Spurlock's New Britannia Talk show 20121 series, 10 episodes
God Save The Queens Docuseries 20121 series, 3 episodes
Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge Radio show 2012–162 series, 12 episodesEdited version of the web series of the same name
Adam Buxton's Bug Stand-up 20121 series, 8 episodes
Ronna and Beverly Talk show 20121 series, 6 episodes
Don't Sit In The Front Row Stand-up 2012–132 series, 16 episodes
Set List: Stand Up Without a Net Stand-up 2013–142 series, 14 episodes

Co-productions

TitleGenrePartner/CountryOriginal BroadcastSeriesNotes
Falcón Crime drama Canal+/France
ZDF/Germany
20121 series, 4 episodes
The Tunnel Crime drama Canal+/France2013–173 series, 24 episodes
Penny Dreadful Dark fantasy drama Showtime/United States2014–163 series, 27 episodes
The Last Panthers Crime drama Canal+/France20151 series, 6 episodes
Guerrilla Historical drama Showtime/United States20171 series, 6 episodes
Britannia Historical fantasy Amazon Prime Video (series 1)
Epix/United States (series 2–3)
2018–213 series, 27 episodes
Patrick Melrose Drama Showtime/United States20181 series, 5 episodes
Sally4Ever Comedy HBO/United States20181 series, 7 episodes
Chernobyl Historical drama HBO/United States20191 series, 5 episodes
Catherine the Great Historical drama HBO/United States20191 series, 4 episodes
Upright (series 1) Comedy drama Fox Showcase/Australia20191 series, 8 episodesMoved to Sky Comedy for series 2.
The End Drama Fox Showcase/Australia20201 series, 10 episodes
The Third Day Psychological thriller HBO/United States20201 series, 6 episodes
Domina Historical drama Sky Atlantic/Italy
MGM+/United States (series 2)
2021–232 series, 16 episodes
Landscapers True crime comedy drama HBO/United States20211 series, 4 episodes
The Baby Horror comedy HBO/United States20221 series, 8 episodes
The Lovers Romantic comedy Sundance Now/United States20231 series, 6 episodes
Mary & George Historical drama Starz/United States [b] 20241 series, 7 episodes
The Tattooist of Auschwitz Historical drama Peacock/United States
Stan/Australia
20241 series, 6 episodes

Acquired programming

Sky Atlantic relies heavily on screenings of US television programmes, with more than 50% of all programming coming from HBO. [24] Although the channel mainly screens dramas, blocks in the channel's schedule were dedicated to comedies and movies. [25] [26] The launch of Sky Atlantic in 2011 followed the broadcaster's £150m, [27] 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. [28] Although it has been renewed since, the exclusivity deal with HBO is currently set to expire by the end of 2025, [29] allowing for the launch of Max in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy in 2026. [30] Despite this, Sky plan to acquire new and returning series via separate agreements on a programme-by-programme basis, [31] including House of the Dragon , The Last of Us , The White Lotus and Euphoria . [32]

In January 2016, Sky expanded the acquired programming on Atlantic after purchasing the broadcast rights to Showtime programming; however, Sky Atlantic does not broadcast all Showtime programmes, as some series would later air on Channel 4 as part of a separate deal. [33] The deal with Showtime expired in December 2021, with all future series becoming exclusive to Paramount+, while a separate agreement allowed Billions to continue on Sky. [34]

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. [35] 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. [36]

RankProgrammeEpisodeNumber
of viewers
Date
1 Game of Thrones 8.04 – The Last of the Starks 5,430,4516 May 2019
28.02 – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 5,266,03422 April 2019
48.05 – The Bells 5,039,35513 May 2019
38.06 – The Iron Throne 5,011,27720 May 2019
58.03 – The Long Night 4,983,91029 April 2019
68.01 – Winterfell 4,380,83415 April 2019
77.07 – The Dragon and the Wolf 3,535,00028 August 2017
87.01 – Dragonstone 3,487,00017 July 2017
97.05 – Eastwatch 3,420,00014 August 2017
107.03 – The Queen's Justice 3,263,00031 July 2017

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

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