Sky Atlantic

Last updated

Sky Atlantic
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 [lower-alpha 1] 23 April 20202 series, 17 episodes53–93 min.Renewed [14]
Sweetpea Dark comedy Starz/United States10 October 20241 series, 6 episodes41–50 min.Series 1 ongoing
Awaiting release
The Day of the Jackal [15] Thriller Peacock/United States7 November 2024 [16] 1 series, 10 episodesTBAPending
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth [17] [18] Drama Peacock/United States2 January 2025 [19] 1 series, 5 episodesTBAPending

Acquired programming

Upcoming programming

Comedy

TitleGenrePremiereSeriesLengthStatusNotes
Small Town, Big Story [20] Comedy 2025 [21] 1 series, 6 episodesTBAPost-production
The Death of Bunny Munro [22] Comedy TBA1 series, 6 episodesTBAFilming

Acquired programming

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 [lower-alpha 2] 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. [25] Although the channel mainly screens dramas, blocks in the channel's schedule were dedicated to comedies and movies. [26] [27] The launch of Sky Atlantic in 2011 followed the broadcaster's £150m, [28] 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. [29] Although it has been renewed since, the exclusivity deal with HBO is currently set to expire by the end of 2025, [30] allowing for the launch of Max in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy in 2026. [31] Despite this, Sky plan to acquire new and returning series via separate agreements on a programme-by-programme basis, [32] including House of the Dragon , The Last of Us , The White Lotus and Euphoria . [33]

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. [34] 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. [35]

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. [36] 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. [37]

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinemax</span> American movie-focused pay television network

Cinemax, also known as Max, is an American pay television network owned by Home Box Office, Inc., a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched on August 1, 1980, as a "maxi-pay" service to complement the offerings of its parent network, Home Box Office (HBO), Cinemax initially focused on recent and classic films. Today, its programming primarily includes recent and classic theatrically released films, original action series, documentaries, and special behind-the-scenes features.

Starz is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Lionsgate, and is the flagship property of parent subsidiary Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of Starz Encore, programming on Starz consists of theatrically released motion pictures and first-run original television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More4</span> British free-to-air television channel

More4 is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel launched on 10 October 2005. Its programming mainly focuses on lifestyle and documentaries, as well as foreign dramas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnolia Network</span> American cable television channel

Magnolia Network is an American basic cable network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Chip and Joanna Gaines. It broadcasts personality-based lifestyle programs related to topics such as home construction, renovation, and cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HBO</span> American pay television network

Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based at Warner Bros. Discovery's corporate headquarters inside 30 Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Programming featured on the network consists primarily of theatrically released motion pictures and original television programs as well as made-for-cable movies, documentaries, occasional comedy, and concert specials, and periodic interstitial programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HBO Asia</span> Southeast Asian pay television network

HBO Asia is the Asian division of HBO, based out of Singapore. It was originally launched on 1 May 1992 as MovieVision, later rebranding on 1 June 1995 to its current name after being purchased by Home Box Office, Inc. The Singapore-based broadcast network offers channels and services with no advertisements– HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Hits and Cinemax – as well as HBO Go and HBO on Demand. They became the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGM+</span> American pay television network

MGM+, is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by the MGMPlus Entertainment subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which is itself a subsidiary of Amazon MGM Studios. The network's programming consists of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures, original television series, documentaries, and music and comedy specials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HBO Europe</span> Group of television channels owned by HBO

HBO Europe is a premium television group of channels by HBO. It is available as a group of film channels and streaming television services in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Moldova while VOD-only services with original programming is available in Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Portugal.

Channel 5 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's UK and Australia division. It was launched in 30 March 1997 to provide a fifth national terrestrial channel in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount+</span> American video streaming service

Paramount+ is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures, CBS Studios, Paramount Media Networks, and Paramount Pictures, while also including original series and films, live streaming sports coverage, and in the United States, live streaming of local CBS broadcast stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max (streaming service)</span> American video streaming service

Max, formerly and still known in some regions as HBO Max, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. It is a proprietary unit of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Games, which is itself a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The platform offers content from the libraries of Warner Bros., Discovery, HBO, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, TBS, TNT, Eurosport, and their related brands. Max first launched in the United States on May 27, 2020.

Peacock is an American over-the-top subscription streaming service owned and operated by Peacock TV, LLC, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal Media Group. Named after the NBC logo, the service launched on July 15, 2020.

Sky Max is a British pay television channel and on-demand service which launched on 1 September 2021. It is owned and operated by Sky Group, a subsidiary of Comcast. The service broadcasts a variety of drama, comedy-drama, and unscripted series.

References

  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. "Sky Showcase guide to new shows in 2024".
  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. 1 2 "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. "Sky Atlantic to launch today". RTÉ News. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  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. 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. "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. "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. "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. "Sky Atlantic to launch next month". Digital Spy. 5 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  12. "Sky Atlantic +1 launching, September 20th". imediamonkey. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  13. Goldbart, Max (6 February 2023). "'Save Me' Season Three In Development At Sky". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  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. 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.
  16. Shafer, Ellise (27 July 2024). "The Day of the Jackal Teaser: Eddie Redmayne Is an Elusive Assassin in Peacock and Sky Series". Variety. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Goldbart, Max (14 October 2024). "'Lockerbie: A Search for Truth': Peacock & Sky Unveil Trailer For Colin Firth Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  20. Yossman, K.J. (7 September 2023). "Christina Hendricks, Paddy Considine to Star in Chris O'Dowd's Sky Drama Small Town, Big Story". Variety . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  21. "Watch Small Town, Big Story". Sky.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  22. 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.
  23. "Dune: Prophecy coming exclusively to Sky and NOW in 2024". Sky Group . Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  24. "Dune: Prophecy coming exclusively to Sky and NOW on November 18, as official trailer released". Sky Group . Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  25. 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.
  26. "Welcome to Sky Atlantic HD" (PDF). Sky Media. 16 November 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  27. "Programme Information Highlights; February Sky Atlantic" (PDF). Sky Programme Information. 21 December 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  28. 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.
  29. "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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. Whittock, Jesse (22 August 2024). "Sky's Content Boss Addresses Future Relationship With Incoming UK Streamer Max: "Remember We're Both A Platform And Broadcast Business" — Edinburgh". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  33. Mata, William (30 September 2024). "Sky files lawsuit against Warner Bros for 'cutting it out' of Harry Potter series". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  34. 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.
  35. "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.
  36. "Four-screen dashboard | BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  37. "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.