Sky Atlantic

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Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic - Logo 2020.svg
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast area
  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed.)
Timeshift serviceSky Atlantic +1
Ownership
OwnerSky Group (Comcast)
Sister channelsBlaze
Challenge
Crime & Investigation
Lifetime
Pick
Sky Arts
Sky Cinema
Sky Comedy
Sky Crime
Sky Documentaries
Sky History
Sky History 2
Sky Max
Sky Nature
Sky News
Sky Showcase
Sky Sports
Sky Sports Box Office
Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports Racing
Sky Witness
History
Launched1 February 2011; 10 years ago (2011-02-01)
ReplacedChannel One
Links
Websiteskyatlantic.sky.com
Availability
Satellite
Sky (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland)Channel 108 (SD/HD)
Channel 208 (+1)
Channel 808 (SD)
On Demand
Sky (Wales)Channel 109 (SD/HD)
Channel 209 (+1)
Channel 808 (SD)
On Demand
IPTV
BT TV (via Now TV)Channel 342
Channel 357 (HD)
Streaming media
Sky GoWatch live (UK and Ireland only)
Now TVWatch live (UK and Ireland only)
Sky Atlantic VIP
Sky Atlantic VIP.png
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast area
  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed.)
Ownership
OwnerSky Group (Comcast)
History
Launched25 July 2017; 4 years ago (2017-07-25)
Closed12 June 2019; 2 years ago (2019-06-12)
Links
Websiteskyatlantic.sky.com
Availability
(at time of closure)
Satellite
Sky (UK, Ireland)Channel 994 (SD)
Channel 995 (HD)

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 and until the end of 2021 Showtime dramas, but 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.[1]

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.[2][3][4] 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.[5] Stuart Murphy extended his responsibilities to become director of programmes for Sky One, Sky Two, Pick and Sky Atlantic.[3] On 5 May 2011, Elaine Pyke, the head of drama at Sky, was promoted to director of Sky Atlantic, reporting to Murphy.[6]

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,[7] in Virgin's case due to pricing.[8]

It was announced on 25 October 2010 that Sky Atlantic would launch on Sky channel 108, which was previously occupied by Sky 3.[9] 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.[10]

Sky Atlantic +1[]

A one-hour timeshift of Sky Atlantic started broadcasting on 20 September 2012 on channel 173.[11] 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.

Programming[]

Sky Atlantic relies heavily on screenings of US television programmes, with 50% of all programming coming from HBO.[12] Although the channel mainly screens dramas, blocks in the channel's schedule are dedicated to comedies and movies.[13][14] The launch of Sky Atlantic followed the broadcaster's £150m,[15] 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.[16]

In January 2016, Sky expanded the portfolio shown on Atlantic, after purchasing exclusive rights to Showtime programming; however, Sky does not have rights to all Showtime programmes, as some of the shows are aired on Channel 4.

First run US programmes[]

Original programming[]

For Italian Sky Atlantic original programmes, see Sky Atlantic (Italy).

Drama[]

Title Genre Premiere Series Length Status Notes
Riviera Drama June 15, 2017 3 series, 28 episodes 41 – 50 min. Pending
Britannia Historical fantasy January 18, 2018 3 series, 27 episodes 40 – 73 min. Pending Co-production with
  • Amazon Prime Video (Series 1)
  • Epix (Series 3 – present)[17]
Save Me Drama February 28, 2018 2 series, 12 episodes 46 – 51 min. Pending
Gangs of London Action crime thriller April 23, 2020 1 series, 9 episodes 53 – 93 min. Renewed[18] Co-production with
  • Cinemax (Series 1)
  • AMC (Series 2)
I Hate Suzie Dark dramedy August 27, 2020 1 series, 8 episodes 37 – 46 min. Renewed,[19] moved to Sky Max[20]
Domina Historical drama May 14, 2021 1 series, 8 episodes 48 – 55 min. Pending
  • Co-production with Sky Italy
  • Simultaneously premiered on Sky Atlantic (Italy)

Former[]

Drama[]

Title First broadcast Last broadcast Episodes Notes
Hit & Miss 2012 2012 1 series, 6 episodes
Hunderby 2012 2015 2 series, 10 episodes
Fortitude 2015 2018 3 series, 26 episodes
Tin Star 2017 2020 3 series, 25 episodes
Little Birds 2020 2020 6 episodes Miniseries

Comedy[]

Title First broadcast Last broadcast Episodes Notes
Mr. Sloane 2014 2014 1 series, 6 episodes
Camping 2016 2016 1 series, 6 episodes

Co-productions[]

Title First broadcast Last broadcast Episodes Notes
The Tunnel 2013 2017 3 series, 24 episodes Co-production with Canal+
Penny Dreadful 2014 2016 3 series, 27 episodes Co-production with Showtime
The Last Panthers 2015 2015 1 series, 6 episodes Co-production with Canal+
Patrick Melrose 2018 2018 5 episodes Co-production with Showtime
Sally4Ever 2018 2018 1 series, 7 episodes Co-production with HBO
Chernobyl 2019 2019 5 episodes Co-production with HBO

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.[21] 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.[22]

Rank Programme Episode Number of Viewers Date
1 Game of Thrones 8.04 – The Last of the Starks 5,430,451 6 May 2019
2 8.02 – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 5,266,034 22 April 2019
4 8.05 – The Bells 5,039,355 13 May 2019
3 8.06 – The Iron Throne 5,011,277 20 May 2019
5 8.03 – The Long Night 4,983,910 29 April 2019
6 8.01 – Winterfell 4,380,834 15 April 2019
7 7.07 – The Dragon and the Wolf 3,535,000 28 August 2017
8 7.01 – Dragonstone 3,487,000 17 July 2017
9 7.05 – Eastwatch 3,420,000 14 August 2017
10 7.03 – The Queen's Justice 3,263,000 31 July 2017

References[]

  1. ^ "How can I watch Sky Atlantic? | Virgin, NOW TV, TalkTalk & BT - Cable.co.uk". Cable.
  2. ^ "Sky Atlantic: The Home of World Class Television". British Sky Broadcasting. 23 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Sky Atlantic HD is new home of HBO & Mad Men". British Sky Broadcasting. 1 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Sky Atlantic to launch today". RTÉ News. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Sky to launch Sky Atlantic channel". Digital Spy. 1 October 2010.
  6. ^ Sweney, Mark (5 May 2011). "BSkyB promotes Elaine Pyke to Sky Atlantic director". The Guardian. London.
  7. ^ "Rivals miss out as Sky launches Atlantic channel". The Independent. London. 6 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Virgin Media to miss out on Sky Atlantic". Digital Spy. 4 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Sky confirms strengthened entertainment line-up". British Sky Broadcasting. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  10. ^ "Sky Atlantic to launch next month". Digital Spy. 5 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Sky Atlantic +1 launching, September 20th". imediamonkey. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  12. ^ Baker, Matt (31 January 2011). "BSkyB bets on Sky Atlantic to boost subscriber numbers". The Guardian. London.
  13. ^ "Welcome to Sky Atlantic HD" (PDF). Sky Media. 16 November 2010.
  14. ^ "Programme Information Highlights; February Sky Atlantic" (PDF). Sky Programme Information. 21 December 2010.
  15. ^ Sweney, Mark (1 October 2010). "BSkyB to launch Sky Atlantic". London: guardian.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Sky agrees output deal to become the UK home of HBO". British Sky Broadcasting. 29 July 2010.
  17. ^ White, Peter (29 June 2020). "Epix Boards Sky Historical Drama 'Britannia', Will Co-Produce Season 3, Air Seasons 1 & 2". Deadline.
  18. ^ White, Peter (24 June 2020). "AMC Boards Sky Drama 'Gangs of London' After HBO's Cinemax Pulls Out; Thriller Renewed for Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. ^ Kanter, Jake (19 February 2021). "Sky Renews 'I Hate Suzie' For Second Season". Deadline. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  20. ^ "What to watch on Sky and NOW in 2022".
  21. ^ "Four-screen dashboard | BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Game of Thrones most popular Sky series ever with 5m viewers". The Guardian. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2019.

External links[]

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