Sky Atlantic
| Sky Atlantic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 1 February 2011 |
| Owned by | Sky plc |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9/4:3) (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audience share |
0.2% ~0.0% (+1) (September 2014, BARB) |
| Slogan | The Home of World Class Television[1]/The Home of HBO[2]/Let The Stories Begin |
| Country | United Kingdom, Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom, Ireland |
| Sister channel(s) |
Challenge, Pick, Sky 1, Sky 2, Sky Arts, Sky Living, Sky Livingit, Sky Movies, Sky Movies Box Office, Sky News, Sky Sports, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports News HQ |
| Timeshift service | Sky Atlantic +1 |
| Website | skyatlantic.sky.com |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky |
Channel 108 (SD/HD) Channel 173 (+1) Channel 228 (SD) On Demand |
| Streaming media | |
| Sky Go | Watch live (UK and Ireland only) |
| Now TV | Watch live (UK only) |
Sky Atlantic is a television channel brand owned and operated by Sky plc. It broadcasts in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Separate channels with the same name also operate in Germany, Italy and Austria.
It launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1][3][4]
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 1, Sky 2, 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. 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 Sky3.[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 231.[10]
A one hour timeshift of Sky Atlantic started broadcasting on 20 September on channel 173.[11]
Programming
Sky Atlantic relies heavily on screenings of US television programmes, with 40% of all programming coming from HBO.[12] Although the channel mainly screens dramas, there are blocks in the schedule 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]
US Drama
Original Drama
Most watched programmes
The following is a list of the ten most watched shows on Sky Atlantic, based on Live +7 data supplied by BARB up to 19 April 2015.[17] The number of viewers does not include repeats.
| Rank | Show | Episode | Number of Viewers | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Game of Thrones | 5.01 – The Wars to Come | 2,633,000 | 13 April 2015 |
| 2 | Game of Thrones | 4.10 – The Children | 1,850,000 | 16 June 2014 |
| 3 | Game of Thrones | 4.08 – The Mountain and the Viper | 1,811,000 | 2 June 2014 |
| 4 | Game of Thrones | 4.09 – The Watchers on the Wall | 1,748,000 | 9 June 2014 |
| 5 | Game of Thrones | 4.03 – Breaker of Chains | 1,665,000 | 21 April 2014 |
| 6 | Game of Thrones | 4.06 – The Laws of Gods and Men | 1,657,000 | 12 May 2014 |
| 7 | Game of Thrones | 4.05 – First of His Name | 1,643,000 | 5 May 2014 |
| 8 | Game of Thrones | 4.07 – Mockingbird | 1,639,000 | 19 May 2014 |
| 9 | Game of Thrones | 4.04 – Oathkeeper | 1,598,000 | 28 April 2014 |
| 10 | Fortitude | 1.01 – Episode 1 | 1,526,000 | 29 January 2015 |
Future programming
- The Affair (May 2015)[18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sky Atlantic: The Home of World Class Television". British Sky Broadcasting. 23 December 2010.
- ↑ "Sky Atlantic UK". British Sky Broadcasting. YouTube. 23 December 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sky Atlantic HD is new home of HBO & Mad Men". British Sky Broadcasting. 1 October 2010.
- ↑ "Sky Atlantic to launch today". RTÉ News. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ↑ "Sky to launch Sky Atlantic channel". Digital Spy. 1 October 2010.
- ↑ Sweney, Mark (5 May 2011). "BSkyB promotes Elaine Pyke to Sky Atlantic director". London: The Guardian.
- ↑ "Rivals miss out as Sky launches Atlantic channel". London: The Independent. 6 January 2011.
- ↑ "Virgin Media to miss out on Sky Atlantic". Digital Spy. 4 February 2011.
- ↑ "Sky confirms strengthened entertainment line-up". British Sky Broadcasting. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ↑ "Sky Atlantic to launch next month". Digital Spy. 5 January 2011.
- ↑ "Sky Atlantic +1 launching, September 20th". imediamonkey. 4 September 2012.
- ↑ Baker, Matt (31 January 2011). "BSkyB bets on Sky Atlantic to boost subscriber numbers". London: The Guardian.
- ↑ "Welcome to Sky Atlantic HD" (PDF). Sky Media. 16 November 2010.
- ↑ "Programme Information Highlights; February Sky Atlantic" (PDF). Sky Programme Information. 21 December 2010.
- ↑ Sweney, Mark (1 October 2010). "BSkyB to launch Sky Atlantic". London: guardian.co.uk.
- ↑ "Sky agrees output deal to become the UK home of HBO". British Sky Broadcasting. 29 July 2010.
- ↑ BARB, via
- ↑ Munn, Patrick (20 March 2015). "Sky Atlantic Acquires UK Rights To Showtime’s ‘The Affair’, Eyes May Premiere". TV Wise. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
External links
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