Sky Portfolio Changes

[TMD_24]

Sky One is to be retired in September and replaced with with Sky Showcase. Entertainment on Sky One currently will be moved to a new channel called Sky Max.

https://deadline.com/2021/07/comcast-sky...234800769/

[XIII]

Sky Max sounds like Sky One in all but name. Not keen on them rebranding Sky Comedy as Sky Original Comedy, the current name is fine.

[Ash101]

I think I understand the thinking behind this, but will Sky Showcase just become a bit of a mess of a channel? If the idea is to 'showcase' content from across the wider Sky network, does it means it won't show full series? Just the odd episode with the idea of sending you off to the show's main channel to watch the full series?

Sky Max sounds like Sky One in all but name. Not keen on them rebranding Sky Comedy as Sky Original Comedy, the current name is fine.

I don't quite get the Comedy bit, as the full list of channels at the end of the article still lists it without the word 'original'...
The name doesn't work if they're showing the US comedy repeats that currently make up the channel anyway, as they're not 'original'? It does make sense to have all the Sky comedy shows on one channel though!

I wonder where The Simpsons will air? Max is said to be for originals?

[OldSkoollCITV]

Not surprised about the changes but Sky One brand has been the sore thumb since the genre based channels launched.

Sky Max is likely to have to the different ring to Sky One as in the streaming age there is no call for all rounded entertainment channel for pay TV.

[JetixFann450]

I understand the existence of Sky Max, plus generally speaking it's a better name when Sky One doesn't mean much as Sky's main channel anymore. But what I don't understand the existence of is Sky Showcase. I mean, Sky Replay rebranded to be a "showcase" of Sky One and Sky Witness, so what exactly are Sky planning here? A hodgepodge of a shop window for the service you already have?

Shouldn't Sky Max be "replacing" Sky One in theory instead? Why do you need a linear shop window channel when the channels are just a few clicks away and the on-demand services exist for that choice alone? Why do you need a scheduler to figure out what to put on at that specific time? What's going on with the rights of The Simpsons? The reshuffle raises more questions than it raises answers.

[London Lite]

I take it The Simpsons will move to Max?

[Rex]

Took a fair bit to understand this, Sky Max makes total sense to launch. Over the last few years Sky have essentially seen that their genre based channels have strengthened their entertainment lineup and plugged major gaps in the EPG with the closures of previous pay TV services. Also theres a clearer focus with original programming; Sky One became diluted over time and there's really no way to keep a well rounded channel in the age of streaming.

Sky Showcase should be easily approached as the Sky entertainment channels' very own Main Event much like Sky Sports is. Its linear only but at least it gets actual new content that funnels down to on demand if you want to continue.

Lastly. Sky Replay being closed doesnt surprise me, the channel has been on life support for a long time with the age of sky box sets. The shop window aspect of Replay has basically been rejuvenated with Showcase

[London Lite]

Well at least Max will be all entertainment and not used to piggy back football matches on.

[Lyric W.]

Sky Replay being closed doesnt surprise me

I didn't see anything about Sky Replay being closed in the article - but then I really took a look at it - I didn't see Replay in the "new-look portfolio" section

[Rex]

I take it The Simpsons will move to Max?

Showcase will show the Simpsons. They only have linear rights to the show.

Sky Max will be on EPG 113 according to Broadcast as well

[JetixFann450]

Also happened to notice a bit of irony on the closure of Sky One.

The original Sky 2 incarnation closed on the 31st of August, 1997, the same day as Diana's death, and Sky One (as a name) will die on quite a close date on the 1st of September. I seem to notice a trend of channels closing near their birthdays or coincidental dates. (i.e: Disney Channel)

[Lyric W.]

Sky One (as a name) will die on quite a close date on the 1st of September

Where did you get that information?

[RegularCapital]

Sky One (as a name) will die on quite a close date on the 1st of September

Where did you get that information?

It's mentioned on the MediaMole article: https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertainmen...57140.html

[nwtv2003]

From reading this, they’re effectively splitting the current Sky One into two channels, Showcase doing the showing of other Sky channel content like what Sky One currently does with Sport, and Max is the new home for the Sky One originals.

Sky Showcase appears to be doing what it says on the tin. To me this just reiterates Sky’s new way of doing things of having linear channels for On Demand content.

It’s a shame to lose the Sky One name, but it’s been diluted and going that way for several years now.

[Kunst]

r

Sky Max sounds like Sky One in all but name. Not keen on them rebranding Sky Comedy as Sky Original Comedy, the current name is fine.

Sky Comedy will stay intact.

Sky Max sounds similar to Sky One, but I guess it'll be treated as the channel for the stuff which has no home elsewhere on the other genre channels, it seems
So I guess mainly action, animation and some local productions, that's mostly all

I'm not sure how to feel about this news; it's obvious they want more ratings from the main channel, but it impoverish the target of their genre channels, and especially Sky Max.
Moreover, it's a bit inconsistent. Sky Showcase will still have The Simpsons!

(Sky Uno in Italy is more a lifestyle/live events/reality show channels, so it'll be interesting to see how they'll deal with that, if they will)