25-08-2021, 12:04 AM
From what is seen, Sky Showcase's schedule looks similar to the programming schedules of the big five channels, a bit watered-down, however, with a focus on scripted content, so, it looks, without any doubt, promising. The thing is that the channel will be available only on Sky, Virgin, BT and other pay TV systems, with no plans to make it available on Freeview and Freesat. However, I wonder if there are plans to make the channel available on these platforms as a replacement for Pick, which has largely become a "pass-through" for archival programming in recent years, way long from its origin in Sky Three (which had a similar remit to that of Sky Showcase). Sky shouldn't waste the slot it was assigned for Pick, better close the channel altogether and place Sky Showcase in that slot. Therefore, Sky can have a larger presence in Freeview, with the channel sitting with Sky News, Sky Arts and Challenge (which IMO should stay as it is, maybe, just maybe, rebranding it as Sky Challenge).