topic Re: Sky New Channel Layout in What's On

Sky 1 is coming back...

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:36:48 GMT

Heard that sky one is coming back to replace sky max, announcement is planned for press event on 24th Feb

Moderator note: subject of thread updated to better reflect the conversation

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:28:12 GMT

Announcement is due at the end of this month according to a reliable poster on DS, launching on 23rd February, Sky Showcase and Sky Max are going.

I know the former Sky One Original Comedy pre September 2021 is leaving Sky Comedy on 23rd February along with Saturday Night Live

HBO Max launches in the UK & Ireland in late March I will add

https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/hbo-max-goes-live-eight-new-countries-including-germany-and-italy-highly-anticipated?language_content_entity=en

Lack of foresight by Sky I must say in regard to HBO Max future launch.

Re: Sky one

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:46:55 GMT

I wonder if sky comedy channel will go as well ? I personally think they should scrap all the thematic channels in to two really good general entertainment channels plus sky arts

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:00:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I wonder if sky comedy channel will go as well ? I personally think they should scrap all the thematic channels in to two really good general entertainment channels plus sky arts

It isn't closing according to the poster on DS

The Chair Company recently changed to 11th October 2029 after the standard 30 day catch up , although not exclusive after HBO Max launch, Community was also added back in November, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is on Sky Comedy next month, Real Time with Bill Maher from HBO also returns to Sky Comedy on 26th January.

Although lot of back HBO catalogue basically anything pre April 2022 exipres on 25th March (same with Sky Atlantic & Sky Documentaries)

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:16:19 GMT

Arguably they shouldn't have retired Sky One in first place, a short sighted decision by the new Comcast management (Sky Max trademark was applied for January 2021)

Although I am not convinced Sky Originals are a strong enough selling point over the free to air channels

Re: Sky one

RobertS83 — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:12:10 GMT

They need a brand for Sky originals like Disney have done by turning their star brand to Hulu. Maybe have a category called Peacock?

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:56:54 GMT

@RobertS83 wrote:
They need a brand for Sky originals like Disney have done by turning their star brand to Hulu. Maybe have a category called Peacock?

Didn't work out so well the last time they used it...

It would also create confusion

I can't see them using a NBCU brand again.

Re: Sky one

RobertS83 — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:27:24 GMT

@Timelord2018 maybe sky showtime or universal plus like they have in France.

Could be a app on sky products and integrated into now TV like HBO max will be.

Re: Sky one

TimmyBGood — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:21:23 GMT

@RobertS83 wrote:

maybe sky showtime

The 'SkyShowtime' branding is specifically for the Comcast-Paramount Skydance OTT service in the majority of European countries where Sky is not a nationally licensed broadcaster.

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:42:35 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:
@RobertS83 wrote:
maybe sky showtime
The 'SkyShowtime' branding is specifically for the Comcast-Paramount Skydance OTT service in the majority of European countries where Sky is not a nationally licensed broadcaster.

I don't see that happening at all

Re: Sky one

nolte — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:24:30 GMT

@RobertS83 wrote:
They need a brand for Sky originals like Disney have done by turning their star brand to Hulu. Maybe have a category called Peacock?

Isn't the brand for sky originals 'Sky Originals' itself.

It saves any confusion caused by importing brands from elsewhere in the group, which may have different content.

At the time of peacock here, we saw on the forums many questions about content on peacock in the US that wasn't available under the brand here

Re: Sky one

RobertS83 — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:18:07 GMT

It's widely rumoured that there will be changes to the sky portfolio this year so let's see what happens.

One thing that would be welcome whatever happens is for Comcast to show shows in the UK at the same time as NBC does in the USA, instead of 6 months later as we won't have a wait with new paramount or WBD shows soon.

It's common business basics that if you don't change to compete with your competitors you face the risk of loosing the edge.

Re: Sky one

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:43:23 GMT

@RobertS83 wrote:
It's widely rumoured that there will be changes to the sky portfolio this year so let's see what happens.

One thing that would be welcome whatever happens is for Comcast to show shows in the UK at the same time as NBC does in the USA, instead of 6 months later as we won't have a wait with new paramount or WBD shows soon.

It's common business basics that if you don't change to compete with your competitors you face the risk of loosing the edge.

There is a downside with broadcasting some shows at the same time as their US counterpart ( particularly the weekly continuing types of shows). Shows broadcast on TV in the US will regularly take breaks from being broadcast, sometimes a show may be off air for a week or two, othertimes they are off air for several weeks due to mid-season breaks. This typically causes confusion with UK consumers who wonder why for example the first 6 episodes of their favourite shows have aired, but no new episode has been available for the past few weeks.

Its a common complaint we see on the forum a lot, people either complain that a show has started in the US but Sky have delayed the UK broadcasting but we then also get people complaining that a show has stopped after a few episodes and they get disappointed thats because its on a break in the US and will be off air for a couple of months. Ultimately a UK broadcaster will never be able to make everyone happy when choosing how to air these types of US shows as its just not a broadcasting schedule that UK consumers are used to or are even aware of.

Re: Sky one

Marlu-Nyu — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 02:23:33 GMT

It would make sense to close Sky Max and replace it with Sky One, and then rebrand Sky Mix to Sky Showcase. Sky Showcase, in my eyes, should be showcasing what Sky has to offer, give people a movie once a week from Sky Cinema, major news from Sky News and sports events from Sky Sports. Think of like the old "free to view" weekends that Sky offered many years ago, but as a channel

And if they wanted, show the first episodes of popular shows on Netflix, Discovery+, Disney+, Comedy Central, subscription Sky channels, Blaze, Nat Geo, Discovery channels, UKTV channels, etc. to get people to get these services and channels through Sky.

Show the first episode of e.g. The Last of Us on this new free-to-air Sky Showcase, and have the rest of the series on subscription channel Sky Atlantic. Make it like an advertisement channel for what Sky has available instead of a channel nobody watches with cops and border controls. That's not even what Sky offers as a whole.

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:15:53 GMT

@Marlu-Nyu wrote:
It would make sense to close Sky Max and replace it with Sky One, and then rebrand Sky Mix to Sky Showcase. Sky Showcase, in my eyes, should be showcasing what Sky has to offer, give people a movie once a week from Sky Cinema, major news from Sky News and sports events from Sky Sports. Think of like the old "free to view" weekends that Sky offered many years ago, but as a channel

And if they wanted, show the first episodes of popular shows on Netflix, Discovery+, Disney+, Comedy Central, subscription Sky channels, Blaze, Nat Geo, Discovery channels, UKTV channels, etc. to get people to get these services and channels through Sky.

Show the first episode of e.g. The Last of Us on this new free-to-air Sky Showcase, and have the rest of the series on subscription channel Sky Atlantic. Make it like an advertisement channel for what Sky has available instead of a channel nobody watches with cops and border controls. That's not even what Sky offers as a whole.

They can't just do what you suggested when they don't operate the channels or services, Blaze is a free to air channel.

The Last Of Us isn't the best example isn't a exclusive subscription driver for Sky anymore (none of remaining HBO programming left is) will be on HBO Max app in March which will be available from around £5.99 outside of Sky, also Sky rights to season 1 exipre in a year.

This is ultimately the reason why Sky Atlantic is in Sky Stream Essential TV and their other Pay channels and others are not

Sky One channel can do the same thing anyway that Sky Showcase did, although I suspect they more likely to show previous seasons on Sky Sci-Fi aswell now,,

I believe they are testing a pub/commercial version of Sky Max....

Re: Sky one

Yoghurt — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:42:08 GMT

@Marlu-Nyu Yep the police programs make sky boring better having uk hospital programs with kids as I like them all the American stuff is rubbish

Re: Sky one

Marlu-Nyu — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:21:04 GMT

@Timelord2018 wrote:
@Marlu-Nyu wrote:
It would make sense to close Sky Max and replace it with Sky One, and then rebrand Sky Mix to Sky Showcase. Sky Showcase, in my eyes, should be showcasing what Sky has to offer, give people a movie once a week from Sky Cinema, major news from Sky News and sports events from Sky Sports. Think of like the old "free to view" weekends that Sky offered many years ago, but as a channel

And if they wanted, show the first episodes of popular shows on Netflix, Discovery+, Disney+, Comedy Central, subscription Sky channels, Blaze, Nat Geo, Discovery channels, UKTV channels, etc. to get people to get these services and channels through Sky.

Show the first episode of e.g. The Last of Us on this new free-to-air Sky Showcase, and have the rest of the series on subscription channel Sky Atlantic. Make it like an advertisement channel for what Sky has available instead of a channel nobody watches with cops and border controls. That's not even what Sky offers as a whole.
They can't just do what you suggested when they don't operate the channels or services, Blaze is a free to air channel.

The Last Of Us isn't the best example isn't a exclusive subscription driver for Sky anymore (none of remaining HBO programming left is) will be on HBO Max app in March which will be available from around £5.99 outside of Sky, also Sky rights to season 1 exipre in a year.

This is ultimately the reason why Sky Atlantic is in Sky Stream Essential TV and their other Pay channels and others are not

Sky One channel can do the same thing anyway that Sky Showcase did, although I suspect they more likely to show previous seasons on Sky Sci-Fi aswell now,,

I believe they are testing a pub/commercial version of Sky Max....

I've noticed that you frequently respond to nearly all of my posts, and the tone is often critical regardless of context. I would appreciate it if you could refrain from replying to my posts in future.

Additionally, I will address your points for consistency:

"They can't just do what you suggested when they don't operate the channels or services, Blaze is a free to air channel."

Hence why this is a suggestion, an opinion on what I think Sky should do. I know Blaze is free-to-air, that's not my point. The new Sky Showcase I suggested would showcase all content from all channels that Sky operate, subscription and free channels too. In regard to the streaming services, there is already a current contract with all of these if they are available on Sky. Sky could update their contract to allow a programme of the streaming service's choice to be shown, but only the first episode.

"The Last Of Us isn't the best example isn't a exclusive subscription [...] Sky rights to season 1 [expire] in a year."

As it stands right now on 24 January, The Last of Us is on Sky Atlantic and no-one can see into the future if Sky will get to keep it or it being available on HBO Max only. I suspect that Sky will probably get to keep some programming, maybe due to contracts. For example, it's possible that Sky has the rights for all current and further series of The Last of Us. The Last of Us was just an example of a programme that Sky has right now, with a various amount of other programming one could use instead. Regarding the 1 year expiry, they could renew it, depending on the success/failure of HBO Max.

"This is ultimately the reason why Sky Atlantic is in Sky Stream Essential TV and their other Pay channels and others are not"

All channels on Sky Stream are subscription based. The idea would be that the Sky Showcase would be on Freeview, Freesat, Virgin Media, eir TV, etc. The new Sky Showcase would be mostly for these customers to encourage them to switch or, at the very least, consider it. The programming from Sky Cinema and Sky Sports would encourage current Sky customers to upgrade to these packs too.

"Sky One channel can do the same thing anyway that Sky Showcase did, although I suspect they more likely to show previous seasons on Sky Sci-Fi [as well] now. I believe they are testing a pub/commercial version of Sky Max...."

These are irrelevant to my point.

Re: Sky one

Timelord2018 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:24:42 GMT

Netflix , Disney and Warner Bros do not need Sky

Sky strategy appears to be to acquire ITV, so I doubt they are going to launch a new FTA outlet

https://deadline.com/2025/11/sky-itv-takeover-analysis-love-island-1236610594/

Re: Sky one

Yoghurt — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:26:34 GMT

@Timelord2018 Wonder what will happen ?

Re: Sky one

Marlu-Nyu — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:29:52 GMT

@Timelord2018 wrote:
Netflix , Disney and Warner Bros do not need Sky

Sky strategy appears to be to acquire ITV, so I doubt they are going to launch a new FTA outlet
https://deadline.com/2025/11/sky-itv-takeover-analysis-love-island-1236610594/

I never said they "needed" them. Again, it was a suggestion to have Sky Showcase to be a showcase channel. Streaming services already have a contract with Sky to have them on the Sky platforms. Additionally. Sky Mix could do the same to show a mix of Sky content, which currently it does not.

Also, the Sky and ITV thing is currently speculation as Sky have only shown interest and no deal is in place.

Additionally. This is irrelevant to my comment.