Changes to the TV Guide - April 2026

[TheRupster]

What's Going to replace Sky Cinema Animation?

i predict that it's either gonna be SC Premiere +1 (a channel SC-Ani replaced) or Disney+ Cinema +1 (Lest we forget, Disney Cinemagic (got replaced with Sky Movies/SC-Disney) had a timeshift)

SC - Sky Cinema

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@TheRupster wrote:

What's Going to replace Sky Cinema Animation?

i predict that it's either gonna be SC Premiere +1 (a channel SC-Ani replaced) or Disney+ Cinema +1 (Lest we forget, Disney Cinemagic (got replaced with Sky Movies/SC-Disney) had a timeshift)

SC - Sky Cinema

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Nothing is replacing Sky Cinema Animation. Sky Cinema Family and Sky Cinema Animation will be on Sky Cinema Family. 

[Timelord2018]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

It has been llsted on Now "Stream 16 Live channels" page since 24th February, at the time I assumed it was a mistake 

See bottom of this link 

https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-tv-shows

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But it is 16 channels? 

1. Sky Atlantic
2. Sky One
3. Sky Comedy
4. Sky Witness
5. U&Gold
6. U&Alibi
7. Sky Arts
8. Sky Crime
9. Sky Documentaries
10. Sky Kids
11. Sky Nature
12. Sky Mix (seems to be new to NOW)
13. Sky Sci-Fi (seems to be new to NOW)
14. Sky History
15. Comedy Central
16. MTV

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Despite what that page says Sky Mix isn't on Now, Sky Sci-Fi isn't new to NOW although it's really just repeating Sky One boxsets nowadays

[Timelord2018]

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@TheRupster wrote:

What's Going to replace Sky Cinema Animation?

i predict that it's either gonna be SC Premiere +1 (a channel SC-Ani replaced) or Disney+ Cinema +1 (Lest we forget, Disney Cinemagic (got replaced with Sky Movies/SC-Disney) had a timeshift)

SC - Sky Cinema

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Sky doesn't launch new +1 channel anymore look at the lack of a Sky One+ 1

[TheRupster]

or maybe do what foxtel did: Adding Lifetime Movie Network (Disney won't be involved so it's fully controlled by Hearst)

or maybe even do what Virgin Media and Everyone TV (Freeview and Freely) did: add in some FAST Channels Via Internet

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@TheRupster wrote:

or maybe do what foxtel did: Adding Lifetime Movie Network (Disney won't be involved so it's fully controlled by Hearst)

or maybe even do what Virgin Media and Everyone TV (Freeview and Freely) did: add in some FAST Channels Via Internet

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But, Foxtel is Australian?

LMN mainly shows made-for-TV films, either produced for the Lifetime brand or acquired from independent producers like MarVista Entertainment.

That model works in the US or Australia because there's a much larger volume of that type of content being produced. In the UK and Ireland, there isn't really an equivalent pipeline, and channels like GREAT! movies already cover a similar space with acquired TV movies and lower-budget films.

So even if LMN were introduced, it would likely be quite niche and heavily reliant on its own catalogue, rather than offering the breadth you'd expect from something positioned alongside Sky Cinema.

Regarding the FAST channels, there are only a few FAST channels on Sky Glass/Stream in the UK only from Xumo Play. It seems like Sky are a bit hesitant to add FAST channels, or Sky Q is just not capable of having them on the EPG. However, I'm sure, they could put them in an app and have the EPG space for the channel, where the user presses  (e.g.) the Red Button to watch the channel. It could be done, Music Choice did it via satelitte streams.

I also think there's an issue of rights. I think Sky want to try and add FAST channels in the UK & Ireland, but as far as I'm aware, there's only one FAST channel in Ireland (The Chase 24/7 on Virgin Media Play). The likes of Pluto TV, Tubi, Roku, Samsung TV Plus are not available here, or have an extremely watered-down version (i.e. Samsung TV Plus). Even the BBC iPlayer is not available here.

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

It has been llsted on Now "Stream 16 Live channels" page since 24th February, at the time I assumed it was a mistake 

See bottom of this link 

https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-tv-shows

---

But it is 16 channels? 

1. Sky Atlantic
2. Sky One
3. Sky Comedy
4. Sky Witness
5. U&Gold
6. U&Alibi
7. Sky Arts
8. Sky Crime
9. Sky Documentaries
10. Sky Kids
11. Sky Nature
12. Sky Mix (seems to be new to NOW)
13. Sky Sci-Fi (seems to be new to NOW)
14. Sky History
15. Comedy Central
16. MTV

---

Despite what that page says Sky Mix isn't on Now, Sky Sci-Fi isn't new to NOW although it's really just repeating Sky One boxsets nowadays

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Fair enough, I contacted NOW to inform them of the error. They say they're are going to rectify it. 🙂

[MaccyD221]

Hi @KevNewMedia just wondering what changes are happening next week.

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@MaccyD221 wrote:

Hi @KevNewMedia just wondering what changes are happening next week.

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Sky Cinema The Hobbit changes tomorrow (Monday 20th) according to listings.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@MaccyD221 wrote:

Hi @KevNewMedia just wondering what changes are happening next week.

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Sky Cinema The Hobbit changes tomorrow (Monday 20th) according to listings.

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Sounds like the Department for Pointless Names is starting to run out of inspiration...

[TheRupster]

maybe an idea of the lineup is shifting it up by one (Except for Premiere) to re-add Premiere +1 (Sky Cinema Disney got replaced with a temporary channel called Five Star Movies which turned into the longer staying Premiere +1)

[nolte]

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@TheRupster wrote:

maybe an idea of the lineup is shifting it up by one (Except for Premiere) to re-add Premiere +1 (Sky Cinema Disney got replaced with a temporary channel called Five Star Movies which turned into the longer staying Premiere +1)

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Sky are not adding time shift channels,

Especially as these are SD and ondemand customers can get the movie in either HD and UHD quality.

If sky cinema animation is closing/merging, then there would be as many Sky cinema channels as before Disney movie channel was introduced.

Essentially we've effectively had a replacement of the Sky Cinema Animation in the Disney movie channel.

[Timelord2018]

 Animated films from DreamWorks Animation/Illumination, Paramount, Warner , Sony and others will just air on Sky Cinema Family and being available On Demand, Sky Cinema Animation will return as pop up channel (rebrand of Family) during the holidays 

I wouldn't really class linear only Disney+ Cinema as replacement , Disney covers a wide basis now

It is however another u turn like Sky One returning with Sky Showcase and Sky Max changes reversed 

I do wonder what is next , I am not convinced Sky need a linear Comedy Channel anymore, what was the last 12 month Sky Media sponsorship opportunity for it, i couldn't find one in the UK or Ireland site that was in 2025/2026 unlike the other entertainment and factual channels

[nolte]

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@Timelord2018 wrote:

I wouldn't really class linear only Disney+ Cinema as replacement , Disney covers a wide basis now

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Replacement as in there were 11 Sky cinema channels at start of March and if rumours correct, there will be 11 Sky cinema channels at start of May.

Of course, not perfect substituition and there are differences

In football, teams bring on subs, and the subs are not exactly like the players they replaced. They are still replacements.

[Timelord2018]

Not sure it really is a Sky Cinema channel though, it appears to be operated by Disney unlike how Sky Cinema Disney was hence the lack On Demand content on Sky Cinema and only via Disney+ app.