History Creator / Sky

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sky_logo.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Slogan}} Believe in better.]]]]

* ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''

Sky is a subscription satellite TV/cable TV network; originally pan-European until 1989, but now available legally only in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It forms the cornerstone of Sky Television (a British satellite service now known as British Sky Broadcasting) and belonged (originally wholly, later in part) to UsefulNotes/RupertMurdoch. In 2018 Murdoch's company made a bid to reacquire the shares they'd sold off, only to be outbid by Comcast (owners of [[Creator/NBCUniversal), meaning Murdoch lost control of the company he largely created.

Sky is a subscription satellite TV/cable TV network; originally pan-European until 1989, but now available legally only in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It forms the cornerstone of Sky Television (a British satellite service now known as British Sky Broadcasting) and belonged (originally wholly, later in part) to UsefulNotes/RupertMurdoch. In 2018 Murdoch's company made a bid to reacquire the shares they'd sold off, only to be outbid by Comcast (owners of [[Creator/{{NBC}} NBC]]Creator/{{Universal}}), meaning Murdoch lost control of the company he largely created.

Essentially Creator/{{Fox}}'s UK counterpart; during the early years they shared much of the same programming and ''The Simpsons'' is still a part of Sky One's lineup, while Sky News and Fox News frequently team up to cover global news, though with the split of Sky from Murdoch's other assets their relationship with Fox is slowly coming to an end, as Comcast had planned to launch a global news network in 2020 that combines the resources of Sky News and Creator/{{NBC}} News, but never came to fruition.

* Sky One (the flagship channel showing most of the original programmes and their bigger US imports). Soon to close on 1 September 2021 and be replaced by two new channels: Sky Showcase (broadcasting a selection of programmes from across Sky's portfolio of channels including Sky Witness, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky Nature, Sky Arts, Sky Max, Sky Comedy, [[Creator/TheHistoryChannel Sky History]], Sky Kids, Creator/{{Syfy}} and Creator/{{E}} - as well as selected highlights from Sky Cinema and Sky Sports), and Sky Max (showing entertainment and drama output currently shown on Sky One). The comedy output on Sky One will, for the most part, transfer to Sky Comedy.

* Sky Comedy (Shows US comedy shows both new e.g. ''Series/MiracleWorkers'' and old e.g. ''Series/ParksAndRecreation''. Most comedy acquired from HBO or Showtime moved here from Sky Atlantic. Replaced Universal TV on January 27, 2020)

* Sky Arts (and from 2008-2015, Sky Arts 2) (airing shows about contemporary and classical art[[note]]this wasn't the first Sky Arts; there was a channel planned by that name when Sky launched in 1989, but it never made it to air; after the BSB merger, the name was used for a weekend opt-out of Sky News on the BSB Marcopolo satellites that showed the arts programming BSB had contracted to air on their news/current affairs/lifestyle channel Now; when all of those programs were broadcast, it reverted to Sky News only. The current Sky Arts was previous the independent Artsworld and was purchased by Sky in 2007[[/note]]. From 2020 onwards, it became one of their three free-to-air entertainment networks)

* ''TheSecretGarden2020''

*
''Film/ExtremelyWickedShockinglyEvilAndVile'' (2019)

* ''WesternAnimation/RiverdanceTheAnimatedAdventure ''

* Sky One (the flagship channel showing most of the original programmes and their bigger US imports). Soon to close on 1 September 2021 and be replaced by two new channels: Sky Showcase (broadcasting a selection of programmes from across Sky's portfolio of channels including Sky Witness, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky Nature, Sky Arts, Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky History, Sky Kids, Syfy and E! - as well as selected highlights from Sky Cinema and Sky Sports), and Sky Max (showing entertainment and drama output currently shown on Sky One). The comedy output on Sky One will, for the most part, transfer to Sky Comedy.

Essentially Creator/{{Fox}}'s UK counterpart; during the early years they shared much of the same programming and ''The Simpsons'' is still a part of Sky One's lineup, while Sky News and Fox News frequently team up to cover global news, though with the split of Sky from Murdoch's other assets their relationship with Fox is slowly coming to an end, with Comcast planning to launch a global news network in 2020 that combines the resources of Sky News and Creator/{{NBC}} News.

* Sky One (the flagship channel showing most of the original programmes and their bigger US imports)

They also operate the a cord-cutting service known as NOW (formerly NOW TV), which can be used by non-Sky customers and offers different packs of channels, including timed passes where customers can buy channels for a limited time (ie. if there's a big event on Sky Sports so they buy it for 24 hours). Rebadged Roku devices are offered as part of the service, though you can use your own device if you want to.

** Sky Sports (contains Sky Sports News and channels dedicated to specific sports. Sky Sports News was free to air on until 2010)DTT

* Pick (formerly Sky Three, later Pick TV; the second of the network's three free-to-air stations, effectively an advert for a full Sky TV package; does not broadcast in HD)

* Sky News (the network's other free-to-air station, and pretty much (formerly) Murdoch's only TV news network that's impartial; started out looking cheap and cheerful, but is now considered an important part of Britain's TV news media)

They also operate the "NOW TV" cord-cutting service, which can be used by non-Sky customers and offers different packs of channels, including timed passes where customers can buy channels for a limited time (ie. if there's a big event on Sky Sports so they buy it for 24 hours). Rebadged Roku devices are offered as part of the service, though you can use your own device if you want to.

Most of Sky's channels are also carried by cable operators like Virgin. Pick, Challenge, Sky Arts and Sky News can also be seen on broadcast (Freeview). The exception is Sky Atlantic, launched as a Sky-exclusive showcase channel, though rumors have swirled about other services carrying it[[note]]although from 2020 onwards, it has been available on BT YouView following a trade deal with Sky to allow their NOW service on BT[[/note]].

* Sky History (formerly History and The History Channel. The co-branded (since 2020) UK version of Creator/TheHistoryChannel. Also has a secondary channel, Sky History2, formerly History 2, H2 and Military History)

Essentially Creator/{{Fox}}'s UK counterpart; during the early years they shared much of the same programming and ''The Simpsons'' is still a part of [=Sky1's=] lineup, while Sky News and Fox News frequently team up to cover global news, though with the split of Sky from Murdoch's other assets their relationship with Fox is slowly coming to an end, with Comcast planning to launch a global news network in 2020 that combines the resources of Sky News and Creator/{{NBC}} News.

* [=Sky1=] (the flagship channel showing most of the original programmes and their bigger US imports)
* Sky Replay (formerly [=Sky2=], basically a catch-up service for [=Sky1=] and Sky Witness (after the relaunch as Sky Replay), showing the same shows at different times)
* Pick (formerly [=Sky3=], later Pick TV; one of the network's two free-to-air stations, effectively an advert for a full Sky TV package; does not broadcast in HD)
* Challenge (the other free-to-air station, acquired from Living TV Group (formerly Virgin Media Television). Dedicated to game shows, basically a TransatlanticEquivalent of Creator/GameShowNetwork)

* Sky Arts (and from 2008-2015, Sky Arts 2) (airing shows about contemporary and classical art[[note]]this wasn't the first Sky Arts; there was a channel planned by that name when Sky launched in 1989, but it never made it to air; after the BSB merger, the name was used for a weekend opt-out of Sky News on the BSB Marcopolo satellites that showed the arts programming BSB had contracted to air on their news/current affairs/lifestyle channel Now; when all of those programs were broadcast, it reverted to Sky News only. The current Sky Arts was previous the independent Artsworld and was purchased by Sky in 2007[[/note]])
* Sky News (the network's other free-to-air station, and pretty much (formerly) Murdoch's only TV news network that's impartial; started out looking cheap and cheerful, but is now considered an important part of Britain's TV news media)
* Sky Crime (A true crime channel. Replaced Real Lives, itself a rebranding of (Sky) [=LivingIt=], which was [=Living2=] before that)

* Sky History (formerly History and The History Channel. The co-branded (since 2020) UK version of Creator/TheHistoryChannel. Also has a secondary channel, Sky History 2, formerly History 2, H2 and Military History)

** Sky Sports (contains Sky Sports News and channels dedicated to specific sports. Sky Sports News was free to air until 2010)

Most of Sky's channels are also carried by cable operators like Virgin. Pick and Sky News can also be seen on broadcast (Freeview). The exception is Sky Atlantic, launched as a Sky-exclusive showcase channel, though rumors have swirled about other services carrying it.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' (Moved to ITV)
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePJs''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}}''

* ''Series/TheMiddle'' (moved to Comedy Central)
* ''Series/TheXFiles''

* ''Series/TwentyFour''

* ''Series/NipTuck''
* ''Series/LasVegas''
* ''Series/RescueMe''
* ''Series/{{Deadwood}}''
* ''Series/LieToMe''
* ''Series/{{Lost}}''
* ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw WWE RAW]]'' and ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackdown SmackDown!]]'' (also shown on Challenge)

1993 saw the launch of "Sky Multichannels", which meant that all Sky channels, and not just the sports and film channels, as well as certain channels operated by outside companies, were scrambled and customers would pay subscription fees (this was to [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil ensure only UK viewers received these programs]]). Over the next few years, Sky opened more channels for movies and sports, as well as various other channels and services as Astra launched more satellites. Sky Digital was launched in 1998, offering viewers interactive services and a boatload of new channels; the analogue service was shuttered by 2001. Since then, the service has grown by leaps and bounds, offering DVRs, HDTV and even internet and telephony services to customers. Their most recent innovation is the new "Sky Q" system, which integrates Creator/{{Netflix}} and other streaming services into the guide and menu system, offers 4K resolution, a new touch remote, and boxes that double as Wi-Fi hotspots.

* [=Sky2=] (basically a catch-up service for [=Sky1=], showing the same shows at different times)

* Sky Witness and [=LivingIt=] (formerly just Living, and Sky Living; airs ABC and CBS content, with a new focus on crime shows)

* Sky Arts (and, for a time, Sky Arts 2) (airing shows about contemporary and classical art[[note]]this wasn't the first Sky Arts; there was a channel planned by that name when Sky launched in 1989, but it never made it to air; after the BSB merger, the name was used for a weekend opt-out of Sky News on the BSB Marcopolo satellites that showed the arts programming BSB had contracted to air on their news/current affairs/lifestyle channel Now; when all of those programs were broadcast, it reverted to Sky News only. The current Sky Arts was previous the independent Artsworld and was purchased by Sky in 2007[[/note]])

* ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw WWE RAW]]'' and ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackdown SmackDown!]]''