Sky One: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|Former British entertainment television channel (1982–2021)}}

{{about|the retired British TV channel|the Italian version|Sky Uno|the Germany & Austria version|Sky One (Germany)|the New Zealand TV channel formerly called Sky 1|Sky 5|the fictional aircraft|UFO (British TV series)}}

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| areacountry = [[United Kingdom]]<br />[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]

'''Sky One''' was a British [[pay television]] channel operated and owned by [[Sky Group]] (a division of [[Comcast]]). Originally launched on 26 April 1982 as [[Sky Television (1984–1990)|Satellite Television]], it was Europe's first [[satellite television|satellite]] and non-[[terrestrial television|terrestrial]] channel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=It Was 20 Years Ago Today...|url=http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1053209847|url-status=live|access-date=|website=www.satmagazine.com}}</ref> From 31 July 1989, it became Sky One and broadcast exclusively in the United Kingdom and Ireland as [[Sky UK|British Sky Broadcasting]]'s flagship channel. It existed until 1 September 2021, when it closed down as part of a restructuring with its [[Electronic program guide|EPG]] position taken by [[Sky Showcase]] and much of its content library moved to [[Sky Max]].<ref name = Variety>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/sky-showcase-sky-one-rebrand-1235028208/|title=Sky Marks End of an Era as 'Sky One' Channel Is Retired in a Major Rebrand|first=K. J.|last=Yossman|date=27 July 2021|work=Variety}}</ref><ref name = Deadline>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/comcast-sky-overhauls-channels-retires-sky-one-launches-sky-showcase-1234800769/|title=Sky Overhauls UK Channel Portfolio; Retires Sky One & Launches Sky Showcase|first=Jake|last=Kanter|date=27 July 2021|work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Slattery|first=Laura|title=Goodbye Sky One, the 'experiment' that became part of an empire|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/goodbye-sky-one-the-experiment-that-became-part-of-an-empire-1.4637005|url-status=live|access-date=|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref>

Sky One included some very popular broadcasts both the [[List of programmes broadcast by Sky One|original programmes]] such—such as ''[[An Idiot Abroad]]'', ''[[Brainiac: Science Abuse]]'', ''[[The Russell Howard Hour]]'', ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', and—and many imported from North America –, including: ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'' (seasons 3–9, and its spinoff ''[[24: Live Another Day|Live Another Day]]''), ''[[The X-filesFiles]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'' (seasons 1–6, first half), ''[[Caprica (TV series)|Caprica]]'', ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'', ''[[Modern Family]]'', ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'' (seasons 3–6), ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' (seasons 5–8), ''[[Lie to Me]]'', ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' (seasons 3–6), ''[[Prison Break]]'' (seasons 3–4), ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Stargate]]'' (''[[Stargate SG-1|SG-1]]'', ''[[Stargate Atlantis|Atlantis]]'' and ''[[Stargate Universe|Universe]]''), ''[[Touch (American TV series)|Touch]]'', ''[[About a Boy (TV series)|About a Boy]]'', ''[[The Middle (TV series)|The Middle]]'', ''[[Manifest (TV series)|Manifest]]'', ''[[You, Me and the Apocalypse]]'' and ''[[The Blacklist]]''. Other American imports included [[CBS]] military/action dramas, science-fiction and [[Arrowverse]] superhero shows and ''[[The Blacklist]]'' (seasons 4–8).

On 27 June 1983, the shareholders of Satellite Television agreed a £5 million offer to give [[News UK|News International]] 65% of the company.<ref>News International buys 65% of satellite group. By Bill Johnstone, Electronics Correspondent. ''[[The Times]]'', Wednesday, 29 June 1983; pg. 13</ref><ref>Title The franchise affair: creating fortunes and failures in independent television Authors Asa Briggs, Joanna Spicer Edition illustrated Publisher century, 1986 Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 9 October 2006 {{ISBN|9780712612012}}</ref> [[Rupert Murdoch]] extendedWith the broadcastsuccessful hours and the numberlaunch of countries the stationIntelsat broadcastV to including the Unitedsatellite Kingdom on 16in October of that year.1983<ref> TV satellite set for weekend debut. By Bill Johnstone, Electronics Correspondent. ''[[The Times]]'', Wednesday, 12 October 1983</ref> [[Rupert Murdoch]] was able to extend the broadcast hours and the number of countries able to receive the signal.

On 16 January 1984, Satellite Television Limited was renamed '''Sky Channel''' and finally became available in the UK to [[Swindon Cable]]'s 10,000 subscribers. It began incorporating a large number of American imports in its schedules and also increased the quantity produced of home -grown programmesproductions, including a number of new music shows with [[Gary Davies]], [[Tony Blackburn]], [[Linda de Mol]], [[Pat Sharp]], [[David Jensen|David "Kid" Jensen]], and [[Anthea Turner]] presenting programmes such as ''Euro Top 40'', and ''UK Top 50 Chart''. New children's programmes like ''[[Fun Factory (TV series)|Fun Factory]]'' and ''[[The DJ Kat Show]]'', many of which came not only from Sky's own studios in London (Sky having already abandoned the Molinare facilities by then), but also included programmes produced in the Netherlands by [[John de Mol]]'s [[Endemol|production company]].

The "New Sky Channel", as it was dubbed in on-air promotion prior to its 5 February 1989 launch, continued to broadcast its signature children's programmes (''[[The DJ Kat Show]]'' and ''[[Fun Factory (TV series)|Fun Factory]]''), and also expanded its daytime programming with six back-to-back soaps (''[[The Sullivans]]'', ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'', ''[[General Hospital]]'', ''[[As the World Turns]]'', ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' and ''[[The Young Doctors]]'') while reducing music programming to only one or two hours per day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monday May 1|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EW9QJ8HXsAAZ1oZ.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507102040/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EW9QJ8HXsAAZ1oZ.jpg|archive-date=7 May 2020|website=pbs.twimg.com}}</ref> Classic sitcoms (''[[The Lucy Show]]'' and ''[[Family Affair]]'') and more recent comedies (''[[Three's Company]]'' and ''[[Family Ties]]'') as well as put on the schedule along with dramas (''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]'', ''[[Trapper John, M.D.]]'', ''[[Emergency!]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', ''[[Voyagers!]]'' and ''[[Eight Is Enough]]'') were included. Sky Channel also aired classic movies, made-for-TV movies and miniseries (beginning with ''[[Spearfield's Daughter]]'' on its first night). [[Dolly Parton]]'s recent variety show ''[[Dolly (1987 TV series)|Dolly]]'', popular Australian science and technology show ''[[Beyond Tomorrow (TV series)|Beyond 2000]]'', the ''Nescafé UK Top 50'' chart show, Sunday morning religious programme ''[[Hour of Power]]'', hour-long weekend edition of celebrity news magazine ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' and telecasts of [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] rounded out Sky Channel's weekend schedule.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Saturday April 29 1989|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWy-Af5WAAIrCeW.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506090713/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWy-Af5WAAIrCeW.jpg|archive-date=6 May 2020|website=pbs.twimg.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunday April 30|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EW4TI0yX0AAkvAr.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506141742/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EW4TI0yX0AAkvAr.jpg|archive-date=46 May 2020|website=pbs.twimg.com}}</ref> Special event programming included late night live telecasts of boxing matches and various music concerts (such as [[Bon Jovi]] and [[Bros (British band)|Bros]] in August 1989).

On 31 July 1989, the channel was renamed '''Sky One''' and closed in most European countries, broadcasting only to the United Kingdom andBritish IrelandIsles. During September of that year, Sky One began to air more recent programming as an early success being ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'' (which the [[BBC]] had previously screened but not repeated), ''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]'' and ''[[Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]'', also aired the British television premiere of a new drama series ''[[21 Jump Street]]''. Back-to-back soaps (''[[Rich Man, Poor Man (miniseries)|Rich Man, Poor Man]]'' and ''[[Falcon Crest]]'') as well as action shows (''[[Riptide (American TV series)|Riptide]]'' and ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]'') were also added to its prime time schedule.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New look for autumn on Sky One.|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_5CTOEVQAUinQE.jpg:large|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922232010/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_5CTOEVQAUinQE.jpg:large|archive-date=2021-09-22|website=pbs.twimg.com}}</ref> A number of Australian drama series aired, including dramas (''[[Against the Wind (TV series)|Against the Wind]]'', ''[[Boney (TV series)|Boney]]'', ''[[A Town Like Alice (miniseries)|A Town Like Alice]]'', and ''[[Barrier Reef (TV series)|Barrier Reef]]''), as well as the soap operas, (''[[Return to Eden]]'', ''[[Chances (TV series)|Chances]]'', ''[[E Street (TV series)|E Street]]'' and ''[[Paradise Beach]]'') were aired. Some Australian children's programmes, such as ''[[Skippy the Bush Kangaroo]]'' and ''Zoo Family'' also aired on Sky One. In 1990 and early 1991 (prior to the launch of [[Sky Sports]]), Sky One broadcast numerous live cricket telecasts during which it pre-empted its regularly scheduled programming.

On 1 October 1998, Sky One's [[digital television|digital]] feed launched with Sky Digital. Sky One was one of the four last remaining channels on the analogue platform when it was switched off at midnight on 27 September 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Switch-off to cost Sky 100,000 subs|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/switch-off-cost-sky-100000-subs/507967|url-status=live|access-date=|website=www.campaignlive.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> In 2000, a dedicated feed of Sky One for Ireland was launched for most of this Irish feed's existence, the only difference between it and the United Kingdom feed has been differing commercials and programme promotions. In June 2003, the channel started broadcasting in [[16:9 aspect ratio|16:9]] [[widescreen]].<ref>{{Cite news| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a11015/sky-confirms-expansion-of-widescreen-broadcasting.html | title = Sky confirms expansion of widescreen broadcasting | date = 2 May 2003 |access-date=2 August 2007 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |author=Jay, Alan}}

</ref> However, all television commercials were broadcast in [[Aspect ratio (image)|4:3]] until 21 November 2005,<ref>{{CitationCite web needed|title=9.1 The Evolution of Television {{!}} Media and Culture |url=https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-massmedia/chapter/9-1-the-evolution-of-television/ |access-date=February2023-06-17 2007|website=courses.lumenlearning.com}}</ref> because they were played off the same servers for all Sky channels, many of which were not broadcast in widescreen.

The success of the channel led to the launch of a sister service [[Sky Replay|Sky 2]] on 1 September 1996, broadcasts more first-run programmes between 7.00pm:00&nbsp;pm and 6.00am:00&nbsp;am only. The spin-off channel was not a success as it was closed on 31 August 1997, which was replaced by [[National Geographic (British and Irish TV channel)|the UK's version of National Geographic]] from the following day, and Sky One reverts back to its original name.

On 9 December 2002, the channel was relaunched as Sky One Mix. On 21 September 2004, the channel was renamed Sky Mix. On 31 October 2005, Sky Mix was renamed Sky Two with the launch of a second sister channel [[PickSky (TV channel)Mix|Sky Three]].

Sky Two was renamed '''Sky Replay''' on 27 August 2020, and Sky Three was renamed '''Pick''' on 28 February 2011. On 3 October 2023, it was announced that Pick will rebrand as Sky Mix on 18 October of that year.

To coincide with the launch of [[Sky+ HD|Sky HD]], Sky One HD began broadcasting on 22 May 2006. The channel is a [[simulcast]] of Sky One and screens [[High-definition television|high-definition]] versions of some of the channel's programming, which include ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'', ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'', ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', ''[[WWE SmackDown]]'', ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'', ''[[Prison Break]]'', ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', and most recently new episodes of ''[[The Simpsons#Animation|The Simpsons]]''. Programmes that are not available in HD are "upscaled" (although Sky One showed its widescreen version of the television show ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'', unlike most American broadcasts, since the film was originally filmed on [[Panavision]] widescreen film but cropped to full-screen by most broadcasters. This airing of the show preserves the film's appearance without stretching or upscaling, although some scenes were compromised for widescreen and had to be upscaled).

On 1 March 2007 at midnight, Sky's basic channels – which included Sky One, [[Sky Replay|Sky Two]], [[PickSky (TV channel)Mix|Sky Three]], [[Sky News]], [[Sky Sports News]], [[Sky Travel]] and Sky Travel Extra – were removed from the [[Virgin Media]] cable television services after a dispute from [[Sky UK|BSkyB]]. This was due to the expiry of their previous [[carriage dispute|carriage agreement]] and the companies' inability to reach a new deal.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a43319/sky-one-sky-news-pulled-from-virgin.html |title= Sky One, Sky News pulled from Virgin |date=1 March 2007 |work=Digital Spy |author=Welsh, James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6405549.stm |title= BSkyB channels taken off Virgin |date=1 March 2007 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref> Virgin issued legal proceedings against Sky over the dispute in April 2007.

[[Absolute Radio]] [[Disc jockey|DJ]] [[Claire Sturgess]] has been a "voice" of Sky One since 1998, and was the sole announcer from 2001 until 2005. As one of Sky One's four announcers, her voice-overs are pre-recorded once a week and played out by an automated system. {{citation<ref needed|datename=May":0" 2014}}/>

* Sky also co-produced ''[[The 4400]]'' and co-financed the first series of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' in 2004

Sky One commissioned a two-part ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather]]'' series for Christmas 2006, this proved to be successful and so in 2008, Sky brought out an adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic (TV film)|The Colour of Magic]]'' and its second half ''[[The Light Fantastic]]''. InOn 30 May 2010, Sky One also released ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal]]'', the 33rd book in the ''[[The Discworld]]'' series.

Sky One had also re-commissioned a number of earlier game shows including ''[[Blockbusters (British game show)|Blockbusters]]'', which brought the series back once again between 30 October 2000 and 23 March 2001 was produced by [[Fremantle (company)|Grundy]] (now owns the format) and presented by [[Liza Tarbuck]], but did not capture the same degree of popularity as the [[Bob Holness|Holness]] incarnation. The most recent game show was from [[Mark Burnett]],'s ''[[Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old? (British game show)|Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old?]]'', based on a United States format. On 30 January 2008, Sky One announced plans to bring back the British 1990s combat-based game show ''[[Gladiators (2008 UK TV series)|Gladiators]]'', which was subsequently cancelled inon 12 April 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/30/bskyb.television | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Leigh | last=Holmwood | title=Sky One to bring back 90s favourite Gladiators | date=30 January 2008}}</ref> They also showed the sketch show ''[[Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show]]''.

The channel became known for its first-run American imports such as: ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Rescue 911]]'', ''[[Unsolved Mysteries]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and ''[[South Park]]'', as well as some older programmes included ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', ''[[Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)|Quantum Leap]]'' and [[Lucille Ball]]'s various comedy series. It relies heavily on screenings for this network as they coming from [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] with other shows like ''[[The X-Files]]'', ''[[In Living Color]]'', ''[[Cops (TV program)|Cops]]'', ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'', ''[[King of the Hill]]'', ''[[Futurama]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'' and ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]''. Another early and long-running fixture was ''[[Married... with Children]]'' ran all through the 1990s, but in the early 2000s as the show suddenly disappeared from its regular schedule and has not been screened on any Sky channel since.

From 1989, Sky Channel (later Sky One) was the home of [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] in the UK. Certain special events such as [[Royal Rumble (1990)|Royal Rumble]], [[UK Rampage]] and [[This Tuesday in Texas]] aired on Sky One, whilst a live broadcast of [[WrestleMania VI]] and others include [[SummerSlam]] and [[Survivor Series]], shown on taped delay a number of days after the events were recorded, aired on [[Sky Cinema|Sky Movies]].

Sky One continued to broadcast an edited one hour version of ''Raw'' on Sunday mornings before all WWE programmes moved to rival network [[BT Sport]].,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sport.bt.com/wwe/bt-sport-and-wwe-announce-exclusive-new-tv-partnership-in-multi-year-deal-S11364370135846|title=BT Sport and WWE announce new multi-year partnership|website=BT.com}}</ref> which later rebranded as [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] on 18 July 2023.

Following the death of voice actress [[Marcia Wallace]], Sky One broadcasts three of best episodes from 6.30pm:30&nbsp;pm including "[[Bart the Lover]]", "[[The Ned-Liest Catch]]" and "[[Ned 'n' Edna's Blend Agenda]]" on 28 October 2013.

''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|The Next Generation]]'' was initially shown five nights a week at 5.00pm:00&nbsp;pm (repeated again at 10.30pm:30&nbsp;pm) between 5 October 1992 and 16 August 1993, starting with "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]" and running all the way up to "[[Timescape (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Timescape]]". The channel also acquired rerun rights to the episodes from the first three seasons previously aired on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] – with the addition of "[[The High Ground (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The High Ground]]", which saw its first British broadcast on 29 November 1992 with the [[United Ireland|Irish reunification]] line edited out, and a feature-length version of "[[Unification (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Unification]]" was shown for [[The Movie Channel (British TV channel)|an exclusive movie channel]] on 7 March 1993 rather than as part of this entire run. The whole series was shown again with "[[Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Descent]]" held over to act as the premiere to the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 7)|seventh season]] on 31 July 1994, which was run every Sunday evenings at 7.00pm:00&nbsp;pm once it had completed production and was available to be shown before the [[All Good Things... (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|last-ever episode]] aired on 29 January 1995.

The episodes of these later series were shown as they were in the United States with repeats between new ones, however soon held back broadcast the entire series at once, as well as various science-fiction shows that would fill the gaps including ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' and ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]''. It was moved to [[Sky Replay|Sky Two]] for a short time, until the channel was ceased on 31 August 1997 due to poor ratings. Monday nights at 8.00pm:00&nbsp;pm was the traditional time for the series, however at the start of the [[Star Trek: Enterprise (season 4)|fourth season of ''Enterprise'']] was moved to Tuesdays within the place also taken by ''[[The Simpsons]]'', which lasted until the [[These Are the Voyages...|final episode]] was broadcast on 2 August 2005.

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