Tag: Catherine the Great

WarnerMedia, Comcast’s Sky Extend Content Distribution Deal

HBO Max may be the future, but distribution across existing and competing platforms overseas is just as important.

WarnerMedia has extended a distribution agreement with Comcast-owned satellite TV operator Sky in Europe.

First established in 2010, the new agreement includes distribution through HBO of Warner Bros. movies, Cartoon Network and Boomerang episodic programming.

Content has included “Watchmen,” “Succession” and “Big Little Lies,” in addition to Sky originals such as “Patrick Melrose,” “Babylon Berlin” and “Gomorrah.”

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“Our partnership with HBO, and now Warner Media, has never been stronger as Sky continues to thrive as Europe’s leading direct-to-consumer media and entertainment business,” Gary Davey, CEO of Sky Studios, said in a statement. “Customers love our Sky original productions and together, Sky Studios and HBO Max will bring them more unique stories that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Sky and WarnerMedia also extended co-production deals with Sky Studios and HBO Max working together on original content.

Co-production Chernobyl garnered 10 Primetime Emmys, and latest co-production “Catherine the Great,” with Helen Mirren, received critical acclaim following its U.K. broadcast debut this month.

“We are thrilled to find new ways to deepen our longstanding relationship with Sky, and bring a fresh dimension to the great content we continue to bring to consumers,” said Jeffrey Schlesinger, president, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution, in a statement.

Sky Original Content Productions Spur Q3 Revenue Growth

Sky original content productions continue to drive the United Kingdom satellite TV operator’s bottom line.

The Comcast-owned subsidiary Oct. 24 reported that original content and sports programming increased third-quarter (ended Sept. 30) revenue 15.4% to $315 million from $273 million during the previous-year period.

Pre-tax earnings skyrocketed 46% to $899 million from $650 million during the previous-year period. Revenue declined 0.9% to $4.5 billion from $4.7 billion last year.

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Specifically, Sky has triumphed from original series licensing of “Chernobyl,” “Patrick Melrose” and “Catherine The Great” to HBO.

Sky credited “Chernobyl,” which won 12 Primetime Emmys, for driving record subscriber growth in Q2. With the conclusion of the series’ initial broadcast, Sky said net customer relationships dropped in Q3 by 99,000.

Still total consumer relationships, which includes over-the-top video platform Now TV, have increased by 482,000 in the past 12 months.

Sky ended the period with 23.9 million subscribers, up 2.1% from 23.4 million during the previous-year period.

NBC Universal Assumes Sky Vision Production/Distribution Unit

Sky Vision, the U.K. satellite distributor’s production and distribution unit, is now operating under the NBC Universal corporate umbrella.

The move was disclosed by Sky Vision in a social media post: “On October 1, Sky Vision Content Sales transitions to NBCUniversal Distribution. Join us each weekday during September to celebrate The Best of Sky Vision.”

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NBC Universal parent Comcast acquired Sky last September for $31 billion.

Sky Vision original TV productions include “Riviera,” HBO’s “Patrick Melrose” and the upcoming HBO original series,”Catherine The Great,” staring Helen Mirren.