German pay-TV broadcaster Sky Deutschland will launch entertainment channel Sky 1 in Germany and Austria in November 2016.
The channel which will screen originally produced shows and series as well as international series will be available via cable, satellite and IPTV in SD resolution to all Sky Deutschland subscribers as part of basic package Sky Starter. In HD quality, Sky 1 will be offered within the Sky Entertainment bouquet.
The programmes will also be available on demand through Sky On Demand, Sky Go and OTT service Sky Ticket.
The schedule will include a German version of international hobby chef casting show Masterchef produced by Endemol Shine Germany for Sky Deutschland.
The series line-up will comprise, for example, Sky’s original productions The Tunnel and Hooten & the Lady, the German TV debuts of Bordertown and Victoria, the new episodes of Twin Peaks and 24: Legacy as well as 8-part miniseries Medici with Dustin Hoffman.
With the new channel already offered in the UK and Italy, Sky Deutschland wants to position itself more strongly as a TV platform for the whole family providing more than sports and movies – and boost its struggling subscriber growth.
In the last three months of 2015, Sky Deutschland gained just 59,000 new customers – less than half as many as in the Christmas quarter 2014 in which 120,000 new customers were reported. In the last three months of 2013, Sky Deutschland even won 214,000 new subscribers. The total customer figure at the end of 2015 amounted to 4.63 million.
Financially, Sky Deutschland made significant progress by achieving a positive EBIT on a year-by-year basis in its business year 2015/16 of €5 million for the first time since the adoption of the Sky brand name. Turnover rose by 12% to €2.02 billion.
