Sky launches biggest year of entertainment with major new marketing campaign

Sky is to launch its biggest ever year of entertainment with a major new marketing campaign that for the first time gives everyone a chance to sample entire episodes of Sky shows online.

The multi-million pound campaign highlights the range and quality of comedy and drama coming up on Sky channels in 2014, which features a line-up of stars including Chris O’Dowd, Nick Frost, Olivia Colman and Dominic Cooper and new shows from the makers of Spooks and Rev. Launching this weekend, the campaign is the biggest that Sky has ever launched for its portfolio of entertainment channels.

During 2014, Sky customers can look forward to Sky’s biggest and best year of entertainment content. New home-grown drama includes Fleming (Sky Atlantic), starring Dominic Cooper, and The Smoke (Sky 1), with Jodie Whittaker and Jamie Bamber, while comedy fans can enjoy Nick Frost and Olivia Colman in Mr Sloane (Sky Atlantic). Sky customers will also be able to enjoy new must-see shows from the US, including HBO’s True Detective (Sky Atlantic), starring Hollywood legends Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey.

To watch the first episodes from some of Sky’s biggest shows, viewers can also visit a brand new YouTube channel, Sky First Episodes, which launches on Saturday 1st February. On the channel, viewers can enjoy full episodes of some of the biggest and best shows on British TV, including the chance to see the first ever episodes of must-see shows such as the International Emmy award-winning Moone Boy (Sky 1), starring Chris O’Dowd. Other Sky shows available on the channel at launch include The Tunnel (Sky Atlantic), Moonfleet (Sky 1) and A Young Doctor’s Notebook (Sky Arts). More shows will be added regularly over the coming months.

Stuart Murphy, Sky’s Director of Entertainment Channels, comments: “2014 will be the biggest and best ever year of entertainment on Sky, with customers able to enjoy an outstanding breadth and quality of TV across Sky’s entertainment channels. From brand new home-grown comedy and drama to the biggest series from the US, this year Sky customers can look forward to enjoying some of the very best shows on British TV.”

Naomi Gibney, Sky’s Director of Entertainment, Marketing and Digital, adds: “We’re passionate about delivering truly great TV - and the best way of demonstrating this is to give people the opportunity to enjoy the shows for themselves. The combination of Sky First Episodes and a TV campaign featuring entire clips from our biggest and best series means that now everyone has the chance to sample Sky shows."

As the UK’s biggest investor in television content, Sky offer four entertainment channels - Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living - which deliver Sky customers great home-grown comedy and drama series alongside the most compelling series from the US. Sky has committed to invest £600 million in British content across its channels in 2014.

The TV adverts will run across terrestrial TV channels including ITV and Channel 4. The campaign will also run in print, online, on digital media, posters and in cinemas nationwide. The campaign was created by advertising agency Inferno+Draftfcb, with media buying handled by Mediacom.

-ENDS-

For more information:
Matt Beake
Corporate Communications, Sky
matt.beake@bskyb.com

Notes to editors:

About Sky First Episodes:

The Sky First Episodes channel will be available at youtube.com/skyfirstepisodes from Saturday 1st February For the best viewing experience, users are recommended to view the channel on desktop.

About Sky:

Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator.  Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV.  Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts.  Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP.  Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).