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Sky TV has struck a new multi-year partnership with UKTV to bring over 8,500 hours of new shows to its satellite dish-less devices, Sky Glass and Sky Stream. The broadcaster has enjoyed a partnership with UKTV since the 90s, so it's unsurprising to see the two strike another multi-year agreement.
Nevertheless, for those who watch live and on-demand television via Wi-Fi on Sky Stream and Sky Glass, it will unlock a torrent of additional shows, documentaries, and films. The latest deal means crime drama channel Alibi and nostalgic comedy channel Gold will remain bundled as part of the Sky Entertainment package.
Earlier this summer, UKTV channels were renamed under a new all-encompassing U brand name, with all channels reworked to fit the new naming convention. The catch-up service UKTV Play was also rebranded to U
UKTV PRESS OFFICEThis entry-level bundle of channels includes 50+ channels not available with Freeview, 500-hours of on-demand boxsets from Sky Originals, HBO, and US streaming service Peacock.
This Sky TV bundle also includes a Netflix subscription, with access to the hundreds of boxsets, films, and documentaries on the platform.
The latest deal also means NOW, formerly NOW TV, will also continue to enjoy Alibi and Gold channels.
As part of the ongoing partnership, Sky Glass and Sky Stream owners will be able to watch UKTV content on-demand via the streaming app U. UKTV has a vast library of 8,500 hours of content, including fan-favourites like CSI: Vegas, Only Fools and Hoses, Dad’s Army, The Vicar of Dibley,Murdoch Mysteries, The Red King and World’s Most Dangerous Roads to name just a few.
Until now, the U streaming app has only been available on Sky Q, but not on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which are powered by a different operating system, dubbed EntertainmentOS. Previously branded UKTV Play, the U streamer has access to on-demand boxsets from channels like U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W, U&Yesterday. U is not available in the Republic of Ireland, so viewers there will miss out.
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Speaking about the new deal and the arrival of the streaming service, Jon Simkin, Sky TV Content Partnerships Managing Director said: "We are thrilled to extend out partnership with UKTV. UKTV’s distinctive content across channels such as Alibi and Gold is loved by Sky customers.
"This agreement reinforces our commitment to providing the best entertainment experience to our customers across the UK and Ireland.“
The UK broadcaster is also investing heavily in original content to help differentiate itself from other nostalgic telly channels, like the popular Rewind TV that launched on Sky Q at the beginning of the year.
With the renewed deal between UKTV and Sky TV signed-and-sealed, Glass TV and Stream viewers will be able to binge-watch original series like The Marlow Murder Club, Battle In The Box, Rosie Jones’s Disability Comedy Extravaganza, Katherine Ryan: Parental Guidance, Bangers & Cash and Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
In the coming months, that library of exclusive shows will expand dramatically with the likes of Alma’s Not Normal, Wallace and Gromit, Mr Loverman, My Mum Your Dad, Playing Nice, Generation Z, Swiped: The School that Banned Mobile Phones, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, The Great Explorers with James May, andThe Hardacres.
UKTV was launched in the 1990s as a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Thames Television. It was designed to leverage the BBC archive to bring classic shows to a new audience.
Channels like Dave, which quickly gained popularity based on the strength of the back catalogue, were regularly mocked on shows like Have I Got News For You and Top Gear for the barrage of decades-old repeats that filled its schedule.
In recent years, UKTV has pivoted to focus on more original shows. Hits like Taskmaster were launched exclusively on free-to-air channels like Dave before being acquired by Channel 4.
The free-to-air broadcaster faces increased competition, with the likes of Tubi now available in the UK with thousands of films and series available to stream on-demand for free.
A number of UKTV channels are available to watch on Freeview and free-to-air streaming platform, Freely. However, the broadcaster also has three premium offerings — Gold, which is dedicated to classic British comedy, Alibi, which focuses on crime drama series, and Eden, which has a schedule packed with nature and science docu-series — that are only available on paid-for platforms like Sky Q, Sky Stream, Sky Glass, and Virgin Media TV 360.
Earlier this summer, UKTV underwent a ground-up rebrand of its channels. Starting in July, Dave, Yesterday, Drama, and Wwere renamed to U&Dave, U&Yesterday, U&Drama, and U&W. The channel numbers were not altered on Sky Glass TVs, Sky Stream, or Sky Q as part of the shake-up.
UKTV will invest heavily in original television shows to bolster its on-demand library. In total, streaming app U will now offer 8,500 hours of content to stream
UKTV PRESS OFFICE
Speaking about the shake-up to its line-up, UKTV Chief Marketing Officer Penny Brough said: "The launch of U on 16th July is an important step for UKTV, defining our age of transformation. U will present our viewers with an extraordinary range of free quality content, allowing them to connect the dots between the streaming service and our family of TV channels."
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Some of the exclusive new shows commissioned by UKTV for its new U-branded channels will include Battle in the Box — a comedy gameshow hosted by Jimmy Carr, a second series of Whitstable Pearl, and a reimagining of the classic detective series Bergerac that'll premiere on U&Drama in 2025.
Speakig at the time, UKTV Chief Digital Officer Andrea Amey said: "U will be home to almost 8,500 hours of free content, comprising new programming, exclusive shows, award-winning originals and premiere acquisitions. We can’t wait to give our viewers even more choice and a service that is easy to navigate, so they can enjoy our free and varied offering."
