Sky3
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| Sky3 | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Owned by | BSkyB | |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) | |
| Sister channel(s) | Sky1, Sky2, Sky1 HD | |
| Website | ||
| Availability | ||
| Country |  UK  IRL
| |
| Channel(s) | Freeview Channel 11 Sky Digital Channel 108 (later 223) | |
Sky3 (originally Sky Three, later Sky 3) was a British free-to-air television channel owned by BSkyB (now Sky UK). The channel launched on 31 October 2005 on Freeview channel 11 and was later rebranded as Pick TV on 1 March 2011.
History
editLaunch and Purpose
editSky Three was announced in September 2005 as part of BSkyB's expansion of its entertainment channel portfolio. The channel launched simultaneously on Sky Digital and Freeview on 31 October 2005, replacing Sky Travel on the Freeview platform. Sky Three was BSkyB's first free-to-air general entertainment channel since Sky One became a pay channel in 1993.[1][2]
The channel served as a "barker channel" for Sky's main entertainment channel Sky One and its other subscription services. According to BSkyB managing director of Sky Networks Dawn Airey, the channel's purpose was to "offer digital terrestrial viewers the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of popular programmes from Sky" while simultaneously reaching "an even wider audience" to help attract more subscribers to Sky's satellite service.[1]
Sky Three carried content from the libraries of Sky One and Sky Travel, plus original commissioned material concentrated on lifestyle and travel documentaries. The launch programming in October 2005 included the first screening on free-to-air digital television of the third series of hit US drama 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland.[1]
Programming and Performance
editProgramming highlights from the channel's schedule included Futurama, Cold Case, Star Trek series including The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Hex.
Due to its wider availability on Freeview channel 11, Sky Three constantly achieved higher ratings than Sky Two, with Sky Three averaging approximately 1% audience share compared to Sky Two's 0.1–0.3% share.[2] This performance demonstrated the channel's success in reaching audiences beyond Sky's satellite subscriber base.
Battlestar Galactica Coverage
editSky Three played an important role in expanding the UK audience for Battlestar Galactica. On Thursday, 22 June 2006, Sky Three broadcast the first free-to-view UK transmission of the series, airing "33" and "Water" back-to-back. This broadcast marked the series' debut on free-to-air television in the UK, expanding its reach beyond Sky One subscribers.[2]
Radio Times praised the series upon its Sky Three debut, describing it as a "dazzling wagon-trains-in-space opera."[2] The free-to-air broadcasts allowed the Re-imagined Series to reach a significantly broader UK audience and helped establish its popularity beyond the pay-TV subscriber base.
Rebrands
editOn 31 August 2008, Sky Three was rebranded as Sky3 (without a space), as part of a wider rebranding of Sky's entertainment channels to use numeral-only designations.
On 1 February 2011, the channel underwent a minor rebrand to Sky 3 (with a space between "Sky" and "3"), adopting a new logo design consistent with other Sky channels.
Closure and Replacement
editOn 1 March 2011, Sky 3 was rebranded as Pick TV (later Pick) to disassociate the channel from the Sky brand as it began to air more programming from defunct channels Channel One and Bravo.
References
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 May, Kevin, "Sky Three to launch on Freeview (backup available on Archive.org)", September 22, 2005.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 (November 2006) "Sound Bites... Free For All". Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine (7).