Sky makes primetime, diversity push

Sky1 in the UK is looking to strengthen its evening primetime slot with a slew of commissions, and has pledged to include more ethnic minorities in its programming.

The latest batch of original shows form part of Sky1 director Adam MacDonald’s plan to bolster its weeknight 20.00 slot and includes ob-doc Gordonstoun (6×60′) from the UK’s ITN Productions, which follows the ups and downs of life at elite boarding school Gordonstoun.

Relatively Clever (7×60′) is a quizshow from John Stanley Productions that pits families against each other in knockout rounds, while Fright Club (6×60′), from London-based Maverick TV, follows people with the same crippling fear or phobia as they join forces to overcome their problem.

MacDonald, who joined Sky from A+E Networks UK in March last year, has already ordered shows including family reality series The Sun Set and debating series The Kings & Queens of Speech for its 20.00 weeknight slot.

In related news, Sky has also revealed plans to improve the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people across its entertainment channels, including Sky1 and drama-focused Sky Atlantic.

The broadcaster has set targets to ensure programmes on Sky1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living and Sky Arts better reflect the diversity of Sky’s audience and will be felt both on- and off-screen.

All new, non-returning shows on Sky entertainment channels will have people from BAME backgrounds in at least 20% of significant on-screen roles, while all original programming will have someone with a BAME background in at least one senior production role.

One in five writers on new shows (excluding series penned by single writers or partnerships) will be from BAME backgrounds while Sky will also offer a new 12-month placement within its commissioning team.

The satcaster is aiming to achieve the targets by the end of 2015 and Stuart Murphy, Sky’s director of entertainment, said it wanted to “kick-start a sea change in the on-screen representation of ethnic minorities on British television.”

Sky’s plans follow similar proposals revealed in June by the BBC to increase diversity at the UK pubcaster, including the creation of a £2.1m (US$3.6m) commissioning pot.