Sky to add crime, comedy channels

Kathryn Hahn in Mrs Fletcher

European satcaster Sky is to launch two UK channels focusing on crime and comedy in the next six months.

Sky Crime will launch in October 2019 and Sky Comedy in February 2020. They will be available at the same price via linear and on-demand. They will also be added to Sky’s OTT service Now TV as part of its entertainment package.

Sky Crime will air premium US true crime content from Oxygen and HBO and first-run content from prodcos Jupiter and Woodcut.

Sky Comedy will be the home to scripted US comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime, including acclaimed new series like Mrs Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn (Bad Moms).

The addition of the two channels follows the launch of Sky Studios, the satcaster’s commissioning and production arm. Off the back of Sky Studios, Sky has promised to more than double its investment in original content over the next five years.

Sky’s entertainment portfolio in the UK and Ireland now includes six core channel brands: Sky1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Witness, Sky Arts, Sky Crime and Sky Comedy, alongside the Sky Cinema and Sky Kids services.