Sky One - future programming changes

Sky One looks set to follow Sky News' steps and encourage a more US brand, with more American programming in its schedules.

taken from media 24/7:

After last week's news about Sky News set to change it's programming into a more US style format, today it's reported that Sky One is set to follow the same way.

According to Broadcastnow Sky One controller James Baker is looking to transform BSkyB’s flagship channel into a US-style cable network offering with 'attitude and edge'.

Already alot of top Sky One shows are from their US counterparts including the linkes of 24, The Simpsons, Nip/Tuck, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1.

Last week it was reported that Sky News was looking to shift away from rolling news and concentrate more on fixed news programming like US news channels.

Is this a good idea for Sky to take with Sky One & News? And since Sky One's schedule is mostly dominated by US programmes, what other ones could they introduce? Paramount & E4 already have other US programmes, so they may struggle to get the big hits they want.

What do you think?
your comments.

Is this the same James Baker who used to present the kids shows on TV-am many many years ago (especially on Saturdays?)

Im personally very unhappy about "An American Format" Why? Its rubbish.
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Why do I sense Sky slowly turning into CBS

It was only last year that Sky were saying that Sky One was going to go for a classier, more high-brow image to tempt more older viewers.

It seems to me that Sky doesn't know what it wants Sky One to be!

I don't want a Yankee style channel if it's going to incorporate multiple ad breaks for a 21 minute programme.

Exactly, and it has been reflected in the ratings in recent years.

It didn't fare well during it's T&A period, isn't doing well now so maybe this is the plea of a channel which has lost its way.

I think its good to see Sky in a panic. Sky One has never floated my boat and Sky News is pure US style trash. Sky have thought they are numero uno for far too long that they haven't noticed other channels and platforms passing them by.

Such as?

Problem with Sky One these days is that it doesn't know whether it is coming or going. In the late 1990's (when I started watching), you knew where you stood, it was mainly Quality US imports, Comedy on Thursdays, and The Simpsons was only on 6 nights a week. Then it got to a point where it relied too much on Friends and The Simpsons.

I remember reading in 1999/2000 that they were going to make Sky Premier like a British version of HBO, as it was going to have comissioned programming, such as Time Gentlemen Please and Harry Enfield, but these were **** to Sky One, at the same time they also comissioned alot of homemade programming, most of this failed, the only sucesses being Kirsty's Home Videos (doesn't live to the title sadly) and nostalga type shows like TV Years which is still being shown on Sky Mix.

We got to a point a couple of years ago when it was a mix of The Simpsons, Kirsty's Home Videos and a few half decent US imports. Then I'd say an increase in Celeb style documentaries.

The Sky One we have right now isn't too bad, we still have The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek etc, but the stuff they comission doesn't seem too bad now, like the documentary Chavs. There was also some half decent stuff last year like Tim Lovejoy's show. I hear there are more documentaries to come.

Sky One started to go wrong when they thought that comissioning their own shows was a better idea then getting new US shows, many of which have been shown on E4 etc.

I wouldn't say that Sky are too concerned about Sky News really. The only problem they've noticed and are now addressing is the fact that the continuous rolling news coverage can get a bit stale. Just because Sky News is bold, bright and brash doesn't necessarily equate to "US Style Trash" - most of the news channels over there are actually quite sedate and old fashioned in their sets and general feel of the channels.

[quote="AJ"]

Yeah, that is why I don't watch Sky News much as it's just the same stuff over and over and over and over again. Adding other stuff [like Larry King, O'reily Factor, that kind of thing] would be good I think.

Helen