Sky Boosts Freeview Profile With 24 Premiere
Satellite giant Sky has announced that it will screen the first episode of hit US drama 24‘s new series simultaneously on both Sky One and Sky Travel, allowing Freeview customers to enjoy the explosive start to the acclaimed series and provide a taster of what Sky’s channel packages can offer.
The rest of the programme’s fourth series will be shown exclusively on Sky One, with the broadcaster clearly hoping to whet appetites amongst Freeview customers and encourage some of them to switch from the free to air service to Sky’s premium service.
The choice to use 24 as an incentive for potential Sky customers is a wise one, with the show receiving critical acclaim, having won 8 Emmys, 2 Golden Globes and several other awards. Sky claims 24 has established itself as one of the great dramatic series of recent years, with the latest series reinventing the show with an almost entirely new supporting cast for leading man Kiefer Sutherland.
Sky Travel has screened increasingly entertainment-lead programming in recent months, repeating the once iconic Rough Guide To The World and magic show-come-travellogue Penn & Tellers Magic & Mystery Tour.
However, a spokesman for Sky refused to be drawn on whether the channel was planning to switch its content to become entirely entertainment-led, stating: “The first episode is being shown simultaneously on Sky One and Sky Travel, which will enable a wider audience, including some who don’t get Sky One, to sample a couple of hours of the programme. We think 24 is a great show and we think there is an audience out there who would welcome the opportunity to see this great piece of TV.”
Last year BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch shelved plans for the launch of a new general entertainment channel on the Freeview platform, although the latest move shows a definite intent by the broadcaster to use the platform as a showcase for the best its satellite services have to offer.
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com
Recent Television Stories from NewsLine HomeChoice To Launch TV Based Music Download Service Sky Secures Buena Vista For Pub Advert Takeover First Results From BARB’s Lifestyle Survey Published
Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive