Sky Arts
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| Sky Arts | |
|---|---|
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| Launched | 2000 |
| Owned by | BSkyB |
| Audience share | 0.0% (February 2008, [1]) |
| Formerly called | Artsworld (until 2007) |
| Sister channel(s) | Sky Arts HD |
| Website | www.sky.com/arts |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 267 |
| Sky HD | Channel 268 |
| IPTV over ADSL | |
| Tiscali TV | Channel 114 |
Sky Arts (Formerly known as Artsworld) is a British television channel offering 18 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, movies, documentaries and music (such as opera performances and classical and jazz sessions). The channel is available via Sky Digital and Tiscali TV, but started life as a premium service requiring an additional payment on top of the monthly Sky subscription.
In its early days it was owned and managed by a private partnership (Artsworld Channels) including Sir Jeremy Isaacs. However, the channel suffered severe financial difficulty. In July 2002 it even staged its own farewell party, only to find emergency funding that very evening. In 2003, with a skeleton staff, it was facing closure. At this point, Sky stepped in, taking an initial 50% stake. Sky subsequently bought out the remaining shareholders (including Isaacs) and in 2005 took full control, reducing the staff further, and dropping the channel's premium subscription fee shortly afterwards.
On March 1, 2007, Artsworld became Sky Arts and Artsworld HD became Sky Arts HD. This resulted in all of BSkyB's wholly-owned channels carrying the Sky name.
From 8 June 2007 Sky Arts introduced series called: "Friday Night Hijack". Artists were invited to schedule a night of television that reflects their tastes, interests and passions. Guests included legendary punk DJ Don Letts, Don McCullin, Saffron Burrows, Anthony Horowitz, Malcolm McLaren, Phill Jupitus, Germaine Greer, George Melly and Reggie Perrin writer David Nobbs.
Picks included a Franz Ferdinand documentary entitled Rock it to Rio, a concert performance by Damon Albarn's new band The Good, The Bad and The Queen as well as documentaries and films on Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Rachel Whiteread and Elvis Costello.
[edit] External links
- Sky Arts at sky.com
- Report on Sky's takeover of the channel
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