PBS to launch on Sky.

Dman001

American public broadcaster PBS has confirmed plans to launch a UK channel on Sky later in the year, while carriage talks with Virgin Media are also "ongoing".

PBS UK, launching on November 1 to Sky's 10 million-plus TV subscribers, will aim to make the broadcaster's "rich offering of award-winning science, history and current affairs programming available to British viewers".

The channel will launch with a British TV premiere of Prohibition, the Ken Burns-directed three-part documentary series about the prohibition era in America.

Reflecting the output of its US counterpart, PBS UK will also air shows such as NOVA, American Experience and Frontline. It will sit within the Entertainment section of Sky's electronic programme guide (EPG), but PBS is still awaiting confirmation of its exact channel number.


After recently securing a UK broadcast licence from Ofcom, PBS UK general manager Richard Kingsbury is "in the process of securing a highly visible Sky EPG slot for PBS". Carriage negotiations are said to be "ongoing" with Virgin Media.

"It is a tremendous honour to be tasked with introducing one of America's most trusted brands to the British public," said Kingsbury.

"Many will have watched PBS shows acquired by other channels without realising it, but with the vast majority of PBS's back catalogue still to premiere in the UK, there is a tremendous wealth of epic true stories available to craft a highly valued channel here."

The PBS UK channel is a joint venture between PBS Distribution and Canadian-born entrepreneur and philanthropist David Lyons. PBS will hold the international rights to the majority of the channel's output and will license its brand for the project.

http://www.digitalspy.ie/broadcasting/news/a334578/pbs-to-launch-uk-channel-on-sky.html

I've heard some good things about their content/documentaries (which is available on their website) so will be a welcomed addition to Sky.

Basq

Can't say I know much about them bar 'Sesame Street'!

Although I'd personally like to thank Sky for bringing 'Inside The Actor's Studio' over here on Sky Atlantic.

amacachi

Cosmos was on PBS :pac:

Dman001

Basq wrote: »

Can't say I know much about them bar 'Sesame Street'!

Although I'd personally like to thank Sky for bringing 'Inside The Actor's Studio' over here on Sky Atlantic.

Inside The Actor's Studio was actually here a long time before Sky Atlantic came around. I believe both Sky Arts and the Bio channel both showed it although they were probably quite old episodes. Sky Arts actually still show it

Solair

Hopefully, it also comes to UPC.

The Sparrow

So PBS UK launches tomorrow. Bit more info from The Guardian

Highlights from PBS's first week include the the award-winning Nova science series, which will air every weeknight. The first shows tackle subjects such as artificial intelligence, hi-tech supermaterials, the power of volcanoes and behavioural economics. "PBS hasn't been tempted down the route of science as entertainment, it's science with real content," promised Kingsbury.

"It's accessible but if you're real science lover, you'll absolutely still be satisfied."

The channel's prime current affairs strand Frontline will look at issues such as rising unemployment via a documentary made in a hair salon on New York's Upper East Side, the effects of the war on terror on daily living and assisted deaths. The broadcaster has also scheduled PBS Newshour – an impartial, hour-long US news programme – every weekday evening.

History programmes will include the American Experience series, which focuses on US subjects, and the American Antiques Roadshow. There will also be documentaries on subjects as diverse as pinball, jazz and prohibition. "We're curating it for a British audience," said Kingsbury.

PBS starts broadcasting on Sky (channel 166) and Virgin (channel 243) from Tuesday.

Go Harvey Go

The broadcaster has also scheduled PBS Newshour – an impartial, hour-long US news programme – every weekday evening.

As someone who has been to the States ten times, I can honestly say that the PBS NewsHour is a prime example of how the news should be done - it would certainly put Sky News and TV3 News to shame several times over.

Here's its YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PBSNewsHour

SteelyDanJalapeno

Are these the same guys that do the great documentaries?

The North Korea one is fantastic.