Sky Arts to go FTA?

Sky is looking at taking Sky Arts free-to-air as it weighs up the options for the future of the channel.

Broadcast understands that the pay-TV business is in the early stages of a review process for the Urban Myths and Portrait Artist of the Year broadcaster.

Among the options being considered is a relaunch of the brand as a free-to-air offering, in what would be Sky’s second free-to-air entertainment channel after Relic Hunter broadcaster Pick.

Indies could welcome a free-to-air move, as it would make their programmes accessible to a wider audience and potentially allow for bigger budgets.

Meanwhile, increasing its free-to-air portfolio could serve as a marketing play for Sky, allowing the business to drive viewers to its pay-TV channels.

Sky Arts is a 24-hour channel that spans music, arts and culture. It has a weekly reach of 1m and a monthly reach of 5.5m. The brand was previously distributed across two channels - Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2 - but were merged into one offering in 2015.

Another option being discussed internally would see the channel ramping up its participation in the arts.

Sky is currently researching how users interact and engage with Sky Arts, which is headed by Phil Edgar-Jones.