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Sky Mix

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Sky Mix
Logo used since 2023
Broadcast areaUnited KingdomandIreland
Programming
Picture format1080pHDTV(Sky Glass)
1080iHDTV(Astra 2 satellite)
16:9576iSDTV(Freeview)
TimeshiftservicePick +1 (2010–2022)
Ownership
OwnerSky Group(Comcast)
Sister channelsList of Sky UK channels
History
Launched31 October 2005;18 years ago(2005-10-31)
ReplacedLifetime
Former namesSky Three (2005–2008)
Sky3 (2008–2011)
Sky 3 (February 2011)
Pick TV (2011–2013)
Pick (2013–2023)
Links
Websitewww.sky.com/watch/channel/pick
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 11
Streaming media
Sky GoWatch live(UK and Ireland only)
NowWatch live(UK and Ireland only)
Virgin TV GoWatch live(UK only)
Virgin TV AnywhereWatch live(Ireland only)
Samsung TV PlusChannel 4155

Sky Mix(formerlySky Three,Sky3,Sky 3,Pick TVandPick) is a Britishfree-to-airtelevision channel, owned bySky UK.The channel originally launched on 31 October 2005 asSky Three.

The channel's current name, which was adopted in 2023, is the second time that the "Sky Mix" brand has been used.Sky Replaywas originally known as 'Sky One Mix', and previously known as 'Sky Mix' from 2004 to 2005.

History

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As Sky Three

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Sky Threewas the first free-to-air general entertainment channel from Sky since Sky One became a pay channel in 1993. It launched on 31 October 2005, replacing the Sky Travel's EPG slot on Freeview in a bid to attract more subscribers to Sky's satellite service. It was essentially abarker channelfor Sky's main entertainment channelSky Oneand its other subscription services, which served to"offer digital terrestrial viewers the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of popular programmes from Sky".From its launch on until 24 June 2010, the channel carried Sky Travel's commercial presentations selling holiday deals for a number of providers.[1]

Due to its wider availability on Freeview channel 11, the channel constantly had higher ratings thanSky Two.Sky Three was achieving on average a 1% share compared to Sky Two's 0.1–3% share. Instead of Sky selling on the terrestrial free-to-air rights for their programmes to another broadcaster, these rights are usually retained to remain exclusive to Sky.[citation needed]

In 2008, Sky's entertainment channels changed the wording in the logos to numbers, hence Sky Three becameSky 3.[citation needed]

Early highlights from the channel's schedule includedFuturama,Cold Case,Tru Calling,Relic Hunter,Road Wars,theInsidestrand of documentaries,Brainiac: Science Abuse,Airline,and35mmfromSky Movies(which looks at upcoming films in the cinema and on Sky's premium movies serviceSky Movies) andDream Team.[citation needed]The channel has also shown the free-to-air premieres of some of Sky One's more prestigious shows; such as series 3 and 4 of24,Rescue Me,The 10th Kingdom,Hexand the latest remake ofBattlestar Galactica.[citation needed]The channel also showed series 3 and 4 ofPrison Breakin 2010,Star Trek: Deep Space NineandStar Trek: The Next Generation.[citation needed]

On 23 August 2010,Sky Sports Newsbecame a pay-TV channel, which was replaced on Freeview by a one-hourtimeshiftversion of Sky 3.[2]Sky 3 +1 also launched on Sky channel 223 on the same day.

A final rebrand took place in early 2011 and saw Sky 1, 2 and 3 gain similar rectangular logos toSky NewsandSky Sports.[citation needed]

On 1 February 2011,Sky Atlanticlaunched on Sky channel 108, which had originally been occupied by Sky 3.[3]

As Pick TV

[edit]

Sky 3 was renamedPick TVon 1 March 2011, to disassociate the channel with Sky as it began to air more programmes from the formerChannel OneandBravo.[4][5]Initially, the channel retained the look of the most recent rebrand which occurred a few weeks earlier.[citation needed]

Since its rebrand, recent Sky One shows (such asUK Border Force,Pineapple Dance Studios) and documentary series hosted byRoss Kemp(such asOn GangsandIn Search of Pirates) were shown.[citation needed]

Sky's 2010 acquisition ofChallengefromLiving TV Groupsawgame showsand quiz-type programming move off Pick TV.[citation needed]Nonetheless, it became fairly common for Pick and Challenge to cross-promote its programmes to viewers. These include regular trailers in between shows, and when a certain show finishes, the continuity announcer will usually tell viewers what is coming up next on both channels.[citation needed]

On 20 September 2011 at 14:00, Pick TV +1 was removed from Freeview.[6]This was so that all of the channels owned by BSkyB could be on multiplex C and Challenge could broadcast for 24 hours a day in Wales on the platform, in-line with the rest of the UK.[citation needed]

In May 2012, Pick TV started broadcasting some older Sky One andSky Livingshows, and the formerChannel OneandBravoshows.[citation needed]

On Monday 7 October 2013, "TV" was dropped from the channel's name; becoming known as simplyPick.The channel would also introduce a new look and logo.[citation needed]On 28 June 2016, another new logo was announced which also included a brand new look.[citation needed]

On 1 March 2018, Pick +1 was added back on Freeview as a FreeviewHD service. A while later the channel moved from channel 97 to 92 on Freeview.[citation needed]

On 18 June 2020, Pick +1 was removed from Freeview channel 92.[7]Between June and July 2020, when thePremier Leagueresumed after lockdown, all of the remaining matches were televised due to fans not being allowed in the stadiums. 25 of these matches were televised on Pick.[8]

In its later years, the channel had an increased focus on airingSky Showcase(Sky One's successor channel, which launched in 2021) andSky Witnessprogrammes 12–18 months after their original broadcasts, and as well as content tailored towards Pick.[citation needed]

As Sky Mix

[edit]

On 3 October 2023, it was announced that Pick will rebrand on 18 October 2023 asSky Mix.[9]This relaunch will see the channel return to its original Freeview channel number on channel 11, and it will notably be airing the first series of theHBOdramaTrue Detective.[10][11]

In 2024, aSky Kids-brandedprogramming strandlaunched on Sky Mix; airing on weekends from 8am to 9am.[citation needed]

Former logos

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References

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  1. ^Plunkett, John."Sky Three to launch on Freeview"Archived22 December 2016 at theWayback Machine,MediaGuardian,22 September 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  2. ^"Sky Sports News to get bigger and better as a pay TV channel".British Sky Broadcasting. 17 June 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2011.Retrieved17 June2010.
  3. ^"Sky confirms strengthened entertainment line-up".British Sky Broadcasting.25 October 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2012.Retrieved25 October2010.
  4. ^Farber, Alex."Sky 3 to relaunch as Pick TV".Broadcast.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2011.Retrieved25 January2011.
  5. ^Lane, Alex."Sky3 to become Pick TV".What Satellite and Digital TV.Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2011.Retrieved25 January2011.
  6. ^"Pick TV+1 leaves Freeview channel 44".Freeview. Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2012.Retrieved5 September2010.
  7. ^"Pick+1 removed from freeview".18 June 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 29 June 2020.Retrieved18 June2020.
  8. ^Mitchelmore, Ian (19 June 2020)."What channel is Sky Pick and which Premier League matches are free".WalesOnline.Archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2020.Retrieved30 April2022.
  9. ^"Sky Mix: 2023 Presentation".The Ident Gallery.7 October 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2023.Retrieved7 October2023.
  10. ^TVZone (3 October 2023)."SKY TO LAUNCH NEW CHANNEL SKY MIX, PICK CHANNEL TO CLOSE".TV Zone UK.Archivedfrom the original on 4 October 2023.Retrieved3 October2023.
  11. ^Newsdesk1, RXTV (3 October 2023)."Sky launching new Freeview channel > RXTV info".RXTV info.Archivedfrom the original on 4 October 2023.Retrieved3 October2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)