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Sky Italia

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Sky Italia S.r.l.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded31 July 2003;20 years ago(2003-07-31)
FounderRupert Murdoch
Headquarters
Milan
,
Italy
Area served
Italy
San Marino
Vatican City
Key people
Andrea Duilio (CEO)
ProductsDirect-broadcast satelliteOTT streaming televisionbroadband providerMVNO
ParentSky Group
SubsidiariesNOW S.r.l.
Vision Distribution (joint venture with Cattleya, Wildside,Lucisano Media Group,Palomar andIndiana Production[1])
Websitewww.sky.it

Sky Italia S.r.l.is an Italiansatellite televisionplatform owned by the American media conglomerateComcast.Sky Italia also broadcasts three national free-to-air television channels:TV8,Cielo,andSky TG24.

Pay TVservices on the Sky Italia satellite platform are broadcast on theHot Birdsatellites at 13.0°E and are encrypted inNDSVideoGuard.

History[edit]

Sky Italia was founded on 31 July 2003 by the merger of TELE+ andStream TV.[2]

On 28 June 2010, Sky Italia changed its brands and logos, making them identical to the BSkyB ones.

On 1 October 2010, Sky activated its first3Dchannel,Sky Sport 3D,available without any extra cost to the Sport pack subscribers. The very first event Sky Sport 3D aired was the2010 Ryder Cup.On 25 December 2010, Sky launched another 3D channel:Sky Cinema 3D,airing 3D movies, available for free for Cinema pack subscribers. These channels have been replaced bySky 3Don 6 September 2011, then closed on 16 January 2018.

Tom Mockridge,the then head of Sky Italia, replacedRebekah Brooksas chief executive ofNews Internationalafter she resigned on 15 July 2011.[3]

Andrea Zappia replacedTom Mockridgeas CEO on 1 August 2011.[4]On 7 October 2011 Sky Italia announced it reached the 5 million subscribers benchmark.

FollowingNews Corporation's split into two on 28 June 2013, to create two separate companies,21st Century Fox(the re-branded News Corporation), and the spin-off company NewNews Corp,the 100% stake held by News Corporation in Sky Italia was retained by the re-branded 21st Century Fox.

Following media speculation, on 12 May 2014 Sky Italia's sister company,BSkyB,confirmed it was in talks with its largest shareholder,21st Century Fox,about acquiring 21st Century Fox's 57.4% stake inSky Deutschlandand its 100% stake in Sky Italia. The enlarged company would be likely to be called "Sky Europe" and will consolidate 21st Century Fox's European digital TV assets into one company.[5][6]The sale was announced on 25 July 2014, which was subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.[7]The acquisition was completed on 13 November.[8]

In 2016, Sky Italia created Vision Distribution, a film distribution venture with five Italian production companies: Wildside (owned byFremantle), Cattleya (backed byITV Studios),Lucisano Media Group,Palomar andIndiana Production.Since the beginning of August 2019,Universal Pictures,Sky's corporate cousin viaNBCUniversal,handles theatrical distribution for Vision's releases in Italy.[9]On 20 January 2020, Vision launched their international sales arm, Vision Distribution International.[1]

Since October 2018, Sky Italia, as well asSky UK,Sky IrelandandSky Deutschland,is controlled byComcast.

On 1 October 2019, Maximo Ibarra replaces Andrea Zappia as CEO. Maximo Ibarra, however, had already left Sky Italia on 30 June 2021.

On 16 June 2020, Sky Italia launched Sky Wifi, its ultra-broadband service.

On 6 September 2021 Andrea Duilio started as the new CEO of Sky Italia.

Timeline[edit]

1998[edit]

  • December:Miro Allione,Stream's CEO, stated thatNews Corpsigned a preliminary deal withTelecom Italiato buy 80% of Stream, but the introduction of a bill limiting the acquisition of soccer pay TV rights has made the company reconsider its plans.[10]

1999[edit]

2002[edit]

2003[edit]

2004[edit]

  • April: Sky Italia abandonsSECAencryption system to switch to theNDS,managed by theNews Corporation.
  • 1 August: Sky launches weather news channel, Sky Meteo 24.
  • November: Sky's subscribers reach 3 million.

2005[edit]

  • May: Sky Italia are awarded the broadcast rights to the2006 FIFA World Cup.
  • November: Sky Italia launches the My Sky decoder withPVRfunctionality.

2006[edit]

2007[edit]

  • April:Foxairs the first TV drama created by an Italian pay television channel,Boris.
  • May: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights forFormula Onefor two and a half years.
  • May:Cooltoonanime programming is launched.
  • November: A selection of Sky channels become available viaIPTVonTelecom Italia,Fastweband Wind.

2008[edit]

  • February: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights for the2012 Summer Olympics.
  • May: Sky launches My Sky HD.
  • 30 August: Sky launches sports news channel, Sky Sport 24.
  • December:VATon subscriptions is increased from 10% to 20%.

2009[edit]

2010[edit]

  • January: AllSerie Amatches begin transmitting in high-definition.
  • April: Sky launches three Sky Movies channels in high-definition, bringing the total number of HD channels to 25 channels.
  • June:
    • Sky changes its brand identity with a new logo, similar to that used byBSkyB.
    • Mondiali 1–4 launch for the2010 FIFA World Cup.
  • August: The number of high-definition channels reaches 36.
  • October: The2010 Ryder Cupfinal is the first sports event to be broadcast in 3D.
  • November:
    • Sky's subscribers reach 4.8 million.

2011[edit]

  • January:Avataris the most watched film on Italianpay TV,with an audience of 1.3 million viewers.
  • February: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights for the2011 Copa América,2011 and2012 Copa Sudamericanaand2012 Copa Libertadores.
  • March: Sky Cinema Passion and Sky Cinema Comedy launch.
  • May: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights forX Factor.
  • August: Sky launches Sky Go, an app which allows a number of Sky channels to be viewed onsmartphonesandtablets.
  • September: Sky launchesSky 3D,the first3Dchannel in Italy.
  • October:
    • Sky's subscribers reach 5 million.
    • Sky Unobegins broadcasting in HD for the premiere ofX Factor.
  • December:
    • Sky's HD channels reach 40 with the launch ofEurosport 2HD.

2012[edit]

2013[edit]

  • February: Sky's subscribers fall to 4.83 million.
  • March: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights for theBundesligafor two seasons. Sky launches the Sky Sport F1.
  • 3 April:Cielolaunches in HD.
  • May: Sky's subscribers fall to 4.78 million.
  • July: Sky are awarded the broadcast rights for2014 Winter Olympics,but transfers the rights for the2016 Summer OlympicstoRAI.
  • 9 August:Fox Sportslaunches on Sky andMediaset Premium,broadcasting thePremier League,theFA Cup,La LigaandLigue 1.
  • September:Sky TG24launches in high-definition, bringing the total number of HD channels to 63.
  • October: Classica andMTVlaunch in high-definition, bringing the total number of HD channels to 65.
  • November: Sky's subscribers fall to 4.76 million.
  • December: Sky Go launches onWindows Phone.

2014[edit]

2015[edit]

2016[edit]

2017[edit]

2018[edit]

  • April:Mediaset Premium's cinema channels start broadcasting on Sky.
  • June:Mediaset Premium's TV series channels start broadcasting on Sky.
  • July: Channel logos became identical to the Sky UK ones. Sky launches Sky Q Black.
  • December: Sky's subscribers reach to 5,2 million.

2019[edit]

2020[edit]

2021[edit]

  • July: Fox Crime and Roma TV close and Sky Documentaries, Sky Investigation, Sky Nature and Sky Serie are launched.

2022[edit]

  • January: Premium Action, Premium Stories, Premium Crime,Premium Cinema,Paramount Network and Spike close.
  • July:Foxcloses.
  • October: National Geographic,National Geographic Wildand Baby TV close and Lazio Style Channel is upgraded to HD.

2023[edit]

Sky HD and 4K HDR[edit]

Sky Box HD (Pace)

Sky HDis the brand name of theHDTVservice launched by Sky Italia on 20 April 2006 in Italy – during the2006 FIFA World Cup– to enable high definition channels on Sky Italia to be viewed. The service requires the user to have a Sky Box HD (distributed by Sky Italia), and anHDTVwithHDCPenabled.

My Sky HD (Amstrad)

AHDPVRdecoder calledMy Sky HDwas launched on 26 May 2008 (on 20 December 2008 was sold a particular edition designed byFendiin favour of the international organisationChild Priority).

Sky Q Platinum

On 29 November 2017, Sky launchedSky Q Platinum,a set-top box enabled to view programmes in 4K HDR and to use the multiscreen wireless service.

Sky Q Black

On 2 July 2018, Sky launchedSky Q Black,a set-top box identical to the Sky Q Platinum which enables the 4K HDR service but not the multiscreen wireless.

Here are the channels available inHD:

TV 31 channels Sky TG24 HD,Rete 4HD,Canale 5HD,Italia 1HD,Sky UnoHD,Sky Uno +1 HD,Sky Serie HD,Sky Serie +1 HD,Sky Atlantic HD,Sky Atlantic +1 HD,Sky Investigation HD,Sky Crime HD,Sky Arte HD,TV8 HD,Blaze HD,MTV HD,Classica HD, NOVE HD, 20 Mediaset HD,Cielo HD,27 Twentyseven HD,Real Time HD,Giallo HD,DMAX HD,Eurosport 1HD,Eurosport 2HD, Horse TV HD,Gambero Rosso ChannelHD, Food Network HD,Sky Nature HD,Sky Documentaries HD,Discovery Channel HD,Discovery Science HD,History HD,Motor Trend HD
Cinema 11 channels Sky Cinema Uno HD,Sky Cinema DueHD,Sky Cinema Collection HD,Sky Cinema Family HD,Sky Cinema Action HD,Sky Cinema Suspense HD,Sky Cinema Romance HD,Sky Cinema Drama HD,Sky Cinema Comedy HD,Sky Cinema Uno +24 HD,Sky Cinema Due+24 HD
Sport 10 channels Sky Sport 24 HD,Sky Sport Uno HD,Sky Sport Football HD,Sky Sport Arena HD,Sky Sport Collection HD,Sky Sport Tennis HD,Sky Sport NBA HD,Sky Sport F1 HD,Sky Sport MotoGP HD,Roma TV
Calcio 11 channels Sky Sport 24 HD,Sky Sport Serie A HD,Sky Sport Football HD,Sky Sport HD (channels from 251 to 257), Lazio Style Channel
Kids 1 channel Cartoon Network HD
Primafila 7 channels Sky Primafila1 HD,Sky Primafila2 HD,Sky Primafila4 HD,Sky Primafila6 HD,Sky Primafila8 HD,Sky Primafila10 HD,Sky Primafila12 HD
Optional Channels 4 channels DAZN1, DAZN 1+,Milan TV,Inter TV

Logos[edit]

31 July 2003 – 3 September 2006 4 September 2006 – 27 June 2010 28 June 2010 – 25 September 2013 26 September 2013 – 1 July 2018 2 July 2018 – 13 September 2020 in use from 14 September 2020

Channel Packs[edit]

Sky Italia offers a range of channels that are grouped into:

  • Sky TV– Entertainment, TV series,Eurosport's sport, news, documentaries and music;
  • Entertainment plus– AddsNetflixto the Sky TV package;
  • Sky Cinema– Movies;
  • Sky SportandSky Calcio(Football) – Sports and football;
  • Sky Kids– cartoons.

Sky TV[edit]

Sky Kids[edit]

Sky Sport and Sky Calcio[edit]

  • Sky Sport 24 (Sky Sports News)
  • Sky Sport Uno
  • Sky Sport Serie A
  • Sky Sport Football
  • Sky Sport Arena
  • Sky Sport Collection
  • Sky Sport NBA
  • Sky Sport F1
  • Sky Sport MotoGP
  • Lazio Style Channel
  • Sky Sport (channels from 251 to 263)

Sky Cinema[edit]

  • Sky Cinema Uno (+24 available)
  • Sky Cinema Due(+24 available)
  • Sky Cinema Collection
  • Sky Cinema Family
  • Sky Cinema Action
  • Sky Cinema Suspense
  • Sky Cinema Romance
  • Sky Cinema Drama
  • Sky Cinema Comedy
  • Iris
  • Cine34

Optional Channels[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abNick Vivarelli (20 January 2020)."Sky Italia's Vision Distribution to Launch Film Sales Company at Berlin's EFM".Variety.Retrieved30 September2020.
  2. ^"Communicating Europe: Italy Manual"(PDF).European Stability Initiative. 19 May 2008.Archived(PDF)from the original on 26 June 2014.Retrieved23 November2014.
  3. ^Samira Shackle (15 July 2011)."Ed Miliband calls for the break-up of the Murdoch Empire".New Statesman.Retrieved28 June2013.
  4. ^"Sky: Andrea Zappia nuovo ad Sky Italia".ANSA(in Italian). 8 January 2011.Retrieved28 June2013.
  5. ^Statement on potential acquisition,BSkyB 12 May 2014Archived16 May 2014 at theWayback Machine.Retrieved: 19 June 2014.
  6. ^"'Sky Europe': what is behind BSkyB's effort to buy Murdoch's European pay-TV businesses? ".The Daily Telegraph.12 May 2014.Retrieved19 June2014.
  7. ^"BSkyB to pay $9 billion to create Sky Europe".Reuters.25 July 2014.Retrieved25 July2014.
  8. ^"Sky creates Europe's leading entertainment company".Sky. 13 November 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 15 November 2014.Retrieved13 November2014.
  9. ^"Una nuova fase per Vision Distribution".14 May 2019.
  10. ^"Italy's Stream lost more steam in '98".Variety.11 February 1999.Retrieved18 December2020.
  11. ^"Murdoch's Italian foothold".The Independent.28 April 1999.Retrieved19 June2012.
  12. ^"Murdoch si rafforza in Italia concluso l'acquisto di Tele+".La Repubblica(in Italian). 8 June 2002.Retrieved18 December2020.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSky Italia.
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