Sky Adds Premium Doco Channel

Sky continues to improve its entertainment package with the launch of a curated channel dedicated to mostly premium documentaries.

Sky Factual fills a long neglected gap in Sky’s schedule that elevates its non-fiction content beyond lifestyle and cable doco channels.

It also will allow flagship titles like History’s World War II With Tom Hanks and Kevin Costner’s The West to transmit in HD rather than languish in SD on the History Channel.

Live from August 27, it will occupy the Channel 14 space and follows the recent launches of other curated genre channels like Sky Comedy and Sky Drama.

You can view the channel promo here.

Here’s the media release:

Sky expands its entertainment offering with the launch of Sky Factual, an all-new channel dedicated to premium factual storytelling

From Thursday, 27 August, Sky will expand its entertainment offering with the launch of Sky Factual (Channel 14), a brand-new channel bringing together some of the world’s best documentaries, investigative series and real-world stories in one expertly curated destination.

Available to customers as part of the Sky Entertainment package, Sky Factual will showcase compelling factual entertainment from Aotearoa and around the world that informs, entertains and inspires, spanning feature documentaries, investigative storytelling, true crime, history, science, culture and inspiring real-life stories.

Launch week highlights include premieres of much-anticipated international titles, headlined by the epic 20-part series World War II with Tom Hanks, and I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, a revealing portrait of the comedy icon’s remarkable and often controversial career.

These titles are joined by the latest adventures from acclaimed broadcaster Sir Michael Palin, with Michael Palin in Venezuela and Michael Palin in Nigeria, as well as back catalogues from beloved presenters Anthony Bourdain (Parts Unknown S1-12), and documentarian Louis Theroux, including all episodes of his breakout docuseries Weird Weekends.

The line-up also features Born to Bowl, a five-part docuseries executive produced by Ben Stiller offering an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional bowling, alongside the New Zealand feature Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke, celebrating the legacy of one of Aotearoa’s most influential satirists.

Audiences can also look forward to investigative documentaries Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison and Ross Kemp: Lost Boys, Deadly Men, new episodes of popular observational series 999: On the Frontline, Highland Cops and Emergency, and pop culture titles such as The Beckhams’ Billions: How Did They Get So Rich? and Taylor: A Love Story.

Offerings beyond launch include The Raftsmen, The Salisbury Poisonings: A Spy Next Door, and Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare, as well as celebrity-led series Kevin Costner’s The West and Hazardous History with Henry Winkler and new episodes of award-winning series Educating Yorkshire.

Sky Factual joins Sky’s growing portfolio of in-house curated channels, continuing Sky’s commitment to bringing together premium content from leading studios and distributors around the world.

Fiona Murray, Head of Entertainment Content, at Sky, says: ” We know Sky audiences love great factual content and stories that offer a new perspective on the world around us.

“From major historical events and iconic personalities to contemporary investigations and extraordinary human experiences, Sky Factual offers a rich and diverse slate of premium programming.

“Best of all, it’s included as part of the Sky Entertainment package, giving customers even more value and even more great content to discover.”

Sky Factual programming will be available live on the Sky Factual channel and On Demand via the Sky Factual rail on the New Sky Box, Sky Pod or Sky Go.