Sky Witness
{{short description|British television channel}}
{{for|the 6th century Mayan leader|Sky Witness (ruler)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Sky Witness
| logo = Sky Witness (2020).png
| logo_size = 250px
| sister_channels = List of Sky UK channels
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2020
| launch_date = {{start date and age|6 August 2018}}
| replaced = Sky Living
| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
{{small|(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed.)}}
| timeshift_service = Sky Witness +1
| online_serv_1 = Sky Go
| online_chan_1 = [http://go.sky.com/ Watch live] {{nowrap|(UK and Ireland only)}}
| online_serv_2 = Now
| online_chan_2 = [http://www.nowtv.com/ Watch live] {{nowrap|(UK and Ireland only)}}
| online_serv_3 = Virgin TV Go
| online_chan_3 = [https://virgintvgo.virginmedia.com/en/epg/1406 Watch live] (UK only)
| online_serv_4 = Virgin TV Anywhere
| online_chan_4 = [https://www.virginmediatv.ie/en/epg/IESVC1258 Watch live] (Ireland only)
[https://www.virginmediatv.ie/en/epg/IESVC1212 Watch live] (+1) (Ireland only)
}}
Sky Witness is a British pay television channel owned and operated by Sky, a division of Comcast. The channel primarily broadcasts established procedural shows from the United States aimed at the 18–45 age group. An Italian version of Sky Witness, called Sky Investigation, launched on 1 July 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/it-it/article/-quattro-nuovi-canali-sky|title = Sky presenta quattro nuovi canali di serie tv e factual entertainment, in onda dal 1° luglio}}
History
Sky Witness's history can be traced back to 1993 when UK Living began broadcasting. The channel was purchased by BSkyB in 2010 and announced on 25 October 2010, that Living would be rebranded as Sky Living in early 2011 to improve their entertainment line-up.{{cite web |title=Sky confirms strengthened entertainment line-up |url=http://corporate.sky.com/investors/press_releases/2010/sky_confirms_strengthened_line_up |publisher=British Sky Broadcasting |date=25 October 2010 |access-date=25 October 2010}}
On 8 June 2018, Sky announced that Sky Living would be closed and replaced on 6 August by a new channel Sky Witness, bringing an end to the Living brand after 25 years.[https://www.a516digital.com/2018/06/sky-living-to-become-sky-witness.html Sky Living to become Sky Witness] a516digital, 8 June 2018{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Stewart |title=Sky Rebrands U.S. Drama Channel, Lands MGM's 'Harry Quebert' |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sky-witness-new-name-for-us-drama-channel-1202837204/ |work=Variety |date=8 June 2018}}
Following the acquisition of Sky by Comcast in 2018, much of the programming previously screened on the Comcast-owned Universal TV (particularly first-run acquired series) was moved to Sky Witness; allowing the channel to be closed and replaced by Sky Comedy.
Current programming
{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Sky Witness}}
=Acquired programming=
International
=Sky Witness in Ireland=
Sky Witness is also available in Ireland via Sky Ireland and Virgin Media Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.virginmedia.ie/television/buy-a-tv-package/ |title=Buy A Television Package |publisher=Virgin Media Ireland |access-date=6 October 2015}} The Irish opt-out feed features localised advertising and sponsorship.
The same Sky Witness schedule, shown in both the UK and Ireland, also includes a selection of documentary programming from both the Irish Broadcasters, RTE and TV3/Virgin Media Television Ireland (the Irish broadcaster now owned by the cable TV company of the same name in Ireland, not to be confused with the earlier Flextech version of Virgin Media Television). Also there is some independently produced series, some commissioned directly by Sky, focusing on Ireland's various emergency services, medical, and certain Government of Ireland agencies, such as the Revenue Commissioners. The selection is similar to the genres focusing on other countries equivalent agencies, also shown on Sky Witness.
=Sky Investigation=
An Italian version of Sky Witness called Sky Investigation launched on 1 July 2021 with programming such as The Equalizer, Unforgettable, The Blacklist, Coroner, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Bull, Private Eyes, Elementary and NCIS.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.sky.com/watch/channel/sky-witness/ Sky Witness] at sky.com
- [https://guidatv.sky.it/canali/sky-investigation-hd/11246/ Sky Investigation HD su Sky: 114 | Sky] Sky Investigation
{{Sky Ltd}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
Category:Sky television channels
Category:2018 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:English-language television stations in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2018