Press Release
21 May 2007All Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros., now offering films in high definition on Sky Movies HD
90% of commissions and two thirds of prime time shows on Sky One will be made in HD
To mark Sky HD's first birthday, film fans can expect even more action, adventure, suspense and drama to burst from their screens as Sky today announces a wider choice of movies will be available in glorious high definition. Sky has now secured HD films for Sky Movies HD1 and HD2 from all the major Hollywood studios. Movies from the Warner Bros. Entertainment library including Syriana, V For Vendetta and Firewall, distributed by Warner Bros. International Television will now be available to Sky HD customers.
Today's announcement reinforces Sky's commitment to offer the UK's most comprehensive HD service across movies, sport, documentaries, drama and entertainment. Demand for Sky HD has surged rapidly, with almost a quarter of a million people signing up in just ten months.
In response to the demand for HD, Sky has been working hard to get as many HD programmes as possible and has also confirmed that next year 90% of original commission's for Sky One will be made in HD. In addition to our original commissions, by Christmas 2008 around two thirds of all prime-time shows on Sky One will be available in HD, nearly double the HD shows that were available at Christmas 2007*. Sky Arts HD will continue to build on its impressive HD line-up with all programmes commissioned for the channel being made in HD this year.
Brian Sullivan, Managing Director, Customer Group, BSkyB commented "Today's announcement means Sky is the place for movie fans to enjoy blockbuster films through a fantastic at-home TV experience. It also shows our commitment to making the best of Sky available in high definition, across the schedule. People want to enjoy the ultimate viewing experience when they're watching movies, sports, entertainment or documentaries, and that's why over a quarter of a million people have already signed up to Sky HD already."
Jeffrey Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television said "We are thrilled to support Sky in their efforts to be at the forefront of the HD experience for consumers by offering our Warner Bros. films in this format for the Sky HD service."
Over the next couple of months Sky HD viewers will be able to choose from a huge range of HD-entertainment across Sky's HD channels, covering everything from United 93 and X-Men: The Last Stand on Sky Movies HD; to 24 and Lost on Sky One HD; The UEFA Champions League Final, Majors golf, England's summer Test matches against the West Indies and India, and the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead on Sky Sports HD; and live coverage of The Guardian Hay Festival on Sky Arts HD. HD homes will also be able to tune into some great programmes from BBC HD in 2007 including Glastonbury, Wimbledon 2007 and the Concert For Diana.
