The end of Sky’s much-discussed HBO output deal will “not leave holes” in the pay-TV giant’s UK schedules, according to its scripted boss.
Meghan Lyvers and Sky Studios boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz were speaking at Series Mania in depth about the end of the output deal for the first time, just around a year before the deal’s end and with a new relationship between Sky and HBO-owner Warner Bros. Discovery soon to be in place.
Sky losing access to HBO content will “not leave holes” in the schedules, according to The Day of the Jackal commissioner Lyvers.
“It just leaves the very clear indication of building a slate and the notion of the business wanting more originals because they are doing a very good job of nurturing the customers but also bringing more people into Sky,” she said. “We are really looking years and years ahead to build tentpoles like Day of the Jackal. It takes time to develop those to the quality and execution we are able to provide.”
Frot-Coutaz stressed that there will be no hard stop for Sky subs’ access to HBO shows.
Sky and Now TV subs will have access to the Max app at no extra cost, she added, which will be “completely seamless,” while Sky also has “life of series rights” to future seasons of HBO tentpoles like The Last Of Us and The White Lotus.
Two years ago at Series Mania, Frot-Coutaz declared “there’s too much product,” and with drama funding remaining in the spotlight, she said today that “there is less product than there was two years ago” as she pointed to “sizeable structural challenges the business is facing.”
Frot-Coutaz said “there is some pain in the transition and that will continue for a few more years” but stressed: “That’s not to say we can’t make great programing in the meantime as we are all doing – focusing on getting great shows on air and to audiences.”
Lyvers said Sky’s breadth of shows can help battle funding challenges, with examples ranging from the Peacock co-produced Day of the Jackal to Sweetpea, which was made “with a robust tax incentive in the UK and a healthy license fee.”
The execs were speaking at Series Mania, which runs till tomorrow. Earlier today, Sweetpea EP Patrick Walters spoke about the challenges of funding YA.
