Sky Atlantic to launch next month

Sky has today confirmed that new channel Sky Atlantic will become available next month, offering hit US shows such as Boardwalk Empire, Treme and Blue Bloods.

On February 1, the channel will launch in standard and high definition in the UK and Ireland, available exclusively to all Sky's 10 million subscribers.

Sky Atlantic will come to position 108 on Sky's electronic programming guide, forming a new entertainment trio with Sky1 (position 106) and Sky Living (107), formerly the Living channel.

Last night, Sky secured Blue Bloods and The Borgias for Sky Atlantic in a deal with CBS Studios International. The programmes will run in addition to the channel's exclusive deal for new HBO shows and agreement with Lionsgate Television for series five of Mad Men.

Hit US cop series Blue Bloods will premiere on Sky Atlantic in February, along with the Martin Scorsese-directed epic Boardwalk Empire and Treme, a New Orleans-set drama created by The Wire's David Simon.

Sky has also secured a series of video on-demand rights as part of the HBO deal, meaning Sky Atlantic will be able to offer Red Button access throughout the year to boxsets of popular shows. For example, one month might see the entire back catalogue of Flight of the Conchords become available to watch on demand.

The Anytime VOD service will offer 30 day catch-up on all Sky Atlantic shows, along with on-demand access to HBO programmes such as The Wire, Six Feet Under and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The VOD service will also be used to run seven-day previews of upcoming Sky Atlantic programmes.

At an event today in London, Sky Atlantic director of programmes Stuart Murphy claimed that the channel will "fundamentally change the way people feel about Sky entertainment".

He said that Sky Atlantic is aimed at "increasing value for Sky subscribers", but also pulling in the pay-TV abstainers who have so far been happy to stick with Freeview or Freesat.

Murphy said that the channel will provide "cinematic, iconic television", aimed at older and more "upmarket" viewers. However, he joked that it is not designed as a competitor to BBC Four, predominantly because viewers "won't be required to have a degree or insomnia to watch it".

Sky Atlantic will also utilise the new HD bouquet swap system developed by Sky, which switches SD channels with HD in Sky+ HD households, meaning anyone clicking on Sky Atlantic at channel 108 will automatically get the HD version.