BSkyB to make additional investment in UK film and doc production

UK pay TV operator BSkyB has committed to make additional investment in British film production, producing films for a “family audience” for Sky Movies and new documentaries for Sky Atlantic.

The new content will be available exclusive to Sky customers from 2013.

Sky Movies will invest in feature-length films for TV aimed at family audience over the next five years. New productions are already in development and Sky Movies is seeking submissions for further projects, the company said. The projects are being funded by what Sky described as “a dedicated, six figure development fund”.  Features that are approved for production will have budgets of around £5 million (€6 million).

Sky will also create up to 12 primetime documentaries for Sky Atlantic. Projects in each strand will be commissioned and acquired exclusively for Sky customers and will receive their premieres on Sky Movies and Sky Atlantic HD, said the broadcaster. The new shows will also be available on Sky’s on-demand services.

Sky has committed to increase investment in home-grown programming to £600 million by 2014, representing an increase of 50% over three years.

“We know British programming resonates strongly with our customers so we’ve been building our capability and credibility in this area over the last couple of years. I’m very encouraged by the progress we’ve achieved so far, particularly in original comedy and drama, but we’re only at the start and we’re determined to raise our ambitions again and keep improving,” said CEO Jeremy Darroch in a statement.