Sky Boosts Irish Production Sector

Sky has confirmed its investment in the Irish production sector with the announcement of a new content fund of more than €2m (£2m) for its Sky 1 channel as it looks for a new homegrown Irish entertainment show.

The fund builds on the organisation's previous investment in Irish productions with the success of shows like Moone Boy and 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy.

On a recent visit to Dublin, Philip Edgar Jones, Head of Entertainment at Sky, issued a call to the Irish Independent Production sector to submit their programming ideas in a bid to find the next hit show. Submissions should have a focus across the Entertainment / Factual Entertainment and Comedy Ents genres for Sky 1 as the channel moves to an edgier, more mischievous and grown up audience appeal, with a return to entertainment and a renewed commitment to comedy.

The move is part of Sky's commitment to invest in local production in each of its territories, with cross-over appeal to Sky customers across Europe.

In addition to Sky Original Productions, Sky continues to invest in acquired content for customers in Ireland, including 3pm Premier League games exclusive to Irish viewers, GAA rights and the recently launched Sky News Dublin bureau which will see Dublin Correspondent Daren McCaffrey join Sky Ireland at the end of the month. Sky Ireland is also working on a new co-funded project with the Irish Film Board, details of which will be announced in the autumn.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Head of Entertainment at Sky, said: "Ireland has a thriving production sector and we want to bring the biggest and best of Irish entertainment to Sky customers across Europe. Sky 1 is the home of entertainment and we are looking for bold, action-packed shows. We're very excited and encouraged by the discussions we have been having with Irish Indies."

JD Buckley, Managing Director, Sky Ireland, added: "This is wonderful news for both Sky Ireland and for writers, producers and directors working here. This €2m + content fund again underpins Sky's commitment to Ireland and to producing great original content here. We've already enjoyed great success with programmes such as 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy and Moone Boy and we're excited by the prospect of yet another creative hit coming out of Ireland."

Image: Phil Edgar Jones & JD Buckley. Credit: Sky Group.

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(JP/MH)