Sky Kids
Michael Rose OBE pays tribute to Sky Kids’ commissioning successes, the closure of which places even further strain on the already beleaguered children’s content industry in the UK.
At the CMC in July, talk was inevitably rife about the crisis in children’s television and the forthcoming Select Committee Inquiry into its future. Just a few days later, Sky abruptly announced that it would cease commissioning original children’s and family programming, instead shifting focus to acquiring third party content. Whilst the 13 programmes announced or already in production will be completed over the next two years, it remains to be seen how the corporation’s new approach to kids will develop.
The loss of Sky investment in new original UK children’s content is a major blow to a sector already grappling with rapid shifts in viewing habits, rising costs and the challenges posed by YouTube. The decision leaves the BBC and Channel Five’s Milkshake! as the only significant commissioners of factual and entertainment content for children in the UK. A lack of healthy competition serves no one, least of all the audience.
That Sky became such an important player in UK kids’ broadcasting is down to Lucy Murphy. Joining ten years ago as Director of Kids Content, she launched the Sky Kids VOD platform – curating acquisitions and creating a distinctive and imaginative destination for young viewers. As her role grew, she started to commission original programmes, building a talented team of commissioners including Estelle Hughes, Ian France and Lisa Mackintosh. Supported by Managing Director of Content Zai Bennett, Lucy successfully persuaded Sky’s leadership of the value of investing in high quality original programming and nurturing Sky’s audience of the future. It was a formidable achievement.
Over the years, there have been a raft of award-winning commissions across genres from news and factual to drama and entertainment: Programmes such as 123 Number Squad, Awesome Animals and Mini Me, The Very Small Creatures, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, FYI: For Your Info and Magic Light’s own Pip and Posy to name just a few. Sky made substantial investments in these productions often contributing 50% or more of budgets, and sometimes fully funding. Most significantly, Lucy insisted that all her commissions meet PSB-style standards of quality, integrity and compliance.
Amidst all the debate about the role of PSBs, Sky Kids’ record is remarkable. As a commercial company Sky had no obligation to fulfil a public service brief for children – and yet it blazed a trail for a decade, putting true PSBs such as Channel Four and ITV to shame for their abandonment of children’s commissioning.
UK producers can rightly mourn the loss of such finance and commitment but abrupt shifts occur all too regularly in our industry, and this won’t be the last. For now though, let’s acknowledge Sky’s ten year contribution to high quality UK children’s programming, and salute Lucy, Estelle, Ian, Lisa and colleagues for creating an exceptional platform, backing so much great talent and content, and always being a delight to work with. We wish them all the best for the future.
Michael Rose
Joint CEO, Magic Light Pictures
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