{{Short description|German media company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox company | name = Sky Deutschland GmbH | logo = File:Sky logo 2025.svg | logo_class = logo-nobg | type = Subsidiary | foundation = {{start date and age|1991|02|28|df=yes}} | former_name = Premiere AG (1991–2009) | predecessor = | location = Unterföhring, Germany | area_served = Germany<br>Austria<br>Switzerland<br>Liechtenstein<br>Luxembourg (via cable subscription only) | subsid = Sky Switzerland | key_people = Carsten Schmidt (CEO) | industry = Mass media | services = Pay TV<br>Broadcasting<br>Television production<br>Mobile app<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvpro.ch/wie-du-die-bundesliga-2018-in-der-schweiz-schauen-kannst-und-wieviel-es-kostet/ |title=Wie du die Bundesliga 2018 in der Schweiz schauen kannst und wieviel es kostet | date=22 January 2018 | language=de | publisher=TV Pro Schweiz | access-date=14 January 2019 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | revenue = €977.8 million (2010)<ref name="AR2010">{{cite web |url=http://info.sky.de/inhalt/static/download/aktie/gj2010/skydeutschlandag_annualreport2010.pdf |title=Annual Report 2010 |access-date=13 March 2011 |publisher=Sky Deutschland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719083807/http://info.sky.de/inhalt/static/download/aktie/gj2010/skydeutschlandag_annualreport2010.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | operating_income = €367.6 million (2010)<ref name="AR2010" /> | net_income = €407.5 million (2010)<ref name="AR2010" /> | assets = €1.036 billion (2010)<ref name="AR2010" /> | equity = €333.8 million (2010)<ref name="AR2010" /> | owner = <!-- Per Template:Infobox company, it states: "If the company is majority-owned by a single entity and as such is a subsidiary or division, omit the owner field and use the parent field instead." --> | num_employees = 1,420 (FTE, 2010)<ref name="AR2010" /> | parent = RTL Group | homepage = {{URL|http://www.sky.de}} }}
'''Sky Deutschland GmbH''', branded as '''Sky''', is a German media company that operates a direct broadcast satellite Pay TV platform in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (through Sky Switzerland). It provides a collection of basic and premium digital subscription television channels of different categories via satellite and cable television.
It was launched in 1991 as '''Premiere'''. The channel originally started as a single analogue channel on the Astra 1A satellite, entirely without any commercials, showing films dubbed into German, as well as in original audio, live football matches from the German Bundesliga and Austrian Bundesliga (and at one time the UEFA Cup), and documentaries, concerts and TV series.
After the coming of the digital age, the service has since consisted of many channels with many new ones added over the years. On 4 July 2009, the service and its channels were rebranded as "Sky".<ref name="premieresky">{{cite web |title=Premiere rebranded Sky |url=https://advanced-television.com/2009/05/12/premiere-rebranded-sky/ |website=advanced-television.com |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=12 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="premieresky2">{{cite web |last1=Roxborough |first1=Scott |title=Premiere to rebrand as Sky Deutschland |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/premiere-rebrand-sky-deutschland-83613 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en |date=8 May 2009}}</ref>
Sky Deutschland is a wholly owned subsidiary of RTL Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ir.sky.de/cgi-bin/show.ssp?companyName=sky&language=German&id=3999&newsID=1498129 |title=Sky Deutschland AG - News |access-date=2014-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724022731/http://ir.sky.de/cgi-bin/show.ssp?companyName=sky&language=German&id=3999&newsID=1498129 |archive-date=24 July 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-skydeutschland-newscorp-idUKBRE90D08W20130114| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307155146/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-skydeutschland-newscorp-idUKBRE90D08W20130114| url-status=dead| archive-date=7 March 2016| title=News Corp to grab control of Sky Deutschland | author=Christoph Steitz and Harro Ten Wolde | publisher=Reuters | date=14 January 2013}}</ref> The programming service itself is provided by its subsidiary Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG (formerly Premiere Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG). It topped 3,000,000 subscribers by the end of 2011. As of Q2 2014, Sky Deutschland has more than 4 million subscribers.
== History == thumb|left| ''Premiere'' logo in 2006 thumb|240px|Typical illuminated Sky sign showing that a pub offers SKY TV The German Sky has its origin in the analogue premium channel ''Premiere''. It was owned by Kirch Group, Bertelsmann, and Canal+, and started broadcasting in 1991, having an encryption method similar to that used by Canal+ in France, Spain and Poland and needing a similar decoder.
In 1996, Kirch Media launched a digital satellite platform called DF1, which offered several different channels, including premium movie and sports channels and basically, thematic channels.
Premiere started broadcasting three digital channels in 1997, one channel mirroring the analogue channel and two showing the same content at different times. In the following years Bertelsmann and Canal+ sold their ownership of Premiere to Kirch Group leaving it as the sole owner of the service.
Premiere and DF1 merged to form Premiere World on 1 October 1999. Many of the channels offered on DF1 were carried over to Premiere World, others were rebranded or closed.
In 2002, the service became known as simply Premiere. Many of the channels were rebranded and the package structure was overhauled at the same time. At the same time, Kirch Group filed for bankruptcy, due to pay TV services in Germany failing to gain much traction, and terrestrial television in Germany having already become very robust in a shorter period of time when compared with other European regions, leaving Premiere as a pretty notorious flop.
In 2003, investment group Permira stepped in and took control of Premiere and managed to turn the service profitable in the following years. In 2005 it launched an initial public offering for €1.2 billion.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111040721890275105 Premiere Shares Jump Nearly 14% In Trading Debut] - David Roman and Jennifer Letki, The Wall Street Journal, 10 March 2005</ref>
Exclusivity was for a long time a major selling point for Premiere, and most of its channels were only available through the Premiere platform. This changed in September 2007, when Premiere launched Premiere Star, a new satellite package made up of channels that were not exclusive to Premiere. The new package was called Sky Welt/Extra. The package included TNT Serie, TNT Film, Sat.1 emotions, Kabel eins Classics, AXN, Kinowelt.TV, RTL Living, RTL Crime, FOX, Syfy Universal, Animax, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, ESPN America, Eurosport HD, Eurosport 2, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, MTV Germany, MTV Live HD and Nicktoons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/08/16/premiere-star-announces-full-channel-line-up/|title=Premiere Star announces full channel line-up|date=16 August 2007|publisher=broadbandtvnews.com}}</ref>
Beginning in 2007 the channel broadcast TNA Wrestling on their premiere sports channels for a period of time. They broadcast regular episodes and live pay-per-views. At that time it was the only European cable television company to broadcast live TNA pay per views. It was also the only cable television company to broadcast both WWE and TNA entire programming in the same years, on the same channels.
In January 2008, News Corporation bought a 14.6% share of Premiere.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/07/newscorporation.bskyb News Corp buys stake in German pay-TV firm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201409/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/07/newscorporation.bskyb |date=16 December 2017 }} - Chris Tryhorn, The Guardian, 7 January 2008</ref> News Corporation increased its shares of Premiere in the following months. On 4 July 2009, Premiere was rebranded, becoming Sky Deutschland.<ref name="premieresky2" /> In conjunction with the relaunch, many channels disappeared from the platform, switched packages or were renamed. Several new channels were also added. The rebrand marked the return of News Corporation's Sky brand to Germany since the encryption of the Sky Channel (now Sky One) in 1993, apart from the availability of ''Sky News''.
Sky also sells its services to pubs, restaurants, hotels and other establishments. The services are marketed by '''Sky Business'''.
Following News Corporation's split on 28 June 2013 to create two separate companies, 21st Century Fox (the rebranded News Corporation), and the spin-off company New News Corp, the 54.5% stake held by News Corporation in Sky Deutschland was retained by the rebranded 21st Century Fox.
Following media speculation, on 12 May 2014 Sky Deutschland's sister company, BSkyB, confirmed that it was in talks with its largest shareholder, 21st Century Fox, about acquiring Fox's 57.4% stake in Sky Deutschland and its 100% stake in Sky Italia. The enlarged company would be likely be called Sky Europe, consolidating 21st Century Fox's European digital TV assets into one company.<ref>[http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2014/statement_on_potential_acquisition ''Statement on potential acquisition'', BSkyB 12 May 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516221116/http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2014/statement_on_potential_acquisition |date=16 May 2014 }}. Retrieved: 19 June 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/10825535/Sky-Europe-what-is-behind-BSkyBs-effort-to-buy-Murdochs-European-pay-TV-businesses.html "'Sky Europe': what is behind BSkyB's effort to buy Murdoch's European pay-TV businesses?", ''The Daily Telegraph'' 12 May 2014]. Retrieved: 19 June 2014.</ref> The acquisition of the 57.4% stake was formally announced on 25 July 2014.<ref name="Sky plc">{{cite web |url=http://corporate.sky.com/media-centre/news-page/2014/sky-creates-europes-leading-entertainment-company |title=Sky creates Europe's leading entertainment company |publisher=Sky |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |archive-date=15 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115193807/http://corporate.sky.com/media-centre/news-page/2014/sky-creates-europes-leading-entertainment-company |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="takeoverpurch">{{cite web |last1=Garside |first1=Juliette |title=BSkyB to buy Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland for £4.9bn cash |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jul/25/bskyb-buy-sky-italia-deutschland-fox |website=The Guardian |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en |date=25 July 2014}}</ref> BSkyB also made a required takeover offer to Sky Deutschland's minority shareholders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-bskyb-europe-idUKKBN0FU0EE20140725 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315131114/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-bskyb-europe-idUKKBN0FU0EE20140725 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2017 |title=BSkyB to pay $9 billion to create Sky Europe |publisher=Reuters |date=25 July 2014 |access-date=25 July 2014}}</ref> This resulted in BSkyB acquiring 89.71% of Sky Deutschland's share capital in total. The acquisitions were completed on 13 November.<ref name="Sky plc"/> British Sky Broadcasting Group plc changed its name to Sky plc on 21 November 2014. On 27 November 2014 Sky plc increased its shareholding in Sky Deutschland to 90.04%, and by 2015 had bought out the remaining shareholders, de-listing the company from the Frankfurt stock exchange.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.sky.com/rns.aspx?PID=ce41f165e4a940eaa54e4c319b030090 |title=Shareholding in Sky Deutschland AG |publisher=Sky |date=28 November 2014 |access-date=15 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321214618/https://corporate.sky.com/rns.aspx?PID=ce41f165e4a940eaa54e4c319b030090 |archive-date=21 March 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>
On 17 November 2016, Sky Deutschland and WWE signed a multiyear agreement to distribute WWE's premier pay-per-view events and broadcast ''Raw'' and ''SmackDown'' live on Sky Sports starting in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2016/11/wwe-announces-new-international-tv-deal-619436/ | title=WWE Announces New International TV Deal |last=Middleton |first=Marc |date=17 November 2016 |access-date=28 April 2020 | publisher=Wrestling Inc.}}</ref>
In May 2017, Sky Deutschland acquired Homedia, operator of the Swiss over-the-top streaming company Hollystar.<ref name="skyswiss">{{cite web |last1=Signorelli |first1=Max |title=Sky expands presence in Switzerland with acquisition of online-video service HollyStar |url=https://technology.informa.com/592155/sky-expands-presence-in-switzerland-with-acquisition-of-online-video-service-hollystar |website=Omdia |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=18 May 2017 |url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624001755/https://technology.informa.com/592155/sky-expands-presence-in-switzerland-with-acquisition-of-online-video-service-hollystar}}</ref> Sky subsequently launched Sky Sport as an OTT service in Switzerland, followed by an OTT entertainment service known as Sky Show in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/03/02/157299/|title=Sky launches Netflix rival in Switzerland|date=2018-03-02|website=Broadband TV News|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2017/05/04/sky-acquires-swiss-ott-tv-provider-homedia/|title=Sky acquires Swiss OTT TV provider Homedia|date=2017-05-04|website=Digital TV Europe|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://technology.ihs.com/594766/sky-deutschland-launches-sky-sport-in-switzerland|title=Sky Deutschland launches Sky Sport in Switzerland|website=IHS Technology|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref> Services in Switzerland are handled by Sky Switzerland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sky Deutschland.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Sky Switzerland |url=https://support.sky.ch/hc/en-us/articles/115005431865-About-Sky-Switzerland |website=Sky Help-Center |access-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820224157/https://support.sky.ch/hc/en-us/articles/115005431865-About-Sky-Switzerland}}</ref>
In September 2017, Sky Deutschland extended its multi-year satellite capacity deal with satellite operator SES for seven transponders at the 19.2°E orbital position, confirming its long-term commitment to satellite delivery of services.<ref>[http://www.digitaltveurope.net/751632/sky-deutschland-extends-deal-with-ses ''Sky Deutschland extends deal with SES''] Digital TV Europe 29 September 2017. Accessed 31 October 2017</ref>
In June 2022, Sky Ticket's name was changed to "WOW".<ref>{{Cite web |last=online |first=heise |title=Aus "Sky Ticket" wird "WOW" |url=https://www.heise.de/news/Aus-Sky-Ticket-wird-WOW-7133661.html |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=c't Magazin |date=7 June 2022 |language=de}}</ref>
In June 2025, RTL Group announced that it would acquire Sky Deutschland from Sky for €150 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/rtl-acquires-sky-deutschland-1236444149/|title=Sky Deutschland Acquired By RTL For $175M|last=Goldbart|first=Max|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=27 June 2025|access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref> Following the closing of the transaction, Sky Deutschland will become part of RTL Deutschland.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://company.rtl.com/export/sites/rtlunited/en/media/overview/press-releases-and-news/rtl-group-to-acquire-sky-deutschland/|title=RTL Group to acquire Sky Deutschland|website=RTL Group|date=27 June 2025|access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref> In April 2026, the European Commission cleared the sale without imposing any conditions.<ref>{{cite web|title=RTL wins unconditional EU antitrust approval for Sky Deutschland acquisition |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/rtl-wins-unconditional-eu-antitrust-approval-sky-deutschland-acquisition-2026-04-22/ |website=Reuters}}</ref> The transaction was completed on 1 June 2026. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2026/05/rtl-closes-sky-deutschland-deal-comcast-1236931764/ ''RTL Completes Deal To Buy Sky Deutschland From Comcast'' Deadline</ref>
== Channels == [[File:Logo Sky Plus.svg|thumb|200px|Former Sky+ logo]] The channels that make up the Sky package broadcast from the Astra 19.2°E satellite position, using the Astra 1H, Astra 1L, and Astra 1M satellites. All channels are available in SD and separate HD channels.
Sky's channels are uplinked by Sky Italia.<ref name="astramove">{{cite web |title=Sky Deutschland moves Astra uplink to Sky Italia |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/11/07/sky-deutschland-moves-astra-uplink-sky-italia/ |website=Broadband TV News |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=7 November 2016}}</ref> Between 2004 and 2016, they were uplinked by SES Platform Services (later MX1, now part of SES Video); SES Video (formerly MX1) provide backup transmission services.<ref name="mx1backup2017">{{cite web |title=MX1 provides Sky Deutschland with full-scale backup |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/01/19/mx1-provides-sky-deutschland-with-full-scale-backup/ |website=Broadband TV News |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="mx1backupextend">{{cite web |title=MX1, Sky Deutschland extend service agreement |url=https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/mx1-sky-deutschland-extend-service-agreement |website=TVBEurope |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=18 June 2019}}</ref>
=== Current === *''Sky One'' *''Sky Atlantic'' *''Sky Cinema'' **''Sky Cinema Premiere'' **''Sky Cinema Blockbuster'' **''Sky Cinema Action'' **''Sky Cinema Feelgood'' **''Sky Cinema Classics'' **''Sky Cinema Special'' *''Sky Krimi'' *''Sky News UK'' *''Sky Sport 1-14'' (1 UHD channel) ** ''Sky Sport Bundesliga (1-5 bundesliga channel)'' **''Sky Sport F1'' **''Sky Sport Golf'' **''Sky Sport Mix'' **''Sky Sport News'' **''Sky Sport Premier League'' **''Sky Sport Tennis'' **''Sky Sport Top Event'' *''Sky Crime'' *''Sky Documentaries'' *''Sky Nature'' *''Sky Showcase'' *''Sky Sci-Fi'' *''Universal TV'' *''13th Street''
=== Defunct ===
*''Sky 3D'' (defunct, 1 July 2017)<ref name="3Dfanzone">{{cite web |title=Sky Deutschland scraps Sky 3D and Sky HD Fan Zone |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/06/27/sky-deutschland-scraps-sky-3d-and-sky-hd-fan-zone/ |website=Broadband TV News |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=27 June 2017}}</ref> *''Sky Info'' (defunct) *''Sky Sport Fanzone'' (defunct, 25 June 2017)<ref name="3Dfanzone" /> *''Sky Arts'' (on-demand only, linear channel defunct 3 April 2019)<ref name="skyarts">{{cite web |title=Sky Arts to drop linear channel in Germany |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/03/15/sky-arts-to-drop-linear-channel-in-germany/ |website=Broadband TV News |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=15 March 2019}}</ref> *''Sky Replay'' (defunct, 16 March 2026) *''Sky Select 1-10'' (ad-hoc NVOD / pay-per-view channels) *''Sky Comedy'' (defunct, 27 September 2023) * ''Sky Cinema Premieren +24, Sky Cinema Thriller and Sky Cinema Fun were closed''. (defunct 11 April 2024) * ''Sky Cinema Premieren was renamed Sky Cinema Premiere and Sky Cinema Best Of was renamed Sky Cinema Highlights.'' (defunct 11 April 2024)
On 29 November 2018, 14 SD feeds were closed on Astra 19.2 satellite: Disney Junior, Beate-Uhse.TV, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, 13th Street, Fox, TNT Series, Syfy, NatGeo Wild, Spiegel Geschichte, Sky 1, TNT Film, Disney Cinemagic and Sky Atlantic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/10/31/exclusive-sky-d-focuses-on-hd-and-removes-sd-channels/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Sky D focuses on HD and removes SD channels|date=2018-10-31|website=Broadband TV News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> The SD switch-off is part of a major transponder reorganisation by Sky Deutschland on 29 November on the Astra satellite.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
=== Encryption === VideoGuard is used as conditional access system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Forrester |first1=Chris |title=Sky Deutschland to drop Nagravision |url=https://advanced-television.com/2014/08/18/sky-deutschland-to-drop-nagravision/ |website=advanced-television.com |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=18 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sky agrees Cisco security deal |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/sky/sky-agrees-cisco-security-deal/5120077.article |website=Broadcast |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en |date=18 July 2017}}</ref>
== Bone conduction advertising abuse == In mid 2013, the company considered using bone conduction via train windows to broadcast ads to train riders.<ref name="skybone">{{cite news|title=Sky Deutschland to broadcast adverts directly into train passengers' heads|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/10158311/Sky-Deutschland-to-broadcast-adverts-directly-into-train-passengers-heads.html|date=3 July 2013|access-date=29 December 2017|author=Andrew Trotman|publisher=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website}}
{{Sky Ltd}} {{Television in Germany}} {{Navboxes|list1= {{CATV Europe}} {{Comcast}} }}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Sky Deutschland Category:1991 establishments in Germany Category:Announced mergers and acquisitions Category:Direct broadcast satellite services Category:German-language television networks Category:Mass media companies established in 1991 Category:Mass media in Munich Category:Permira companies Category:Sky Group Category:Television stations in Germany