Sky Drama
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 16:9 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sky Network Television |
| Sister channels | Sky Open Sky 5 Vibe Jones! Sky Movies Sky Comedy Sky Kids |
| History | |
| Launched | 4 June 2026 |
| Links | |
| Website | Official Site |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Sky Go | skygo.co.nz |
Sky Drama is a television channel in New Zealand available on Sky, launched on 4 June 2026.
The channel was created with the closure of HBO. Content consists of a variety of drama series from international production companies, as well as repeats of older (90s-2000s) drama series and a selection of foreign-language titles.
History
[edit]Background
[edit]Sky had previously launched a premium content channel, SoHo, on 31 October 2011, where most of its content was drama.[1] With the signing of a new contract agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, the channel was renamed HBO in late 2024.[2]
Launch
[edit]In May 2026, in anticipation for the launch of HBO Max in New Zealand, Sky announced the creation of Sky Drama to replace it on the abstract. The new channel would launch in early June, but HBO would remain on air until 15 June; after that date, all HBO content would be removed from Sky's services, including Neon and the HBO channel, in favour of the new streaming service.[3] The launch date was later revealed to be 4 June, the same day of Neon's rebrand.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Sky to launch new premium content channel – SoHo". Throng. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ↑ Keall, Chris (22 October 2024). "Sky TV heads off local launch of HBO's direct-to-consumer Max app with new Warner Bros. Discovery deal". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ↑ Sky Refreshes Neon, Launches Drama Channel, ScreenScribe, 13 May 2026, retrieved 28 July 2026
- ↑ Russel Bailie & Russel Brown, Switching platforms, The New Zealand Listener, 25 May 2026
