4. Sky 1 Case Study

Sky 1 Case Study

Sky is funded by subscriptions by customers that purchase the television package Sky offers. This allows Sky to, within reason, do whatever they want when broadcasting shows. They can show what programmers they want and whenever, because they don’t have to worry about the audience viewing it, as long as the show gets views they broadcast it and can make money from it. To gain more money the customers can subscribe to different packages, the main one is the unlimited package which comes with all the channels sky offers, this can come in Standard Definition, High Definition or 3D, varying in prices. Other ways of funding include things like advertisements, a company will have to pay Sky to advertise their product, for example, the company like Sony have to pay a fee for Sky to advertise Sony’s products. This normally is paid in contracts which state how long they advertise for, and how often they do it.Public Service broadcasters may receive their funding from an obligatory television license fee, individual contributions, government funding or commercial sources. This is different from the way in which Sky is funded because most of their money comes from things without subscription, like a yearly license or government payment.They also gain money from advertising. Here is an example of the prices depending on the time slot.

Sky has full ownership over programming, scheduling and their own programming. They can broadcast any show at any time they wish. Where as PSB channels such as BBC1 and ITV can only show certain shows at certain times because they have to cater for all target audience. Sky is owned by BSKYB, an umbrella company that controls everything they do, much like the BBC. Sky 1 don't produce their own original content, instead they buy it from mainly American broadcasters like HBO and AMC. They don't play successful programmes in the day because all the target audience are at work at that moment in time, considering they are of working professionals. They play their shows in prime time in the evening, around 6pm to 10pm. If they do play a show during the day it will always be repeated later on in the evening for the benefit of those who work.