Satellite broadcaster Sky announced
Wednesday that it was setting up a new production centre for it
cultural output, the Sky Arts Production Hub, in Milan.
The move follows the merger of Sky's British, German and
Italian units last year.
The operation will also feature the launch of new Sky Arts
channels in Germany and Austria following the opening of Italy's
Sky Arte in 2012.
"Italy was chosen because of its worldwide reputation for
creativity, production quality and talent, making it the ideal
place to produce the kind of arts programming that will appeal
across different markets," read a Sky statement.
"The Sky Arts Production Hub will contribute to the growth
of both the Italian and European culture industry.
"The Sky Arts Production Hub will focus on producing
pan-European events that will unite international audiences in a
unique celebration of the arts.
"The Hub will also produce a wide slate of outstanding
arts programming for customers across all Sky territories in
addition to content commissioned locally".
The company added that its inaugural pan-European arts
initiative will be the launch of Sky Arts Photographer of the
Year award in 2016.
"Bringing the three Sky businesses together has opened up
the opportunity to create new and exciting content on a greater
scale," said Sky Group CEO Jeremy Darroch.
"As an international company, we can raise our ambition
and make a bigger impact for millions of customers across
Europe.
"Today's announcement represents a major new commitment
which will bring customers high-quality and distinctive content
covering the full breadth of the arts.
"It builds on Sky's position as Europe's leading
entertainment company and underlines our ambition to invest at
scale in even more of our own original content".
The company said Sky Arte Italia will have a budget of
around 35 million euros for the next three years, including 18
million for the new Milan hub.
"This is, above all, recognition of the extraordinary
talent that our country can offer this sector," said Andrea
Scrosati, Executive Vice President Programming Sky Italia.
"It's also a great opportunity for our market to develop
more professionalism, skills and passion in the sector of
cultural production".
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