SKY has scrapped plans to make original kids’ TV shows — sparking “deep concern” from experts.
UK-based watchdog the Children’s Media Foundation (CMF) slammed the move, after Sky confirmed it will stop creating its own content and instead buy in shows from other providers.
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Recent original titles from Sky include Pip & Posy — co-commissioned with Channel 5’s Milkshake! — as well as BooSnoo! and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates.
Sky Kids, led by Lucy Murphy, currently has around 150 original titles in its catalogue.
Although it will honour content still in production, Sky confirmed it has no plans to greenlight any new original children’s programming.
The broadcaster also warned that some job losses may follow as a result of the strategy change.
Jamie Morris, Sky’s executive director of content strategy and performance, said:
“With a strong pipeline of new original shows still to come, we now have a rich slate of content that allows us to evolve our strategy.
“In the future, Sky Kids will focus on acquiring third-party content.
“While this means reviewing the number of roles required to deliver the next phase of our offer, we remain committed to bringing the very best in children’s entertainment to families across the UK.”
The decision comes just over two years after Sky made headlines by launching its own children’s linear TV channel — a bold move at a time when many other broadcasters were moving away from traditional channels in favour of digital platforms.
But the CMF said the change was “a depressing and short-sighted decision, which will leave UK children less well-served.”
Highlighting that only the BBC and Milkshake! remain as major commissioners of factual and entertainment content for children, the organisation said Sky’s exit removes “healthy competition” in the market and urged the broadcaster to think again.
Greg Childs, director of the CMF, said:
“This is not the time to give up on great UK content for UK kids.
“Just as we are working with government and platforms like YouTube to help children and young people find more personally and socially valuable content on video-sharing platforms.
“Sky is walking away from its kids’ audience.What’s needed is fresh thinking about deals and partnerships that take their content to where kids are watching, not a knee-jerk cost-cutting spree which will damage their relationship with their customers and certainly diminish the prospects of quality viewing time for children in their country.”
Animation UK also hit out at the decision, calling it a “significant blow” to the animation sector and those behind Sky’s well-received original content.
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These latest closures don’t come as much of a shock with children largely shifting to digital platforms for entertainment thanks to apps like TikTok and YouTube.
Some of the POP’s other channels have gone digital-only already.
And in September 2023 the CITV channel closed down, switching to a new digital-only streamed channel ITVX Kids on the ITVX app.
The BBC have been mulling the closure of CBBC’s linear channel and making it digital only via iPlayer too.
But it’s been granted a temporary reprieve for now.
Children’s TV boss Patricia Hidalgo told the i paper at the end of 2024 that “currently the numbers don’t tell us you have to close it yet”, adding: “It’s really important to us as public service broadcasters that if children still need us on a linear network, we’re going to be there for them.”
It warned that losing a major commissioner like Sky limits creative opportunity and reduces access to culturally relevant UK storytelling.
Kate O’Connor, chair of Animation UK, said:
“Sky has played a valuable role in backing original UK animation and children’s programming.
“Its decision to step away from commissioning is another signal that the children’s content sector needs urgent attention.
“Without intervention, we risk losing the UK’s ability to tell its own stories to its youngest citizens and to support our world class content creation sector.”
The change to Sky Kids follows a wider shake-up across the broadcaster.
Earlier this year, Sky shut down its standalone Sky Mix channel and moved some content to its streaming platform NOW, while also cutting several back-office roles as part of a cost-saving restructure.
The group has been gradually shifting its focus toward digital-first content and streamlining services under pressure from increased competition and changing viewer habits.
The Sun has reached out to Sky for further comment.
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