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Sky reveals fate of four popular TV channels following spate of closures
Find out about one of the channel's top shows in the video
SKY has revealed the future of four popular TV channels following a spate of big closures in the last 12 months.
The most recent devastating loss for telly lovers came just a couple of weeks ago when Eurosport announced that it will disappear from the UK soon.
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And last year saw the sad shut down of long-running music channels including The Box, 4 Music, Kiss, Kerrang and Magic.
Experts have warned that more channel closures are inevitable in the era of streaming.
But in a positive development for traditional linear TV, Sky has revealed that four of its own channels will continue after signing a new agreement with a key broadcasting partner.
Sky History, Sky History 2, Blaze and Crime+Investigation will remain on all existing platforms.
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The channels exist as part of a partnership between Sky and Hearst Networks UK, which owns the brands.
Sky History, previously known as the History Channel, has been available in the UK since 1995 and Ireland since 1999.
The channel is home to a number of hit shows, including Royal Bastards: Rise of the Tudors, The Royal Kill List, and Gunpowder Siege, as well as local commissions Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain and Royal Autopsy.
Meanwhile, Crime+Investigation, which turns 20 next year, is known for favourites such as The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Body In The Suitcase, Murders at Little Bridge Farm, and Crimes That Shook Britain.
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Blaze is the pair's free-to-air channel which is available on Freeview and Freesat as well as Sky and Virgin Media.
It broadcasts a mix of programmes including Pawn Stars, Viking Dead, Court Cam and World's Most Unexplained.
Eurosport to disappear from TV screen after merger TNT Sports
As well as keeping the channels on-air, the new deal will continue to offer content on-demand via Sky boxes too.
"We’re thrilled to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Hearst Networks, continuing to sell their advertising and deliver their distinctive content to our customers," Jon Simkin, MD Content Partnerships at Sky.
"Hearst Networks’ market-leading history and true-crime shows perfectly complement our unrivalled entertainment portfolio, which includes Sky Originals like Day of the Jackal, the best of the US on Sky Atlantic, Netflix, Discovery+, and much more."
Tough few weeks for Sky...
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
This announcement is a sigh of relief for Sky after some major shifts lately.
First there was the closure of Eurosport, with customers told they will need to pay £30 extra to access TNT Sports instead at the end of February if they want to continue watching the sports shown on Eurosport.
Then Sky Cinema viewers were told they will now have to face ads within Paramount+ which is included as part of their subscription.
And this week customers were recently informed of dreaded bill increases.
While Sky History and the rest aren't big hitter channels like Sky Sports, it will be welcome news for telly fans.
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