– Sky forms new venture with Atlantic Productions to deliver more original home-grown 3D programming
– Disney, MTV and Discovery sign 3D output deals with Sky

To ensure that Sky customers continue to enjoy the richest selection of 3D TV programming available, Sky has formed a series of new partnerships with leading 3D content providers. First, Sky has formed a brand new 3D production company, Colossus Productions, with leading UK Independent producer, Atlantic Productions, producers of Sky 3D’s BAFTA award-winning Flying Monsters 3D. And second, Sky has confirmed 3D output deals with Disney, Discovery Networks and MTV, three leading pay TV channel brands who have invested in a series of innovative 3D films, documentaries and live music productions.

Sky and Atlantic Productions will join forces to create a brand new production company, Colossus Productions, to develop original 3D programming for both UK and international audiences. The home-grown shows will be showcased on Sky 3D, Europe’s first dedicated 3D TV channel, before being distributed to other platforms and countries. Sky has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Atlantic Productions and has a number of existing commissions in production, including a 3D series on plants currently being filmed at Kew Gardens, presented by Sir David Attenborough, and The Bachelor King 3D, a theatrical-release feature documentary, also with David Attenborough, that looks at the lives of penguins in South Georgia.

Anthony Geffen, CEO and Creative Director at Atlantic Productions, will also serve as Creative Director of Colossus Productions. Atlantic Productions remains fully independent, and will continue to focus on producing innovative, high quality 2D programmes for leading broadcasters in the UK and around the world. Future 3D projects, whether for Sky or other broadcasters, will be produced by Colossus Productions.

This multi-million pound deal demonstrates Sky’s continuing support for UK production, particularly in 3D, and will ensure Sky continues to offer its customers the best choice of high-quality home-grown 3D content. The co-investment with Atlantic Productions follows on from Sky’s commitment earlier this year to increase the amount it invests each year in original UK programming by 50% to £600 million a year by 2014.

To support these commissions, Sky has signed an exclusive 3D output deal with MTV, which follows on from the Discovery 3D output deal confirmed earlier this week. And in continuing its 3D relationship with Disney, Sky has secured rights to an expanded range of 3D film titles.

* The MTV deal will cover episodes from the channel’s World Stage 3D series, which will include performances by Snoop Dog and the Kings of Leon.
* The Discovery deal covers 3D content from a number of channels from the Discovery Network, including Natural History, Engineering and Extreme Sports. It will include 3D Safari, a ten-part series being filmed at Woburn Abbey, and Beautiful Freaks, a natural history special filmed in Namibia.
* And Sky 3D’s portfolio of films has been enhanced significantly having secured the rights for key Disney 3D titles including Toy Story 3, Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Tron:Legacy, Mars Needs Moms, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and Fright Night.

Since launching in October 2010 with live 3D coverage of the Ryder Cup, Sky 3D has broadcast more than 120 live sports events in 3D, the world 3D TV premieres of Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and the Toy Story trilogy, and a host of UK originated factual, arts and music programming. Sky 3D is available at no extra charge to all Sky TV customers who take Sky World and have a Sky+HD subscription.

John Cassy, Director, Sky 3D, comments: “The BAFTA award-winning Flying Monsters 3D showed just how stunning and genuinely immersive great 3D TV can be. Working alongside Anthony and his talented team will help us continue to deliver the highest quality home-grown 3D content to our growing number of 3D subscribers. We also want to help the UK become a global leader in 3D TV and this deal demonstrates the depth of our commitment. We look forward to extending our selection of content even further by showcasing the best of Discovery, Disney and MTV in 3D.”

Anthony Geffen, Atlantic Productions CEO, adds: ”We’re delighted to have formed this new venture with Sky, who’ve once again demonstrated their belief in the power of 3D storytelling. With the support of forward-looking broadcasters like Sky, we believe there’s a real opportunity for the UK production sector to take a world-leading position in 3D. The formation of Colossus Productions will engender the creation of exciting 3D content to entertain audiences worldwide, and the pedigree of the company will attract top talent from across the industry to work on these projects. This venture with Sky extends Atlantic Productions’ historical ethos of creating award-winning television and theatrical titles which embrace new production techniques and technologies, and the company’s work will complement our continuing dedication to high-quality 2D programming at Atlantic Productions.”

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