Sky announced today (Thursday 29 July, 2010) its much anticipated launch of new British comedies. It is the biggest commitment of original British comedy in HD in Sky 1’s twenty year history, and marks a further shift of Sky 1 HD into a predominantly scripted channel. Sky 1 HD’s new line-up features some of the UK's best loved names including Ruth Jones, Dawn French, Victoria Wood, Catherine Tate, Kathy Burke, Bill Bailey, Sally Lindsay and Stephen Fry.

BSkyB (Sky) and Home Box Office (HBO) have entered into a multi-year output deal which will see Sky become the home of HBO programmes in the UK and Ireland. The agreement is part of Sky’s ongoing commitment to invest in standout content that differentiates the pay-TV experience and creates more reasons for customers to subscribe.

Sky1 HD and Sky1 have commissioned Pulse Films to produce SHOWBUSINESS (working title, 13 x 60’), the follow up to the hugely successful PINEAPPLE DANCE STUDIOS, featuring Louie Spence and many faces from the original series. SHOWBUSINESS is set to air in Winter 2010/11 and was commissioned by Celia Taylor, Commissioning Editor Factual, Sky1 HD and will be Exec Produced by Jonathan Stadlen for Pulse Films.