June 30, 2023, 11:15 am | Read time: 4 minutes
It’s a surprising announcement: Starting in 2024, Sky Deutschland will no longer produce original series. The corresponding department is set to be dissolved. TECHBOOK knows how this decision came about and what it means for the continuation of popular series and new titles.
According to a report by the entertainment portal “Variety,” Sky Deutschland CEO Devesh Raj informed his employees on Thursday morning about the decision to close the original series production department in 2024. However, series and seasons that have already been commissioned and are currently in production will be completed, according to Sky. This includes titles like “Helgoland 513” and the fourth season of “Das Boot.” There are also original series whose continuation is now uncertain due to the restructuring at Sky Deutschland.
Overview
Continuation of major Sky original series uncertain
One of these series is “Babylon Berlin,” which is not only among Sky’s best and most acclaimed productions. It was also the first Sky series to launch in 2017, two years after the original division was founded. The fourth season premiered in fall 2022, and fans have been eagerly awaiting season 5 since then. However, it is not yet in production, meaning “Babylon Berlin” could end prematurely after season 4. According to Variety, there might still be hope for the Sky original series. Producer Beta Film has already confirmed that they have commissioned the fifth season together with the ARD production company ARD Degeto and X Filme. A possible new partner after Sky Deutschland could be Netflix, which also broadcasts the series in key markets such as the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
It should be noted that the production halt starting in 2024 only affects Sky Deutschland and thus activities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH). In other markets, such as the United Kingdom or Italy, where the pay-TV provider is also active and produces content, everything continues as usual. Titles like “Gangs of London,” “I Hate Suzie,” or “Gomorrah” originate from these regions.
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Sky Deutschland’s reasoning for the decision
Sky Deutschland has been grappling with a tense economic situation for some time. Even a sale of the division has been on the table for a while, as reported by TECHBOOK. However, the decision to close the original series production department and cease script activities is unrelated to the currently discussed sale. Instead, the company aims to better position itself economically through this step.
In response to a TECHBOOK inquiry, a Sky spokesperson explained:
Since the launch of our fictional original productions, the entertainment industry, content landscape, and viewer behavior have rapidly changed and evolved. We are convinced that with our position as a provider of high-quality acquired content, an unparalleled sports offering, and the best aggregation of entertainment apps on Sky Q, as well as our streaming service WOW, we are well-positioned in the market. Therefore, we have decided not to continue producing new fictional Sky Originals from 2024. We would like to thank all our partners and colleagues for their significant contribution to the production of our Sky Originals in recent years.
Sky spokesperson in response to TECHBOOK inquiry
Streaming market is fiercely competitive
The streaming market in Germany is fiercely competitive. There are more and more providers, and the offerings are becoming increasingly fragmented. This is partly because many studios have now launched their own streaming services and are pulling their original productions from the previously major platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Sky. This also means a loss of customers for some providers. Additionally, the costs for rights to live events, such as sports events, should not be underestimated. Sky Deutschland faces significant pressure from competitor DAZN, which now holds many sports rights.
Sky Deutschland CEO Devesh Raj also cited this development in a statement to his employees as a reason for the current decision to part ways with Sky Originals. “Since we ventured into this area, the entertainment industry, content landscape, and viewer behavior have rapidly evolved–and so has Sky’s business,” Raj said. The costs for script production have continued to rise, making it more challenging for drama series to succeed.