Sky is adding to their portfolio of channels. The satcaster has announced plans to launch a dedicated comedy channel, Sky Comedy, in February 2020. Additionally, they have secured the UK rights to NBC comedy series' A.P. Bio and Sunnyside, both of which will air on Sky Comedy. 
After teaming together on both Chernobyl and the upcoming Catherine The Great, Sky and HBO are re-teaming to co-produce another six episode limited series, The Third Day. The Young Pope and Fantastic Beasts star Jude Law is attached the star. Production begins next month ahead of a 2020 premiere on Sky Atlantic and HBO. 
After serving as Acting Head of Drama since the exit of Anne Mensah, Cameron Roach has been promoted to fill the position on a permanent basis. His official title is Director of Drama and Sky Studios. He will report to Gary Davey, Managing Director of Sky Content. Roach has already commissioned his first two scripted projects as Director of Drama: sci-fi series Intergalactic for Sky One and period drama Little Birds for Sky Atlantic. 
Sky is increasing their spend on original comedy. The satcaster's flagship channel Sky One has given the green-light to comedy series Hitmen and one-off The Queen & I, and renewed the Idris Elba created In The Long Run for a second season. 
Sky has teamed with Australian broadcaster Foxtel for Upright, an eight episode comedy drama set on a 4,000km road trip across Australia from Sydney to Perth, with a piano in tow. Tim Minchin (Californication) is attached to star, alongside newcomer Milly Alcock. 
Bad news for Rupert Murdoch, who is facing another hurdle in his years long quest to take full ownership of Sky. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has announced that she is "minded-to-refer" 21st Century Fox's £11 billion bid to take full ownership of the satcaster to the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority). The CMA is now poised launch a six month investigation into the potential take over. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is minded to make make the referral on two grounds: "media plurality" and "genuine commitment to broadcasting standards". Fox's stock price fell slightly following the announcement. 
Some 24 hours after they landed a commission from Sky1 for A Discovery Of Witches, Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner's indie Bad Wolf has secured investment from Sky and HBO. The investment stems from Sky and HBO's multi-million pound co-production agreement.