Sky subscribers can expect a significant change in their TV lineup this week as the company consolidates two of its movie channels into one. Sky has announced that Sky Cinema Animation (channel 312) will be merging with Sky Cinema Family, effective April 30. This move aims to streamline the service by offering all family-friendly films in one place on channel 304.
Following the channel merger, viewers will have access to a variety of popular titles, including the Shrek series, The Secret Life of Pets, Smurfs, How to Train Your Dragon, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Wicked. Although one channel will be removed, all content previously available on Sky Cinema Animation will still be accessible through Sky Cinema Family.
For fans of Sky Cinema Animation, there is a silver lining. The standalone channel will make a temporary return during school holidays to entertain kids. Sky has confirmed that it will be available from July 24 to August 30, October 23 to November 1, and December 1 to January 5.
In addition to the channel changes, Sky has ventured into the home security market by introducing new smart devices. Customers can now subscribe to a Sky Smart Doorbell and Chime for £5 per month with a £15 upfront cost. This system offers features such as full HD video recording, instant mobile alerts, customisable activity zones, two-way audio, and 30 days of cloud video storage.
For those seeking more advanced home security solutions, Sky is offering a Smart Home Bundle with Smart Home Plan+ for £8 per month and a £20 upfront fee. This package includes an indoor camera and extra app controls for scheduled arming and automatic device modes.
According to Paul Sweeney, Managing Director of Sky Smart Home, the goal is to make premium smart technology more accessible to consumers by prioritizing key features, ease of use, manageability, and affordability.