Former Sky Drama Head to Serve as Director of Sky Atlantic HD

LONDON: Elaine Pyke, previously the head of drama at Sky, has taken on the newly created role of director for Sky Atlantic HD.

Pyke will oversee the continued expansion of the Sky Atlantic brand. The service launched February 1 to all 10.1 million Sky TV customers at no extra charge. Pyke was previously the head of drama for Sky in a seven-year tenure. A new head of drama will be appointed in due course.

She will report to Stuart Murphy, the director of programs for Sky1HD, Sky2, Pick TV and director of commissioning Sky Entertainment. Murphy commented: "Following a hugely successful launch, I’m delighted that Elaine will be stepping up to take Sky Atlantic forward as it enters an exciting new chapter. Elaine’s intellect, passion and creative flair are second to none. I can’t wait to see the brilliance and elan she’s brought to the Sky Drama slate over the past seven years flourish across the channel."
 
Sophie Turner Laing, Sky’s managing director of entertainment, news and broadcast operations, said: "Sky Atlantic has launched to great acclaim and it’s absolutely right that a channel of this stature has its own flagbearer. In Elaine’s seven years with Sky Drama, she has shown her creative excellence and commissioned some of the most daring, original and successful drama series on Sky. She has a strong vision for the channel and a passion for its programming. I can’t think of a better person to cement Sky Atlantic’s proposition within our existing portfolio of innovative, exciting and original pay-TV brands."
 
Pyke added: "If there was ever a dream job for me, this is it. It’s the home of the best international content in the world and it’s going to be incredibly exciting to make it a new home for British talent on and off screen.”