MGM Launches HD Channel in the U.K.

LONDON/LOS ANGELES: MGM HD, a joint venture between Sky and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM), is the first branded channel from the studio to launch in the U.K., showcasing a selection of high-definition remastered movies such as Woody Allen’s Annie Hall and Manhattan.

The channel features a full program schedule, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with films from the MGM library. Highlights for the coming months include The Pink Panther series, The Apartment, Network, The Russia House, Moonstruck and The Fortune Cookie. MGM HD launched on the Sky platform as the 37th HD channel available to Sky+HD homes. The channel is avaiable to Sky customers in both the U.K. and Ireland.

MGM has launched HD channels in in the U.S., Latin America, Poland and Israel.

Bruce Tuchman, the president of MGM Worldwide Networks, commented: “We are pleased to be partnering with Sky on MGM’s first branded channel to launch in the U.K. As it’s truly is the best way to experience feature films, MGM anticipated the popularity of high definition and has been committed to remastering many of the great MGM movies in HD for some time. MGM has the world’s largest modern film library, packed with great blockbuster titles and renowned classics alike. Now, thanks to Sky, we can deliver all of that quality entertainment content in HD.”

Mike Darcey, Sky’s COO, added: "This new joint venture demonstrates our on-going commitment to investing in high-quality HD content for our customers. Offering a range of classic MGM movies, some for the very first time, this new channel joins an already impressive HD movie offering on Sky. It also means that customers can enjoy more classic movies the way they deserved be seen, in stunning HD."