Sky U.K.’s Meghan Lyvers Discusses IP, Original Content Mix and “Increasing the Emotional Stakes”
Sky, owned by Comcast, is continuing to expand its investment in original scripted content even as it pursues a separate $2.13 billion deal to acquire ITV's networks and streaming businesses. Meghan Lyvers, Sky UK's managing director of scripted originals, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of her appearance at the Edinburgh TV Festival about the broadcaster's strategy of prioritising bold, character-driven, emotionally resonant stories over sheer volume of output, as it competes for attention against streamers and other traditional broadcasters.
Sky's upcoming slate includes legal drama War, ordered with HBO and starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West, alongside a second season of dark comedy Sweetpea with Ella Purnell, both premiering later this year before airing with US partner Starz. The broadcaster has already had success in 2026 with titles including Possession, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Prisoner, which has been renewed for a second season, and it is also developing a contemporary reimagining of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Lyvers, who joined Sky in 2022 from CBS Studios, said the company's guiding principle is serving its premium subscriber base with exceptional, curated programming rather than high volume, even as its investment in original content increases.
- Sky is boosting original content investment alongside its $2.13bn ITV acquisition deal.
- Executive Meghan Lyvers stresses quality and emotional impact over volume of output.
- Upcoming titles include War, Sweetpea season 2, and a new Dragon Tattoo adaptation.
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Sky is a British broadcaster and subscription service owned by the US company Comcast. It commissions original dramas and comedies for its viewers, and also works with other broadcasters and streaming services to make and show programmes.
Meghan Lyvers leads scripted originals at Sky UK. She joined in 2022, after working at CBS Studios, and oversees decisions about which scripted programmes Sky develops and commissions.
Sky competes with streaming services and other broadcasters for viewers’ attention. Its approach centres on a selected range of ambitious, character-led stories, while a proposed deal to buy ITV’s networks and streaming businesses is a separate part of Comcast’s plans.