A-list talent and rising investment underpin the quality productions that are gaining BSkyB recognition in original television and film content around the globe. SKY PICTURES & SKY PRODUCTIONS

1 Sky Pictures Sky Productions completed titles: completed titles: Saving Grace Dream Team When the Sky Falls British Tribes Paranoid Cream Breathtaking The Strangerers Tube Tales Prickly Heat Milk The Villa Best

Sky Pictures in post-production: The Most Fertile Man In Ireland Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) On The Nose

Sky Pictures Several Sky Pictures’ films, including a cold hard look at contentious issues Sky Pictures is fast becoming a Tube Tales and Milk, completed during and showed that when Sky One significant force in the UK’s resurgent last year were shown on the platform has something serious to say, it can film industry. After just 18 months, in 1999-2000. They were broadcast do so as authoritatively as the best. Sky Pictures has produced nine films on Sky Premier in Autumn 1999. Best, and enjoyed its first critical and box a portrait of 1960’s football legend, Ambitious new productions office successes as well as securing a George Best, was aired in May 2000. With a growing record of successful theatrical distribution deal in the UK shows on air, Sky Productions is with 20th Century Fox. Completed and awaiting release venturing into even more challenging Other Sky Pictures’ projects terrain, with original drama and Formed to make films that are completed during the year are comedy commissions featuring the mainstream and have commercial Paranoid, with Iain Glen and Jeanne cream of television actors, writers appeal, Sky Pictures has started Tripplehorn, and Breathtaking, and directors. establishing itself as the leading starring Joanne Whalley. Principal European producer of English photography has been finished on Top British talent is much in evidence language movies. Featuring the best The Most Fertile Man in Ireland, in the production slate for next year. names in British film and drama both Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) and On the Three of Britain’s leading comedians – in front of and behind the camera, Nose, with Dan Ackroyd, Robbie Harry Enfield, David Baddiel and it provides Sky customers with Coltrane and Brenda Blethyn. These Al Murray – will have their own entertainment that is not available are now in post-production and will individual series on Sky One, with elsewhere. In the medium term, the be seen in the year ahead. celebrity support from the cream of intention is to be the UK’s top film prime-time television. The Stretch, production company and to provide Sky Productions a London gangland drama by best- BSkyB with another earnings stream. High quality production means selling novelist Steven Leather, greater audience satisfaction and reunites Anita Dobson and Leslie Box office success customer value. As original content Grantham. Other headline acts Sky Pictures’ initial two theatrical increases on-screen, customers see appearing in new productions releases have both performed well at more value in the Sky subscription. include Dervla Kirwan in a high the UK box office. The first, Saving octane thriller, The Bombmaker, Grace, starring Brenda Blethyn and Home grown success for showing in 2001. Martin Clunes, won the Audience Sky One’s rising ratings rest on the Award at the prestigious American growing success of Sky Original Looking ahead, Sky Productions Sundance Film Festival in February Productions’ output. With the aim of plans to broaden its programming to and was bought for US distribution producing television to talk about, cater for the entire family in the way for over $4 million. Released in the Sky Productions has originated much that audiences have come to expect: UK in May 2000, Saving Grace will of the freshest and most innovative fun-filled, stylish and very slick. have its US theatrical release in early entertainment enjoyed by Sky August. When the Sky Falls, a tough customers. Its programmes have thriller set in Dublin and featuring been widely imitated and picked Joan Allen, was released in the UK in up by UK terrestrial channels. June 2000 to considerable critical Documentary series such as 16, praise and good box office receipts. Gun Law and Battle Stripes took

2 3 Sky Pictures 456 1. Saving Grace – for general release 2. Milk – for Sky Premier 3. When the Sky Falls – for general release

Sky Productions 4. Prickly Heat – for Sky One 5. Summer 99 Uncovered – for Sky One 6. The People’s Harry Enfield – for Sky One

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc 44 Operational Review