Premium Action

Premium Action was an Italian pay television channel operated within Mediaset Premium, Mediaset's former subscription television platform. The channel specialized in action-oriented films and scripted series and was positioned toward a predominantly male audience aged approximately 20 to 45. It inherited the broad entertainment role previously associated with Steel, a channel created through a collaboration between NBCUniversal and Mediaset, but Premium Action operated after Mediaset reorganized its pay-TV offering and no longer relied on NBCUniversal's support. Premium Action began broadcasting on 1 April 2013, launching with the special program Ultra. Its schedule combined action, science-fiction, thriller, fantasy, crime and superhero programming. Over time, the channel carried series such as Arrow, Gotham, Supernatural, The Flash, Lucifer, The Vampire Diaries, The Last Kingdom, Mr. Robot, The 100, Supergirl and The Brave. Its wider historical catalog also included titles such as Heroes, Fringe, Grimm, Nikita, Orphan Black, Revolution, Constantine, Chuck, Alcatraz and Transporter: The Series. The programming mix gave the channel a recognizable role within Mediaset Premium's portfolio: a destination for serialized genre entertainment rather than a general-interest television service. The channel's distribution changed repeatedly as Mediaset adjusted the structure of its pay-TV platform. On 23 June 2015, Premium Action's high-definition feed and a 24-hour time-shift version were introduced, while the standard-definition service was initially discontinued. The channel later returned to standard-definition broadcasting on 19 April 2018. Its +24 time-shift service ended on 1 June 2018 and was moved to other channel positions. From the same date, Premium Action was also offered through Infinity's live-channel section. It subsequently became available on Sky from 4 June 2018 and on Sky Go from April 2019. When Mediaset Premium's traditional pay-TV service was closed in June 2019, Premium Action continued through digital and third-party distribution arrangements, including Infinity and Sky. It was added to Infinity+ after the April 2021 combination of Infinity and Mediaset Play, and an HD version became available on Sky Go in the same year. The channel ultimately ceased broadcasting on 10 January 2022, along with other Mediaset pay channels. Premium Action is therefore a discontinued television-channel brand rather than an active standalone entertainment service.

Premium Action emerged from the restructuring of Mediaset's Italian pay-television offering. Before its launch, Steel operated on the Mediaset Premium platform through a collaboration between NBCUniversal and Mediaset. The reorganization transferred the channel's general content role to a Mediaset-controlled service designed around action-oriented films and series. Premium Action retained a similar target audience to Steel, with programming directed primarily at male viewers between 20 and 45, but it operated without NBCUniversal's continuing support. The new channel started on 1 April 2013 with the special Ultra. Its identity was built around serialized genre entertainment, including action, science fiction, fantasy, crime, thriller and superhero productions. The schedule at different points included The 100, Arrow, The Brave, Childhood's End, Gotham, The Last Kingdom, Mr. Robot, Supergirl, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries. Earlier programming included a broad range of imported and genre-focused series, among them 666 Park Avenue, Almost Human, Batwoman, Chicago Fire, Constantine, The Flash, Fringe, Grimm, Heroes, iZombie, Lucifer, Nikita, Orphan Black, Revolution and Transporter: The Series. Distribution evolved as Mediaset modified its channel architecture. On 23 June 2015, Premium Action introduced an HD version and a +24 time-shift feed, while the SD version was closed at that stage. Standard-definition broadcasting resumed on 19 April 2018. On 1 June 2018, the +24 service was discontinued and its programming was moved to other channel positions. That same day Premium Action became available through Infinity's live-channel area. Sky added the channel on 4 June 2018, and Sky Go followed in April 2019. The channel survived the June 2019 closure of Mediaset Premium's original pay-TV operation by continuing through Infinity and Sky. Its digital distribution expanded again after the April 2021 merger of Infinity and Mediaset Play, when Premium Action became available on Infinity+. An HD version was also made available on Sky Go from 1 April 2021. These changes reflected the migration of Italian pay television from a single proprietary platform toward streaming and third-party distribution. Premium Action's final period was brief. On 10 January 2022, Mediaset ended the channel's broadcast together with other Mediaset pay channels. The service consequently became a discontinued Italian television-channel brand, with its historical significance tied to the development and restructuring of Mediaset Premium rather than to an ongoing standalone operation.

• 2022

  Broadcasting ends

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Premium Action shut down on 10 January 2022 along with other Mediaset pay channels.

• 2021

  Availability expands on Infinity+ and Sky Go

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel became available on Infinity+ after the Infinity and Mediaset Play merger, while an HD version was added to Sky Go.

• 2019

  Service continues after Mediaset Premium closure

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  After the closure of Mediaset Premium's traditional service, Premium Action continued through Infinity and Sky.

• 2018

  Distribution expands to Infinity and Sky

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Premium Action entered Infinity's live-channel section in June 2018 and became available on Sky shortly afterward.

• 2015

  HD and +24 services introduced

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  On 23 June 2015, Premium Action added an HD feed and a 24-hour time-shift service while the SD feed was initially closed.

• 2013

  Premium Action begins broadcasting

  [1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel launched on 1 April 2013 within the reorganized Mediaset Premium platform, opening with the special Ultra.

A genre-focused Italian pay-TV channel aimed primarily at viewers aged 20 to 45, especially audiences interested in action, science fiction, fantasy, crime and superhero series.

• Pay television channel · 2013

  Premium Action

  The core linear channel of the brand, offering action-oriented films and imported scripted series across science-fiction, fantasy, crime, thriller and superhero genres. Its programming included titles such as Arrow, Gotham, Supernatural, The Flash, Lucifer, The 100 and The Last Kingdom. The channel was targeted primarily at a 20-to-45 male audience and ceased broadcasting in January 2022.

• High-definition television feed · 2015

  Premium Action HD

  An HD version introduced on 23 June 2015 as part of a technical and distribution update to the Premium Action service. The channel's feed configuration later changed as Mediaset adjusted its platform and partner distribution arrangements.

• Time-shift television feed · 2015

  Premium Action +24

  A 24-hour time-shift version that allowed viewers to watch the channel's schedule with a one-day delay. It was introduced in 2015 and closed on 1 June 2018, when the service was moved to other channel positions before being discontinued.

• 2022

  End the channelOther

  Background

  Mediaset discontinued several pay channels as its television distribution model evolved.

  Action taken

  Premium Action stopped broadcasting on 10 January 2022.

  Aftermath

  Premium Action became a defunct channel brand.

  Source

• 2018

  Extend distribution beyond Mediaset PremiumStrategy

  Background

  The Italian pay-TV market was increasingly using streaming and third-party platforms alongside traditional channel packages.

  Action taken

  Premium Action was added to Infinity's live channels and then to Sky, while its +24 service was closed and its programming moved to other channel positions.

  Aftermath

  The brand reached viewers through multiple distribution systems before and after the closure of the original Mediaset Premium service.

  Source

• 2015

  Add HD and time-shift distributionOther

  Background

  Mediaset adjusted Premium Action's technical presentation and channel structure.

  Action taken

  An HD feed and a +24 time-shift feed were introduced, while the SD feed was initially closed.

  Aftermath

  The channel later returned to SD broadcasting, and the +24 service was eventually closed in 2018.

  Source

• 2013

  Replace the Steel-era channel role with Premium ActionStrategy

  Background

  Mediaset reorganized its pay-TV platform after the period in which Steel operated through an NBCUniversal and Mediaset collaboration.

  Action taken

  It launched Premium Action as a Mediaset-controlled channel focused on action-oriented films and series for a similar target demographic.

  Aftermath

  The new channel became part of Mediaset Premium's genre-entertainment lineup.

  Source

• 2022

  Premium Action ends broadcasting[1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Premium Action ceased transmission on 10 January 2022 together with other Mediaset pay channels.

• 2019

  Premium Action continues after the closure of Mediaset Premium[1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following the closure of Mediaset Premium's traditional service in June 2019, Premium Action remained available through Infinity and Sky, including Sky Go from April 2019.

• 2018

  Premium Action expands its distribution across Infinity and Sky[1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel became available in Infinity's live-channel section from June 2018 and joined Sky's Italian lineup in June of the same year, broadening access beyond the original Mediaset Premium platform.

• 2013

  Premium Action launches as part of the reorganized Mediaset Premium platform[1]Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Premium Action began broadcasting on 1 April 2013, replacing the earlier Steel role within Mediaset's reorganized pay-TV channel portfolio and opening with the special Ultra.

1. 1Premium Actionen.wikipedia.org