There are rumblings that Sky intend to sign an exclusive contract with US cable networks AMC, Showtime and FX, having recently secured a deal for the archive and future exclusivity of HBO's programming for five years.
If they agree a similar deal with AMC, FX and Showtime, we could see shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Sons Of Anarchy, Justified, and Dexter become Sky exclusives in the near-future. The rumours suggest Sky are planning to bundle this US drama together, offering it as a premium pay-TV channel similar to how its Sports and Movie suites are handled).
However, remembering how Sky's HBO deal was revealed to be less comprehensive than it first appeared (i.e FX UK and Channel 4 reassured their audiences they would be retaining rights to HBO shows like True Blood and The Wire), it's perhaps likely a lot of the existing contracts with non-Sky broadcasters will continue to be honoured by AMC/FX/Showtime, too.
Still, in light of the poor treatment bestowed upon Breaking Bad by Five (which has singlehandedly prevented that series echoing its US success in the UK, imo), I'd be happy to see that show transfer to Sky. Or will Sky's possible new subscription home for this content only be available through them (and not carried by rivals Virgin Media and BT?)
Another little downside: if the BBC lose the rights to Mad Men, fans will have to incur adverts on Sky.
You can read a more in-depth article about Sky's possible deal with AMC/FX/Showtime at The Guardian.
What do you make of Sky trying to get a strangehold on US cable drama in the UK? It sounds like a canny move by the company, if they pull it off, but one that won't make them popular with the millions of people who currently enjoy shows that might now be "lost" behind a Sky subscription package.
