David Simon’s Treme will come to Sky as part of its HBO deal, the broadcaster has confirmed, with back catalogue shows likely to be offered mostly via on-demand.

A BSkyB spokesman said new shows would be the priority for Sky’s portfolio of channels.

New Orleans drama Treme, which recently aired in the US, will come to Sky, as will Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming Boardwalk Empire and fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

However, it is not yet clear how soon after their US transmission the series will make it to air in the UK. The spokesman said US/UK windows would vary on a case-by-case basis.

The five-year deal gives Sky exclusive UK rights to all new HBO shows for both linear and on-demand transmission.

Virgin Media currently offers a range of HBO shows on-demand, but this deal is understood to come to an end later this year.

Sky will then be able to show most of HBO’s archive on-demand on its own platform. The one major exception is Sex and the City, whose on-demand rights do not lie with HBO.

While Sky would have on-demand rights to The Wire, it would be precluded from showing the drama on any of its channels, as FX still has the rights to two more airings of the complete five-series run.

FX and C4 to keep HBO hits

Sky is also unable to poach FX’s hit True Blood or fellow HBO series Eastbound & Down as FX has the first option on both of these shows as long as they are on air.

Channel 4 has confirmed that HBO show Hung will return to More 4 in October, while series eight of Curb Your Enthusiasm is lined up for the digital channel’s winter season. C4 also has second-run rights to True Blood, which returns in September.

Sky has the rights to In Treatment, which airs on Sky Arts, while Comedy Central currently airs repeats of Sex and the City.