Sky launched its first direct-to-home satellite television service in the UK in 1989 with four free-to-air channels. In 1990, Sky merged with rival broadcaster BSB to form BSkyB. By 1993, Sky launched its first multi-channel package offering 14 basic subscription channels. Sky has since grown to offer over 500 channels and become the leading pay-TV provider in the UK, reaching over 10 million customers by 2010.

2. The Launch of Sky…
1989
Sky launches a ‘Direct to Home’ satellite television service via the Astra satellite with
four free-to-air channels including Sky News, Europe’s first 24-hour news channel.
Sky’s first customer management centre opens at Livingston, Scotland
1990 Sky and rival broadcaster BSB agree to merge and form BSkyB.
Sky Movies uses encryption technology to become a subscription service.
1991
Sky Sports launches its first channel.
1992
Sky signs £304 million deal for exclusively live coverage of the new FA Premier League.
BSkyB makes an operating profit for the first time.
1993
Sky launches first multi-channel package, offering 14 basic subscription channels.
1998
Sky Digital launches, offering the UK’s first digital TV service, with over 140 channels.
1999 Sky Sports broadcasts the world’s first interactive football coverage.
The launch of a ‘free dish and box’ offer helps to accelerate the growth of Sky digital.

3. The Growth of Sky…
2000
Sky News launches the world's first interactive TV news service.
2001
The launch of Sky + puts customers in control of how they watch TV.
Sky switches off its analogue satellite TV service ahead of schedule.
2003
Sky passes the milestone of 7 million customers in the UK and Ireland.
2004
Freesat from Sky launches, offering around 200 television and radio channels without
monthly subscription.
2006
Sky + HD becomes the UK’s first nationwide high definition television service.
Sky is the first major media company in the world to become Carbon Neutral.
The launch of Sky Broadband brings more choice and value to UK broadband users.
2008
Sky passes 9 million customers – around one in three homes in the UK and Ireland.

4. How Sky is Now…
2009
Sky named UK Media Company of the Year at the Canaccord Adams Media Magnate Awards.
Sky celebrates its 20th anniversary on 5th February.
2010
Sky reaches its target of 10 million TV customers, making it the choice of 36% of households in the UK and Ireland.
Sky + HD offers over 50 HD channels – the leading HD offering in Europe.
Sky 3D, Europe's first in-home 3D channel launched to residential customers in October.
Sky acquires Virgin Media Television in June, which includes the popular pay channel Living. The deal further expand Sky's
portfolio of basic pay TV channels.
Sky + HD reaches milestone of 3 million customers in the UK and Ireland.
Sky Sports makes TV history in January with the world’s first live sports 3D TV broadcast to a public audience.
2011
July - Sky Go launches, allowing Sky TV customers to watch live TV on the move on laptops, PC, Mac, Smartphones and tablets.
July - Sky Studios, Sky's state-of-the-art production facility begins broadcasting, with Sky Sports News the first channel to be
transmitted live.
March - Sky News for iPad launched, a ground-breaking app that allows users to control their own news service.
February – Sky launches a brand new channel, Sky Atlantic, which is free to all Sky TV customers. The channel will be the exclusive
home of breathtaking and groundbreaking television including the best of US and brand new UK commissions.
2012.
January - Sky entered into a strategic partnership with zeebox, the innovative ‘second-screen' service that brings together
broadcast TV and the Internet.

5. Figures
As of July 2013…
TV customers 10,422,000
Sky + HD customers 4,786,000
Multiroom customers 2,489,000
Sky Broadband customers 4,906,000
Sky Talk customers 4,501,000
Adjusted revenue £7,235 million*
Investment in programming £2,486 million*
Adjusted operating profit 1 £1,330 million*
Number of employees 24,000
Price of Sky TV package From £21.50 a month

6. Rupert Murdoch
In the 1950s and '60s, he developed various newspapers in Australia
and New Zealand, before expanding into the United Kingdom in 1969,
taking over the ‘News of the World’ followed by ‘The Sun’. He moved
to New York in 1974 to expand into the US market, but retained
interests in Australia and Britain. In 1981, he bought ‘The Times’, his
first British broadsheet, and became a US citizen in 1985.
In 1986, he was keen to take on newer electronic publishing
technologies, he combined his UK printing operations in Wapping,
causing industrial debates. His News Corporation acquired Twentieth
Century Fox (1985), HarperCollins (1989) and The Wall Street Journal
(2007). He formed BSkyB in 1990 and during the 1990s expanded into
Asian networks and South American television. By 2000 Murdoch's
News Corporation owned over 800 companies in more than 50
countries with a net worth of over $5 billion.

7. Changes in Logos

8. Changes in Idents
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