Timeline

Sky has kept moving forward since its launch in 1989. Here are some key dates and milestones.

2009

• The total number of Sky⁺HD customers reaches 1 million, with Sky⁺ in more than 5 million homes in the UK and Ireland.
• Sky Broadband reaches milestone of 2 million customers in the UK and Ireland.
• Glyndebourne and Sky Arts announce a new partnership, which will see Sky Arts become the official UK broadcast partner of Glyndebourne for 2009.
• Sky launches new EPG for Sky⁺HD customers which includes new features such as a mini TV, colour shortcuts and enhanced record and search functionality.
• Sky broadcast the UK’s first live event in 3D TV to a domestic 3D TV set, via its satellite network and existing Sky⁺HD set-top boxes.
• Sky named UK Media Company of the Year at the Canaccord Adams Media Magnate Awards.
• Sky announces the creation of a professional British road cycling team, Team Sky, to be managed by Great Britain’s Olympic performance director Dave Brailsford CBE.
• Sky celebrates its 20th anniversary on 5th February with a dedicated website highlighting some of Sky’s significant moments from the last two decades www.sky.com/20years.
• Sky announces plans to bring HD – the next generation of television – to more and more people by reducing the price of the set-top box to £49.
• Sky1’s Ross Kemp in Afghanistan named best multichannel programme at the 2009 Broadcast Awards.
  

 

2008

• Sky passes 9 million customers – around one in three homes in the UK and Ireland.
• Sky expands arts output with the launch of three dedicated channels: Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, and Sky Arts HD.
• Sky is confirmed as the fastest growing broadband and home phone provider in the UK,
  with well over one million customers for both Sky Broadband and Sky Talk.
• Sky News is named News Channel of the Year by the Royal Television Society for the
  sixth time in seven years.

 

2007

• Sky acquires the leading set-top box supplier Amstrad to drive innovation for customers
  and supply chain efficiency.
• Artsworld is re-named as Sky Arts, the UK’s only channel dedicated to all areas of the arts.
• Sky Real Lives launches with a schedule dedicated to the real-life stories of everyday people.

 

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.
• Sky makes movies, sport and entertainment available for download to PCs.
• The launch of Sky Broadband brings more choice and value to UK broadband users.
• Sky’s third customer management centre opens in Uddingston, Scotland.

 

2005

• Sky News and Sky Sports News are streamed live to mobile phones as part of the new
  Sky Mobile TV service.
• Sky plans expansion into broadband with the acquisition of the telecoms networking
  company, Easynet.

 

2004

• Freesat from Sky launches, offering around 200 television and radio channels without
  monthly subscription. 

 

2003

• Sky passes the milestone of 7 million customers in the UK and Ireland.

 

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.

 

2000

• Sky News launches the world's first interactive TV news service.

 

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.

 

1998

• Sky Digital launches, offering the UK’s first digital TV service, with over 140 channels.

 

1996

• 660,000 customers buy the Bruno vs. Tyson heavyweight boxing fight on pay-per-view.

 

1995

• Sky’s second customer management centre opens at Dunfermline, Scotland.
• BSkyB enters the FTSE 100 index.

 

1994

• 17% of BSkyB is floated on the UK and US stock exchanges.

 

1993

• Sky launches first multi-channel package, offering 14 basic subscription channels.

 

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.

 

1991

• Sky Sports launches its first channel.

 

1990

• Sky and rival broadcaster BSB agree to merge and form BSkyB.
• Sky Movies uses encryption technology to become a subscription service.

 

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
  

 

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