Our history | 1989 - 1999

Our history
1989
Sky launches as the UK’s first satellite TV service with 4 free to air channels including Sky News, Europe's first 24-hour News channel.
Sky launches Sky One.
1990
Sky's delivers its first live coverage of England overseas Cricket Test - England v West Indies in Jamaica.
Sky launches Sky Movies as its first subscription service.
Sky TV and BSB merge and re-launch as BSkyB.
1991
Sky launches Sky Sports including innovations such as the first on-screen clock & score line for live football.
1992
Sky Sports delivers exclusive live coverage of the new FA Premier League, the start of a new era for English Football. First transmission was Nottingham Forest v Liverpool 1-0 with Teddy Sheringham scoring.
1993
Sky launches first package of basic subscription channels - 14 services for a monthly fee including Sky One, Discovery, UK Gold & Nickelodeon.
1994
Sky launches Sky Sports 2.
1995
Sky Sports delivers its first live coverage of the Ryder Cup.
Sky enters the FTSE 100.
Sky reaches 5 million subscribers.
1996
Sky launches UK's first pay-per-view (£9.95) TV event - Frank Bruno v Mike Tyson in Las Vegas. 600,000 viewers sign up to Sky to view the fight.
In partnership with ITV, Sky launches Granada Sky Broadcasting with 5 new channels.
England's Rugby Premier League club competition relaunches as the Super League after an exclusive live rights deal with Sky.
1997
Sky launches Sky Box Office offering pay-per-view movies.
1998
Sky launches Sky Digital offering the UK's first digital TV service with over 140 channels and later launches the EPG - Electronic Program Guide.
Sky launches Sky Sports News - Europe's first dedicated sports news TV service.
1999
Sky delivers the world's first interactive football match via Sky Sports Xtra.