Sky Multichannels

The service started on 1 September 1993,{{cite web|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/skytv/promos.html|title=Sky Television - Promos|access-date=9 October 2008|publisher=TV Ark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108134252/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/skytv/promos.html|archive-date=8 January 2009|url-status=usurped}} based on the idea from chief executive officer Sam Chisholm and Rupert Murdoch of converting the company's business strategy to an entirely fee-based concept. The new package included four channels formerly available free-to-air on Astra's satellites, as well as introducing new channels. Some of the channels had been broadcast either in the clear or soft encrypted (i.e. a VideoCrypt decoder was required, but without a subscription card) prior to their addition to the Multichannels package.{{cite news |last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=1 September 1993 |title=Sat trio in U.K. debut |publisher=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/sat-trio-in-u-k-debut-110130/ |access-date=14 June 2008}}

Within two months of the launch, Sky gained 400,000 new subscribers with the majority taking at least one premium channel, which helped BSkyB reach 3.5 million households by mid-1994.{{Cite web | url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/good-uptake-for-sky-multichannels-package--10352 | title=Good uptake for sky multi-channels package | date=1993-11-05}} The service continued until the closure of BSkyB's analogue platform on 27 September 2001,{{cite web|url=http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/skystory.html |title=How the Sky analogue service was run down in favour of digital.... |access-date=10 February 2007 |last=Wathan |first=Chris |publisher=Analoguesat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010221157/http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/skystory.html |archive-date=10 October 2006 }} due to the expansion of Sky Digital after its launch three years earlier.{{cite web |title=Sky Television - Advertising |url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/skytv/advertising.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401122615/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/skytv/advertising.html |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=28 June 2010 |publisher=TV Ark}}

Channels added later include QVC (1 October 1993) and VH1 (1 October 1994). When VH1's German version started on 10 March 1995, VideoCrypt decoders would blank out the service to British viewers and prevent them from watching the channel for free. Nick at Nite was originally going to be part of the Multichannels plan but ultimately the channel did not launch.{{cite web |date=1 March 1994 |title=Nick at Nite for UK Now in Doubt |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-44481183.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227040624/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-44481183.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 |access-date=16 February 2007 |publisher=Screen Digest}}

Channels which joined the package were paid a fee of 15 pence per subscriber per month. A European Multichannels package run by BSkyB – also using the VideoCrypt encryption system – was planned to be launched soon afterwards but did not come to fruition.{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/satnews/satnews.118-1|title=Satnews - Issue 118|access-date=17 February 2007|last=Ingram|first=Darren|date=11 October 1993|publisher=M2 Communications Limited}}{{cite web |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/skyguide/skyguide.24|title=Sky Guide - Issue 24|access-date=17 February 2007}} A package of channels called MultiChoice Kaleidoscope launched on 1 November 1993 using VideoCrypt 2 encryption. The MultiChoice service was run by South Africa-based Network Holdings, separate from BSkyB, and initially included Filmnet and The Adult Channel as premium channels, and The Children's Channel (in Benelux only), Discovery, MTV, Country Music Television and QVC as basic channels.{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/satnews/satnews.119-1|title=Satnews - Issue 119|access-date=13 May 2007|last=Ingram|first=Darren|date=25 October 1993|publisher=M2 Communications Limited}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/index/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2190.txt|title=MediaScan - Number 2190|date=2 November 1993|access-date=14 July 2008|publisher=Radio Sweden}}{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2204.txt|title=MediaScan - Number 2204|date=19 July 1994|access-date=14 July 2008|publisher=Radio Sweden}} Sky Soap and Sky Travel launched, and were added to the package, on 3 October 1994 ,{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=104016&p=irol-mediaprofile |title=Profile |access-date=16 February 2007 |publisher=British Sky Broadcasting }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/telesatellit/ts941002.txt|title=TELE SATELLIT - Number 19|access-date=17 February 2007}} but Sky News remained free-to-air.{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2245.txt|title=Mediascan - Number 2245|date=2 April 1996|access-date=6 April 2009|publisher=Radio Sweden}} QVC was switched to free-to-view broadcasting on 7 March 1995.{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2219.txt|title=MediaScan - Number 2219|date=7 March 1995|access-date=6 April 2009|publisher=Radio Sweden}} 1996 saw the launch of Sky 2 and a selection of channels operated in conjunction with Granada.

The launch of Astra 1D allowed Sky to further expand the Multichannels package,{{cite web |url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/index/dx/text/satellite/skyguide/skyguide.39|title=Sky Guide Issue 39|access-date=16 February 2007}} including the pay-per-view Box Office channels on 1 December 1997.

BSkyB ran television advertisements prior to the new service launching. However, in 1993, the Independent Television Commission ruled against BSkyB after ten complaints regarding a number of false claims involving some of the channels which were due to be part of the package,{{cite web |last=Ingram |first=Darren |date=1993-09-27 |title=Satnews - Issue 117 |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/satnews/satnews.117-1 |access-date=2007-02-17 |publisher=M2 Communications Limited}} as well as further complaints about the commercials failing to state that a one-year contract had to be taken out to take advantage of any special introductory offer.{{cite web |last=Ingram |first=Darren |date=1993-11-08 |title=Satnews - Issue 120 |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/satnews/satnews.120-01 |access-date=2007-02-17 |publisher=M2 Communications Limited}}

In conjunction with the launch of the Multichannels package, all Sky networks adopted a cohesive graphical and music appearance as idents featured the logo's newly-added "ring" forming out of swirling energy streaks while the text formed out of glass copies. The graphics were produced by American graphical firm Novocom, the look for Sky News resembling their earlier work for the CBS Evening News from 1991. A new music package from composer Frank Gari dubbed the Sky Symphony was also used, with differing arrangements per channel (Sky News utilized a variant with the signature of Gari's pre-existing "Great News" package in 1989, which had been used since launch and received a slight update with the new look). The full package was used in promotional spots for what was termed as "the brand new Sky" and during periods where BSkyB channels were off the air.

To promote the Sky Multichannels package on the Astra satellites, a selection of channels was placed on Sky's preview service on transponder 47 of Astra 1C in the clear{{cite web|url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/index/esi/skyguide/skyguide.37|title=Sky Guide Issue 37 (Inactive as of 2007-04-29)|access-date=16 February 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} This showed promotional material in the centre of the screen and 12 channels around the edge,{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/telesatellit/ts940703.txt|title=TELE Satellit - Number 6|access-date=17 February 2007|last=Williams|first=Martyn}} including some English services which were not part of the package. During football matches on Sky One, services which were also part of the Multichannels package were made available free-to-view, allowing sports subscribers to sample them.{{cite web |date=15 March 1994 |title=MediaScan - Number 2196 |url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2196.txt |access-date=6 April 2009 |publisher=Radio Sweden}} This continued until the launch of Sky Sports 2 on 19 August 1994.{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/satellite/telesatellit/ts940717.txt|title=TELE Satellit - number 8|access-date=17 February 2007|last=Williams|first=Martyn}}

Due to the growth of digital television and the Sky platform, alongside greater choice and the reduced need for channels to timeshare due to bandwidth constraints, BSkyB announced that its analogue service would cease transmission with all channels in this package closing by 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/tuning_tips.html|title=A beginners guide to finding the orbital slots.|access-date=14 June 2008|publisher=Analoguesat|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617223144/http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/tuning_tips.html|archive-date=17 June 2008}} The first to be ceased was TV Travel Shop which became exclusive to digital in late 1999, and by February 2000 many of the channels on Astra 1D had been discontinued.

On 9 May 2001, it was announced that due to the possibility of lost revenue from the 242,000 analogue subscribers, the closure of the remaining analogue channels would be delayed from June to September.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/may/09/bskyb.broadcasting|title=Sky pushes back analogue switch-off|last=Milmo|first=Dan|date=9 May 2001|access-date=14 June 2008|location=London|work=The Guardian}}{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/news/bskyb-digital-subs-top-5-mil-1117799022/|title=BSkyB digital subs top 5 mil|last=Bohem|first=Erich|date=9 May 2001|access-date=14 June 2008|publisher=Variety}} BSkyB closed down the last service in the Multichannels package - Sky One - on 27 September of that year.

The subscription cost was £6.99 a month at launch, although those who signed up before 1 September 1993 could get the channels for £3.99 a month until the start of 1994. Additional packages including the multiple channels alongside one or more of Sky's premium channels were available from £11.99 to £19.99.{{cite news |last=Groves |first=Don |date=6 September 1993 |title=BSKYB takes sky-high gamble with pay TV |work=Variety |publisher= |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/bskyb-takes-sky-high-gamble-with-pay-tv-110165/ |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020112724/https://www.variety.com/article/VR110165.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |archive-date=20 October 2007}} The channels were encrypted using NDS Group's VideoCrypt system, and viewing them required a monthly subscription payment, a decoder and a valid viewing card.

class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" ! width="15%" | Channel name ! width="25%" | Encryption status (at launch) ! width="20%" | Genre (at the time) ! width="40%" | Notes

Sky One | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | 20 hours (when closed hours for highlights)

Sky News | Free-to-air | News | 24 hours

UK Living | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment for women | 7.00am to 1.00am, part owned by Flextech

Nickelodeon | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 7.00am to 7.00pm

Bravo | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic TV and movies | Midday to midnight,{{Cite web| title=Mail about SCDX 2184 | author=Terry M. Stader | date=1993-09-12 | format=TXT | url=http://www.ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2184.txt | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720182441/http://www.ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2184.txt | archive-date=2011-07-20}} sharing with The Adult Channel

Country Music Television | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Country music videos | Midnight to 4.00pm, time-shared with Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Documentaries | 4.00pm to midnight, time-shared with Country Music Television

UK Gold | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic programming |

The Children's Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 6.00am to 5.00pm, time-shared with The Family Channel

The Family Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | 5.00pm to 5.00am, time-shared with The Children's Channel

QVC | Free-to-view encrypted using VideoCrypt | Shopping | Launched on 1 October 1993

MTV | Free-to-air | Music videos | 24 hours. MTV did not encrypt at the time that Sky Multichannels launched,{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2183.txt|title=MediaScan - Number 2183|date=20 July 1993|access-date=6 April 2009|publisher=Radio Sweden}} but did so on 3 July 1995, while the channel was encrypted with VideoCrypt 1 for British viewers and in VideoCrypt 2 for European viewers{{cite web|url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2220.txt|title=MediaScan - Number 2220|date=21 March 1995|access-date=6 April 2009|publisher=Radio Sweden}}

VH1 | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Music videos aimed towards middle-agers | Launched on 1 October 1994, but was promoted from the start

In 1995, the number of Sky customers exceeded five million.{{cite web | url=http://www.skyuser.co.uk/sky20/sky_at_20_time_line.html | title=Sky User - Sky at 20 - Time Line }} Sky Sports 2, Sky Soap and Sky Travel which launched on 3 October 1994 joined the package. By October and November 1995, the launch of Astra 1D allowed Sky to expand the Multichannels package further with the Sci-Fi Channel, Paramount Channel, Sky Sports Gold and History Channel, as well as the Disney Channel, Christian Channel Europe, European Business News, Television X and Playboy TV which were added to Astra 1C. QVC, which launched as part of the Multichannels package, switched to free-to-view broadcasting in this year.{{Cite web| title=Subject: SCDX2219.txt | author=George Wood | date=1995-03-08 | format=TXT | url=http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2219.txt | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230020633/http://ftp.funet.fi:80/pub/dx/text/NEWS/SCDX/scdx2219.txt | archive-date=2011-12-30}}

class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" ! width="4%" | Channel number ! width="13%" | Channel name ! width="24%" | Encryption status ! width="19%" | Genre (at the time) ! width="40%" | Notes

1 | Sky One | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | 24 hours

6 | UK Living | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment for women | 6.00am to midnight

7 | Nickelodeon | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 7.00am to 7.00pm.

7 | Paramount Channel | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Comedy and drama | Launched on 1 November 1995: 7.00pm to 4.00am, time-shared with Nickelodeon

8 | Learning Channel | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Educational programming | 9.00am to 4.00pm

8 | Discovery Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Documentaries | 4.00pm to 6.00am

9 | UK Gold | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic programming |

10 | The Children's Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 6.00am to 5.00pm, time-shared with The Family Channel

10 | The Family Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | 5.00pm to midnight, time-shared with The Children's Channel

11 | Sky Travel | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Travel programming | Launched on 3 October 1994: 6.00am to midday on weekdays {{small|(see notes below)}}

11 | Sky Soap | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Soap operas | Launched on 3 October 1994: Midday to 4.00pm on weekdays {{small|(see notes below)}}

11 | History Channel | New channel | History-related programming | Launched on 11 November 1995: 4.00pm to 8.00pm

11 | Sci-Fi Channel | New channel | Entertainment with science fiction and horror themes | Launched on 1 October 1995: 8.00pm to 4.00am

12 | QVC | Free-to-view encrypted using VideoCrypt | Shopping | Launched on 1 October 1993, but was promoted from the start

13 | European Business News | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Business and news | 6.00am to midday, sharing with Bravo and The Adult Channel

13 | Bravo | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic TV and movies | Midday to midnight

14 | Country Music Television | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Country music videos | 6.00am to 7.00pm, time-shared with JSTV

15 | MTV | Free-to-air | Music videos | MTV did not encrypt at the time that Sky Multichannels launched, but did so on 3 July 1995, while the channel was encrypted with VideoCrypt 1 for British viewers and in VideoCrypt 2 for European viewers

16 | VH1 | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Music videos aimed towards middle-agers | Launched on 1 October 1994, but was promoted from the start

Channel 11 notes (up until October 1995):

• Midnight to 6.00am: Chinese Channel – daily entertainment and news service (PAL/clear)
• 8.00am to midday on weekdays: Sky Soap (PAL/VideoCrypt/Multi-channel)
• Midday to midnight on Mondays to Thursdays, and midday to 6.00pm on Fridays: Sky Travel (PAL/VideoCrypt/Multi-channel)
• 6.00pm to midnight on Fridays, and 8.00am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays: Sky Sports 2 (PAL/VideoCrypt/Sports subscription)

In 1996, Sky reached six million subscribers. New channels included Sky Sports 3 (replacing Sky Sports Gold), along with Sky 2, Computer Channel, Granada Sky Broadcasting (with Plus, Men & Motors, Good Life and Talk TV), Weather Channel UK, HSN Direct, Fox Kids, Sky Scottish and Trouble (from early 1997).

class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" ! width="4%" | Channel number ! width="13%" | Channel name ! width="24%" | Encryption status ! width="19%" | Genre (at the time) ! width="40%" | Notes

1 | Sky One | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment |

6 | UK Living {{small|(later renamed Living TV on 27 October 1997)}} | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment for women | Part owned by Flextech

7 | Nickelodeon | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 7.00am to 7.00pm

7 | Paramount Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Comedy and drama | 7.00pm to 4.00am, time-shared with Nickelodeon

8 | European Business News | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Business and news | 7.00am to midday

8 | Trouble | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Teenage-related programming | Launched on 3 February 1997: Midday to 8.00pm

8 | Bravo | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic TV and movies {{small|(with action, horror and erotic content from 3 February 1997)}} | 8.00pm to 7.00am

9 | UK Gold | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic programming |

10 | The Children's Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Children's programming | 6.00am to 5.00pm, time-shared with The Family Channel

10 | The Family Channel {{small|(later renamed Challenge TV on 3 February 1997)}} | encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | 5.00pm to 5.00am, time-shared with The Children's Channel

11 | Sky Travel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Travel programming | 7.00am to midday on weekdays

11 | Sky Soap | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Soap operas | Midday to 4.00pm on weekdays

11 | History Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | History-related programming | 4.00pm to 8.00pm on weekdays

11 | Sci-Fi Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Entertainment with science fiction and horror themes | 8.00pm to 4.00am on Mondays to Wednesdays, and 1.00am to 4.00am on Thursdays to Sundays

12 | QVC | Free-to-view encrypted using VideoCrypt | Shopping | Launched on 1 October 1993, but was promoted from the start

13 | Learning Channel {{small|(later renamed Discovery Home & Leisure on 3 April 1997)}} | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Educational programming | 9.00am to 4.00pm

13 | Discovery Channel | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Documentaries | 4.00pm to 2.00am

13 | HSN Direct | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Shopping | 2.00am to 9.00am

14 | Fox Kids | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Cartoons | Launched on 19 October 1996: 6.00am to 7.00pm, sharing with Sky 2

14 | Sky 2 | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | General entertainment | Launched on 1 September 1996: 7.00pm to 6.00am

15 | MTV | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Music videos |

16 | VH1 | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Music videos aimed towards middle-agers |

20 | Granada Plus | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Classic programming | Launched on 1 October 1996: 6.00am to 11.00pm, sharing with Granada Men & Motors

20 | Granada Men & Motors | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Sports and cult TV aimed at men | Launched on 1 October 1996: 11.00pm to 2.00am, sharing with Granada Plus

21 | Granada Good Life {{small|(later renamed Granada Breeze on 1 May 1998)}} | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Lifestyle programming aimed at women | Launched on 1 October 1996: 6.00am to 6.00pm, as the channel divided into four segments including 'Food & Wine', 'Health & Beauty', 'High Street' and 'Home & Garden'

21 | Computer Channel | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Programming devoted to computing and information technology | Launched on 1 September 1996: 6.00pm to 8.00pm

22 | Granada Talk TV | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Talk and phone-in programming | Launched on 1 October 1996: 6.00am to 6.00pm, but later ceased broadcasting on 31 August 1997

22 | Sky Scottish | New channel, encrypted using VideoCrypt | Scottish-related programming | Launched on 1 November 1996: 6.00pm to 8.00pm

23 | Sky Movies Gold | Premium channel | Classic movies | 5.00pm to 5.00am

25 | Country Music Television | encrypted using VideoCrypt | Country music videos | 24 hours

During 1997, but same as above:

• National Geographic Channel launches on 1 September, replacing Sky 2 as time shared with Fox Kids.
• Christian Channel Europe (4.00am to 11.00am), Sky Soap (11.00am to 4.00pm), History Channel (4.00pm to 8.00pm) and Sci-Fi Channel (8.00pm to 4.00am) moved to a new service to allow Sky Sports 2 and Sky Travel to broadcast longer, while European Business News, Trouble and Bravo continued to share a channel.
• UKTV network launched on 1 November, adding three new channels (UK Horizons, UK Style and UK Arena) which shared a service.
• Pay-per-view movies launched on Sky Box Office from 1 December 1997.

{{reflist}}

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