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The Sky Multichannels logo used in promotions by British Sky Broadcasting

Sky Multichannels was a package of analogue television channels offered by BSkyB on the Astra satellites at 19.2° east.^[1][2] from 1 September 1993 to 27 September 2001, which started off with 15 channels before expanding to over 40.

History

The service started on 1 September 1993^[3] based on the idea from the then chief executive officer, Sam Chisholm and Rupert Murdoch, of
converting the company business strategy to an entirely fee-based concept. The new package included four channels formerly available free-to-air, broadcasting on Astra's satellites, as well as introducing new channels.^[2] The service continued until the closure of BSkyB's analogue service on 27 September 2001,^[4] due to the expansion of the Sky Digital platform after its launch three years ago on 1 October 1998. Some of the channels did broadcast either in the clear or soft encrypted (whereby a Videocrypt decoder was required to decode, but without a subscription card) prior to their addition to the Sky Multichannels package.^[5][6]

Within two months of the launch, Sky gained 400,000 new subscribers, with the majority taking at least one premium channel,^[7] which helped BSkyB reach 3.5 million households by mid-1994.

Some channels were not launched on 1 September 1993, but were added later; including QVC which launched on 1 October 1993, and VH1 which launched on 1 October 1994.^[8] When VH1 Germany launched in 1995, VideoCrypt decoders would blank out the channel to UK viewers and prevent them from watching the German channel free.^[9]Nick at Nite, although part of the original Multichannels plan, did not launch.^[10]Sky Soap and Sky Travel also launched on 3 October 1994 as part of the package.^[11][12] The launch of Astra 1D allowed Sky to expand the multichannels package further,^[13] including the launch of Sky's pay-per-view Box Office channels in January 1997.

Sky News and CNBC Europe^[14] were also part of the Sky Multichannels package but remained free-to-air. QVC however, which launched as part of the Multichannels package, switched to free-to-view broadcasting in 1995.^[15]

Channels which joined the Sky Multichannels package were paid a fee of 15 pence per subscriber per month.^[5] A European Multichannels package run by BSkyB also using the VideoCrypt encryption system^[16] was planned to be launched soon afterwards,^[17] but did not come to fruition. A European package of channels called MultiChoice Kaleidoscope launched on 1 November 1993 using VideoCrypt 2 encryption. The Multichoice service was run by South African based Network Holdings, separate from BSkyB. The Multichoice service initially included Filmnet and The Adult Channel as premium channels and The Children's Channel (in Benelux only), Discovery, MTV, CMT Europe and QVC as basic channels.^[18][19][20]

Promotion

British Sky Broadcasting 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^[21] as well as further complaints about the adverts failing to show that a one-year contract needed to be taken out for any special introductory offer.^[22]

In conjunction with the launch of the Multichannels package, all Sky networks adopted a cohesive graphical and music appearance. Idents for all networks featured the Sky 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 American composer Frank Gari (whose music had been used by Sky since 1989), 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, 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 "the brand-new Sky" and during periods where Sky 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 channel on transponder 47 of Astra 1C in the clear.^[23] The preview channel comprised promotional material in the centre of the screen and 12 channels around the edge,^[24] including some English channels which were not part of the package. The channel was replaced by Sky Sports 2 on 19 August 1994.^[11][25]

During sports programming on Sky One, prior to the launch of Sky Sports 2, channels which were part of the Sky Multichannels package were made available free-to-view, to allow sports subscribers who did not take up the Multichannels package to watch sports coverage, but it was also used to promote the package to viewers who had not signed up to the Multichannels package.^[26]

Satellites

Sky Multichannels utilized space on the Astra 1A, Astra 1B, Astra 1C and Astra 1D satellites.

1993 channel list

The original subscription charge was £6.99 a month at launch, although those who signed up before 1 September 1993 could get the channels for the discounted price of £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.^[8]

The channels were encrypted using NDS Group's VideoCrypt system,^[1] and required a monthly subscription payment, VideoCrypt decoder and valid viewing card to receive the channels.

1995 channel list

In 1995 the number of Sky customers exceeded 5 million.^[29] Sky Sports 2, Sky Soap, and Sky Travel which launched on 3 October 1994, joined the package.^[30]

The launch of Astra 1D allowed Sky to expand the multichannels package further,
with Sci Fi Channel, History Channel, and Paramount Channel, by November 1995. QVC however, which launched as part of the Multichannels package, switched to free-to-view broadcasting in 1995.^[31]

• Channel 11 notes: up until October 1995


• 0000-0600 - Daily Chinese news and entertainment (PAL/Clear)


• 0800-1200 - Weekdays Sky Soap (PAL/VideoCrypt/Multi channel)


• 1200-0000 - Mon to Thu and 1200-1800 Fri: Sky Travel (PAL/VideoCrypt/Multi channel)


• 1800-0000 - Fri,and 0800-0000 Sat, Sun Sky Sports 2 (PAL/VideoCrypt/Sports subscription)

1996 channel list

In 1996, Sky reached 6 million subscribers. Launch of a further six channels including Sky Sports 3 and extended its Premier league rights^[29]

Further details can be seen here: https://web.archive.org/web/19961114121936/http://www.satcodx.com/astra.html and http://www.reocities.com/heartland/4407/uksw.htm

1997

During 1997: Same as above but:

• 
  UKTV network launches on 1 November, adding three new channels which share a single channel.


• 
  National Geographic Channel launches, replacing Sky Two, time sharing with Fox Kids.


• Christian Channel Europe (04-11), Sky Soap (11 -16) The History Channel (16-20) Sci-Fi Channel (20-04) Moved to a new channel allow Sky Sports 2 to broadcast longer.


• EBN - European Business News (06-12), Trouble (12-20), Bravo (20-06)


• Pay-per-view movies launch on Sky Box Office.


• https://web.archive.org/web/20130618202239/http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/historiclists/Sky97.html

The Subscription Costs, July 1997

• Sky Multi Channel Package - £11.99 / month


• Sky Multi Channels + Sky Movies OR The Movie Channel - £17.99 / month


• Sky Multi Channels + Sky Sports 1 (SS2 and SS3 are bonus channels in this package)- £17.99 / month


• Sky Multi Channels + 2 Premium Channels + 2 bonus channels - £23.99 / month


• Sky Multi Channels + 3 Premium Channels + 4 bonus channels - £26.99 / month

Closure

Due to the growth of digital television and the Sky Digital platform, alongside greater choice of channels and the removal of channels having to timeshare due to bandwidth constraints, BSkyB soon announced that its analogue service would cease transmittion for good with all channels in the Multichannels package closing down by 2001.^[32] BSkyB started to cease analogue with TV Travel Shop becoming exclusive to digital in late 1999. It then continued into February 2000 with many of the channels on Astra 1D being discontinued. In May 2001, it was announced that due to the possibility of lost revenue from the existing 242,000 analogue subscribers, the closure of the remaining analogue would be delayed until September 2001 from its original plan of June.^[33][34] BSkyB closed down the last remaining channel in the Multichannels package, Sky One on September 27, 2001.^[4]

References