Sky UK facts for kids

"BSkyB" redirects here. For the social media service commonly abbreviated as Bsky, see Bluesky.

Quick facts for kids
Sky UK Limited
The latest version of the logo on 1 October 2020
Formerly	British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (BSkyB)
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Mass media
Founded	2 November 1990; 34 years ago (1990-11-02) (as British Sky Broadcasting)
Headquarters	London, England
Area served	United Kingdom Ireland
Key people	Dana Strong (CEO)
Services	Broadband Video on demand Broadcasting Satellite IPTV Internet Television production Mobile
Parent	Sky Group
Subsidiaries	Sky Ireland The Cloud Sky Broadband Sky Home Communications Now Sky Subscriber Services Sky In-Home Services

Sky UK Limited, often just called Sky, is a big British company. It offers TV, internet, and phone services to homes and businesses in the United Kingdom. Sky is part of the Sky Group, which is owned by Comcast. Its main office is in Isleworth, London.

Sky is one of the biggest media companies in the UK. It runs Sky News, a news channel, and Sky Sports, which is the largest sports TV broadcaster in the UK. Sky also has Sky Studios, a company that makes films and TV shows. Sky is a top provider of pay-TV services, with millions of customers. It offers TV through its satellite platform Sky Q, and also through internet-based products like Sky Glass and Sky Stream. Some of its popular channels include Sky Showcase, Sky Max, Sky Witness, Sky Documentaries, Sky Atlantic, and Sky Cinema. Sky is also one of the main internet service providers in the country.

Sky was created in 1990 when two companies, Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting, joined together. It quickly became a major media company. Sky gained rights to show many big events, like Premier League football matches and Hollywood movies. In 2014, the company's name changed from British Sky Broadcasting Limited to Sky UK Limited.

Sky's Story
Internet Services from Sky
Television Services
Sky Mobile Phone Service
Sky's Products
Sky's TV Channels
- Channels You Can Watch Now
- Channels That Are No Longer Active
How Sky Markets Its Services
How Sky Broadcasts TV
Competition and Disputes
- Virgin Media Dispute
- Discovery Networks Dispute
Legal Cases
Awards and Recognition
More About Sky
See also

Sky's Story

How Sky Started

Sky's journey began in 1990. Back then, Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting started encrypting their movie channels. This meant viewers needed special equipment and a subscription to watch. After the two companies merged, subscribers could watch both movie channels. A couple of years later, the sports channel Sky Sports also became encrypted.

Premier League Football on Sky

In 1991, there were talks about who would get the rights to broadcast Premier League football matches. ITV wanted to keep the rights, but Sky teamed up with the BBC to make a counter offer. Sky paid a large amount of money for the rights to show live matches, starting from the 1992 season. This gave Sky a strong position in pay television.

Sky continued to win the rights to show Premier League games for many years. However, after a legal challenge from the European Commission, Sky's exclusive rights ended in 2007. Other broadcasters, like Setanta Sports, were then able to show some matches too. In 2015, Sky paid a huge amount for more Premier League games, which led to some changes like higher subscription prices.

Sky Multichannels: Early TV Packages

In 1993, Sky launched Sky Multichannels. This was an early subscription package that offered not only Sky's own channels but also channels from other broadcasters. It allowed Sky to focus on a subscription-based business model. Many new channels were added, and within a few months, Sky gained many new subscribers. This service continued until Sky's analogue TV service ended in 2001, as more people moved to digital TV.

The Launch of Sky Digital

Sky's digital TV service, called Sky Digital, officially started on October 1, 1998. It offered better picture and sound quality, more channels, and interactive services. Sky Digital competed with other TV services like ONdigital and cable companies. Sky offered free digital boxes and mini dishes, which helped many people switch to digital.

The move from analogue to digital TV happened quite fast. By 1999, Sky's digital service had more subscribers than its old analogue service. The analogue service finally ended in October 2001, and the digital service became known simply as 'Sky'. By 2005, Sky had millions of digital subscribers. In 2005, Sky also launched Sky Mobile TV with Vodafone, offering mobile TV services.

Sky in the 2010s

By 2010, Sky's satellite TV service reached 10 million homes, a big achievement for a pay-TV platform in Europe. This meant Sky was in over a third of homes in the UK.

In 2016, Sky introduced Sky Q, a new TV and entertainment service. In 2018, Sky UK made a deal with Netflix to offer its streaming service to Sky subscribers. Later that year, Comcast, a large cable TV provider from the United States, bought Sky UK. Comcast now owns most of Sky.

Sky in the 2020s

In 2020, Sky Arts became available for free on the Freeview service, joining Sky News. In 2021, Sky changed its main channel, Sky One. It was replaced by two new channels: Sky Showcase, which shows a mix of content, and Sky Max, which features Sky's original shows and entertainment.

In October 2021, Sky launched a new all-in-one TV set called Sky Glass. This TV is designed to stream Sky TV and other shows using WiFi, so you don't need a satellite dish or a separate box. It became available in different sizes. In October 2022, Sky also released a streaming box called Sky Stream, which works with any broadband service.

Internet Services from Sky

Sky offers internet services, known as Sky Broadband.

Sky Broadband's Journey

In 2005, Sky bought an internet company called EasyNet. This gave Sky access to many telephone exchanges, helping them offer broadband services. By 2007, Sky had 1 million broadband customers, growing very quickly. By 2012, Sky Broadband had reached four million customers. In 2013, Sky also bought the broadband services of O2 and Be, further expanding its reach.

How Sky Broadband Works

Sky provides broadband using the Openreach network. Customers connect to the internet using different technologies like ADSL, FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet), and FTTP (Fiber to the Premises).

Sky Talk Phone Service

Sky Talk is Sky's home phone service. It offers options for paying for calls as you use them or packages with included call minutes.

NOW Broadband

NOW Broadband is a more affordable broadband option. It is linked to the Now streaming TV service, which is also run by Sky.

Extra Security Services

Sky offers two security add-ons for its broadband customers: Sky Broadband Shield and Sky Talk Shield. Sky Broadband Shield helps filter websites and provides security for your internet connection. Sky Talk Shield helps block unwanted calls.

Television Services

Digital Terrestrial TV

Sky used to compete with a digital terrestrial TV service called ONdigital (later ITV Digital). This service eventually failed for various reasons. Sky later joined Freeview, a free-to-air digital TV service, where it holds a share with other broadcasters like the BBC and ITV. Sky News and other channels are available on Freeview.

Watching TV On Demand

Sky offers "On Demand" services, allowing customers to watch shows and movies whenever they want. In 2005, Sky bought the internet service provider Easynet to help offer its own broadband service. This allowed Sky to provide a "triple play" package: satellite TV, home phone, and broadband.

In 2012, Sky updated its "Sky Anytime" service, letting customers buy and rent films from the Sky Store. In September 2012, "Anytime+" became "On Demand." This service includes catch-up TV from channels like the BBC's iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4's All 4, and Channel 5, all available on Sky+ HD boxes.

Sky Go: TV on the Move

Sky Go is a service that lets Sky TV subscribers watch live and on-demand channels using an internet connection. You can watch it on a computer or a mobile device. Sky Go is also available on gaming consoles like the Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3.

Sky Store: Movies to Buy or Rent

Sky Store is a place where you can rent or buy movies from Sky Cinema. You can watch them through an app or even get physical DVD/Blu-ray copies. You don't need a Sky TV subscription to use Sky Store.

NOW: Flexible Streaming TV

NOW is a streaming TV service from Sky that doesn't require a long-term contract. You can watch it on a NOW device or through an app on various devices like computers, phones, and smart TVs. NOW is a separate service from the main Sky TV subscription.

Sky Mobile Phone Service

Sky launched its own mobile phone network, Sky Mobile, in 2017. It uses the O2 network infrastructure. Sky Mobile focuses on data plans, allowing customers to save money on unused calls and texts. Sky TV customers can get unlimited calls and texts for free with their mobile plan. Sky Mobile also offers phone deals from popular brands like Samsung, Sony, and Apple. Sky Mobile expanded to Ireland in September 2024.

Sky's Products

Sky Digibox and Sky+

When Sky Digital first launched, it used a set-top box called the Sky Digibox. Later, Sky introduced Sky+, a digital video recorder. This allowed viewers to pause live TV and record shows to watch later. Sky used to charge extra for Sky+ features, but since 2007, it's included for customers with any Sky package.

Sky+ HD: High Definition TV

Sky launched its HDTV service, Sky+ HD, in May 2006. HD offers much clearer pictures. Sky+ HD boxes include the Sky+ recording features and have larger hard drives to store the extra data needed for HD shows. By 2012, over 4 million homes had Sky+ HD. Sky also updated its on-demand services for Sky+ HD boxes, adding catch-up TV from many popular channels.

Sky 3D

Sky started broadcasting some shows in 3D in April 2010. This included special 3D channels for sports and movies. Sky had experimented with 3D broadcasting before, showing a football game live in 3D in some pubs.

Sky Q: The Latest TV Experience

In 2015, Sky announced Sky Q, a new set of products and services that became available in 2016. Sky Q includes different set-top boxes (Sky Q 1TB, Sky Q 2TB, and Sky Q Mini), a broadband router, and mobile apps.

Sky Q boxes have a new look and feel, with features like Wi-Fi hotspot and Bluetooth connectivity. The Sky Q Mini boxes connect to the main Sky Q box, allowing all TVs in a home to share recordings and other media. Sky Q became available to order in February 2016. Unlike older Sky boxes, Sky Q boxes remain the property of Sky and must be returned if you end your contract.

4K UHD on Sky Q

The Sky Q 2TB box can show 4K UHD broadcasts, which offer incredibly clear pictures. HDR (High Dynamic Range) was added in May 2020, making colors and contrast even better. 4K UHD broadcasts started in August 2016 with Premier League football matches.

Sky Glass: TV Without a Dish

On October 11, 2021, Sky announced Sky Glass, its own range of smart TVs. These TVs have a 4K screen, built-in Dolby Atmos sound, and voice controls. They are designed to stream Sky TV and other services over an internet connection, so you don't need a satellite dish. Sky Glass was released in the UK in October 2021 and in Ireland in August 2022.

Sky Stream: Streaming Box

Sky released a streaming box called Sky Stream in October 2022. This box lets you watch Sky TV and other streaming services using any broadband connection.

Sky's TV Channels

Sky and its related companies run many TV channels in the UK and Ireland. Some of these are partnerships with other companies.

Channels You Can Watch Now

Entertainment

Sky Showcase (also +1 hour version)
Sky Max
Sky Atlantic (also +1 hour version)
Sky Comedy
Sky Witness (also +1 hour version)
Sky Replay
Sky Sci-Fi
Sky Mix
Comedy Central (also +1 hour version)
Comedy Central Extra
Challenge

Lifestyle

Blaze (also part-time +1 hour version)

Factual (Documentaries and History)

Sky Arts
Sky Crime (also +1 hour version)
Sky Documentaries
Sky History (also +1 hour version)
Sky History 2
Sky Nature
Crime & Investigation (also +1 hour version)

News

Sky News
Sky News Arabia

Sports

Sky Sports Box Office
Sky Sports Main Event
Sky Sports Premier League
Sky Sports Football
Sky Sports Cricket
Sky Sports Golf
Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports Action
Sky Sports +
Sky Sports Darts
Sky Sports Mix
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports NFL
Sky Sports Racing
Sky Sports Tennis

Movies

Sky Cinema Premiere
Sky Cinema Select
Sky Cinema Hits
Sky Cinema Greats
Sky Cinema Animation
Sky Cinema Family
Sky Cinema Action
Sky Cinema Comedy
Sky Cinema Thriller
Sky Cinema Drama
Sky Cinema Sci-Fi Horror

Kids

Sky Kids

How Sky Markets Its Services

Sky uses different slogans to market its services. Some past slogans include "What do you want to watch?" and "Entertainment your way." The current slogan is "Believe in Better." Sky has also used characters from popular movies like Toy Story, Minions, and Inside Out in its advertisements.

How Sky Broadcasts TV

Sky Minidish

Sending Out the Signal

When Sky Digital started in 1998, it used a new satellite position at 28.2°E. This was different from the old analogue service. More satellites were added over time, allowing Sky to offer hundreds of TV and radio channels. The new satellite position became mainly used for channels broadcasting to the UK.

Sky's TV signals are sent from Astra satellites. Some channels are free to watch, some are encrypted but don't need a monthly payment (free-to-view), and others require a subscription. To watch encrypted content, you need a special Sky receiver.

Digital TV Receivers

Sky uses a special system called VideoGuard to scramble its pay-TV signals. Sky designs how all digital satellite receivers that get its service should work. This means that even if different companies make the boxes, they all have the same look and feel for the user. This also applies to the recording boxes, known as Sky+.

Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)

Sky has an electronic programme guide (EPG) that shows information about upcoming shows and a list of channels. Channels are given a three-digit number, and radio channels get a four-digit number. The EPG changes depending on where you live, to make sure you get the correct local channels.

Channels are grouped into categories like Entertainment, Movies, or Sports. Sky sets the rules for where each channel is placed in the EPG. Sky also offers an audio channel line-up service for visually impaired customers, which reads out the names and numbers of all available channels.

Sky does not control which channels can be on its EPG. Any channel that can get a signal from the right satellite can be listed on Sky's EPG for a fee.

Competition and Disputes

Sky has faced competition and disagreements with other companies.

Virgin Media Dispute

In 2007, Sky and Virgin Media had a disagreement about carrying Sky channels on cable TV. Virgin Media removed some basic Sky channels from its network. Virgin Media said Sky had greatly increased the price for the channels, but Sky denied this. Sky ran advertisements telling customers to switch to Sky.

This disagreement lasted for almost two years. Eventually, in November 2008, Sky and Virgin Media reached an agreement. Sky's basic channels returned to Virgin Media, and Virgin Media's channels continued to be shown on Sky. Both companies agreed to drop their legal cases against each other.

Discovery Networks Dispute

In January 2017, Discovery Networks had a dispute with Sky UK over payment fees. Discovery threatened to remove its channels, like Eurosport and Discovery Channel, from Sky's platform if Sky didn't agree to their pricing. Sky said they had been "overpaying Discovery for years."

However, on January 31, 2017, Sky announced that they had reached an agreement, and the Discovery Networks channels would continue to be broadcast on Sky.

Legal Cases

Sky has been involved in some legal cases regarding its brand name.

In 2013, a court found that Microsoft's use of the name "SkyDrive" for its cloud storage service was too similar to Sky's "Sky" trademark. Microsoft agreed to change the name of its service, which became "OneDrive."

Hello Games, the creators of the video game No Man's Sky, also had a legal discussion with Sky about the use of the word "Sky" in their game title. This issue was settled in June 2016, allowing Hello Games to keep the name.

Awards and Recognition

Sky has received awards for its work. For example, in 2017, Sky won the "Broadcaster of the Year" award at the Diversity in Media Awards.

More About Sky

Sky Group
Sky Deutschland
Sky Ireland
Sky Italia
Sky España
Sky+
Sky+ HD
Sky Q
Sky Betting and Gaming
Sky Go
Sky Vision
Sky Magazine
Astra
Digibox
NOW
Freesat from Sky
Team Sky