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BSkyB Television

It doesn't seem possible that BSkyB has been transmitting for over 10 years,
from the Astra satellite and even longer from low power communications satellites.
Below is a selection of videos and pictures from BSkyB's early years.

All images below are jpeg files and the videos are MPEG 1 format

Unless you have a very fast Internet connection, right click the pictures below and choose
"Save Target As" to download the file so you can view them off line

Click above for video

Initially, Sky Tv broadcast a single channel from London via satellite to be received by cable networks across Europe. In those days, it was not transmitting 24 hours a day so here is a video of their daily opening sequence. File size 3.76Mb

 

Astra Launch Day Sky launched 4 channels, transmitting from the Astra satellite on the 5th of February 1989. BBC Ceefax and ITV Oracle carried the story
For some hours prior to the 18:00 launch, the 4 channels carried captions showing what "exciting programmes" were to come.

 

Click above for video	At 18:00, all 4 channels showed this 5 minute introduction and then they split off, each showing their own programmes Filesize 4.83Mb
After a lot of argument, eventually Sky were able to show advertisments for their television service on ITV
Click above for video	This one starred Rosemary Leach as a nosey observant neighbour Filesize 1.88Mb
Click above for video	Both Sky Tv and Amstrad were featured in this ad Filesize 1.34Mb

Personally, I was (and in fact still am) not impressed by the output of BSkyB Tv
but when the station was a year old, they often showed a very well put together promo.

Click above for video
Filesize 5.04Mb

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