Sky Box Office (UK & Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Sky Box Office is the name of BSkyB
's pay-per-view
(PPV) system. There are three branded divisions of Sky Box Office - Sky Movies Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and Sky 3D Box Office. Until 1 February 2011, the system ran under unified Sky Box Office branding.
's WBC World Heavyweight Championship defence against Mike Tyson
. Initially events were ordered by telephone, either on the day of broadcast for £14.95 or in advance at a reduced price of £9.99. Ordering an event charged the viewer and then the subscriber's VideoCrypt viewing card would be activated over the air, enabling the viewing of the broadcast. The charge would be levied unless the viewer cancelled prior to broadcast, or returned the viewing card as proof that the event hadn't been watched.
Four dedicated Sky Box Office channels were launched on 1 December 1997 on Sky Analogue. At this time multiple showings of selected movies, shown in advance of their broadcast on Sky's existing subscription movie channels, were added. Initial movies included The Long Kiss Goodnight
and Courage Under Fire
. However, at least one hour pre-ordering was required, and for most movies one purchase at £2.99 only bought one viewing.
With the move to Sky Digital
in 1998, where the Sky Digibox
provided a data return path, events and movies - the latter now copy protected - could be bought minutes before or even during the event either by telephone or through an on-screen menu and PIN
system.
A range of pay-per-view
3-D film
s are also screened on Sky 3D
.
On 1 February 2011, Sky Box Office was rebranded as Sky Movies Box Office for Movies. Later in the year, Sky Sports Box Office branding was added for sports and Sky 3D Box Office for 3D.
systems. Films are currently first shown on Sky Box Office between two and three months after release on DVD. It is likely that this 'window' will come down further, in line with US models.
It can be purchased directly through a Sky remote control. This can be accomplished by pressing "Box Office", purchase an event, confirm the order and enter the PIN if prompted.
(formerly World Wrestling Federation) events. From 1997 to 2003 it showed UK only WWF PPV events. However, when the deal with Channel 4
to show 4 WWE events (Royal Rumble
, Backlash
, Fully Loaded, and Armageddon
) broke down in 2002, Sky picked up the 4 events and showed them on Sky Box Office, with a charge of £14.95 (or €21.95 in Ireland). This angered many fans as previously these events had been shown on Sky Sports
. Others, however, were glad the events were back on Sky, despite the cost, because they believed Sky's coverage was superior to Channel 4. Sky showed the events live and uncut, whereas Channel 4 showed the 2000 Royal Rumble live with adverts inserted, consequently losing footage. Other events were shown on a 50-minute delay in order to insert adverts without losing footage. Backlash 2000 was edited, despite the fact it broadcast at 1.50am. After viewer complaints about this editing, Channel 4 showed the remaining events unedited. However, they were still shown on a delay.
As of 2006, eight WWE events are shown on the channel. The other five WWE PPVs are shown on Sky Sports
. The price is now £14.95 even for WrestleMania
, despite the fact that in the USA the WWE charges $54.95 (£35), and more for High Definition
).
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
's pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
(PPV) system. There are three branded divisions of Sky Box Office - Sky Movies Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and Sky 3D Box Office. Until 1 February 2011, the system ran under unified Sky Box Office branding.
History
Sky Box Office launched on 16 March 1996 on Sky Analogue. At the time it carried mainly sporting events, such as major boxing fights. The first of these was Frank BrunoFrank Bruno
Franklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
's WBC World Heavyweight Championship defence against Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
. Initially events were ordered by telephone, either on the day of broadcast for £14.95 or in advance at a reduced price of £9.99. Ordering an event charged the viewer and then the subscriber's VideoCrypt viewing card would be activated over the air, enabling the viewing of the broadcast. The charge would be levied unless the viewer cancelled prior to broadcast, or returned the viewing card as proof that the event hadn't been watched.
Four dedicated Sky Box Office channels were launched on 1 December 1997 on Sky Analogue. At this time multiple showings of selected movies, shown in advance of their broadcast on Sky's existing subscription movie channels, were added. Initial movies included The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller film starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
and Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire is a 1996 film directed by Edward Zwick, and starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon. It is one of the first films to depict the 1991 Gulf War.-Plot:...
. However, at least one hour pre-ordering was required, and for most movies one purchase at £2.99 only bought one viewing.
With the move to Sky Digital
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
in 1998, where the Sky Digibox
Digibox
The Digibox is a device marketed by British Sky Broadcasting in the UK and Republic of Ireland to enable home users to receive digital satellite television broadcasts from the Astra satellites at 28.2° east. An internet service is also available through the device, similar in some ways to the...
provided a data return path, events and movies - the latter now copy protected - could be bought minutes before or even during the event either by telephone or through an on-screen menu and PIN
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
system.
A range of pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
s are also screened on Sky 3D
Sky 3D
Sky 3D is a 3DTV channel on the Sky platform, that launched on 3 April 2010 with the Manchester United vs Chelsea football match being broadcast in over a thousand pubs across England in 3D. On 1 October 2010, Sky 3D became available to residential subscribers...
.
On 1 February 2011, Sky Box Office was rebranded as Sky Movies Box Office for Movies. Later in the year, Sky Sports Box Office branding was added for sports and Sky 3D Box Office for 3D.
Content
Although at launch it showed mainly sporting events, since the launch of Sky Digital, movies along with concerts have become the predominant content. However, Sky Movies Box Office's limited movie choices and relatively high prices have increasingly left it suffering in comparison to online DVD rentalOnline DVD rental
DVD-by-mail services allow a person to rent DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, video games and VCDs, among other film media online; for delivery by mail. Generally, all interaction between the renter and the rental company takes place through the company's website....
systems. Films are currently first shown on Sky Box Office between two and three months after release on DVD. It is likely that this 'window' will come down further, in line with US models.
It can be purchased directly through a Sky remote control. This can be accomplished by pressing "Box Office", purchase an event, confirm the order and enter the PIN if prompted.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Since 1997, the channel has also shown World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(formerly World Wrestling Federation) events. From 1997 to 2003 it showed UK only WWF PPV events. However, when the deal with Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
to show 4 WWE events (Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
, Backlash
WWE Backlash
Backlash was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1999, with its inaugural event produced as an In Your House event in April of that year. The event in 2000 was rebranded as an...
, Fully Loaded, and Armageddon
WWE Armageddon
Armageddon was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every December by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1999, with its inaugural event taking place on December 12, 1999 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida...
) broke down in 2002, Sky picked up the 4 events and showed them on Sky Box Office, with a charge of £14.95 (or €21.95 in Ireland). This angered many fans as previously these events had been shown on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. Others, however, were glad the events were back on Sky, despite the cost, because they believed Sky's coverage was superior to Channel 4. Sky showed the events live and uncut, whereas Channel 4 showed the 2000 Royal Rumble live with adverts inserted, consequently losing footage. Other events were shown on a 50-minute delay in order to insert adverts without losing footage. Backlash 2000 was edited, despite the fact it broadcast at 1.50am. After viewer complaints about this editing, Channel 4 showed the remaining events unedited. However, they were still shown on a delay.
As of 2006, eight WWE events are shown on the channel. The other five WWE PPVs are shown on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. The price is now £14.95 even for WrestleMania
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
, despite the fact that in the USA the WWE charges $54.95 (£35), and more for High Definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
).
External links
- Sky Movies Box Office at sky.com