I found this on the wikipedia page on British Satellite Broadcasting:
In 1977 the World Administrative Radio Conference assigned each country five high-powered channels for direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) for domestic use.[8] in 1982 after being awarded two of the channels the BBC proposed its own satellite service, but by 1983 started talking with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), subsequently, BBC joined a joint-venture with Granada, Virgin, and Thorn-EMI (dubbed the "Club of 21") to try and start up a joint satellite service but failed in 1985 with the BBC saying the costs were prohibitive, because the government insisted that the BBC should pay for the costs of constructing and launching a dedicated satellite."
If such an alliance had been formed and such a service had been launched, would Sky have existed?
I found this on the wikipedia page on British Satellite Broadcasting:
In 1977 the World Administrative Radio Conference assigned each country five high-powered channels for direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) for domestic use.[8] in 1982 after being awarded two of the channels the BBC proposed its own satellite service, but by 1983 started talking with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), subsequently, BBC joined a joint-venture with Granada, Virgin, and Thorn-EMI (dubbed the "Club of 21") to try and start up a joint satellite service but failed in 1985 with the BBC saying the costs were prohibitive, because the government insisted that the BBC should pay for the costs of constructing and launching a dedicated satellite."
If such an alliance had been formed and such a service had been launched, would Sky have existed?
Well, seeing as Thorn EMI was Thames' owner at the time, it wouldve been interesting to have seen a joint venture involving Granada and Thames, and how it wouldve evolved through the 80s and 90s.
I found this on the wikipedia page on British Satellite Broadcasting:
In 1977 the World Administrative Radio Conference assigned each country five high-powered channels for direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) for domestic use.[8] in 1982 after being awarded two of the channels the BBC proposed its own satellite service, but by 1983 started talking with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), subsequently, BBC joined a joint-venture with Granada, Virgin, and Thorn-EMI (dubbed the "Club of 21") to try and start up a joint satellite service but failed in 1985 with the BBC saying the costs were prohibitive, because the government insisted that the BBC should pay for the costs of constructing and launching a dedicated satellite."
If such an alliance had been formed and such a service had been launched, would Sky have existed?
Sky wanted in one way or another, hence the reason for getting the Sky channel in 1983/84
I found this on the wikipedia page on British Satellite Broadcasting:
In 1977 the World Administrative Radio Conference assigned each country five high-powered channels for direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) for domestic use.[8] in 1982 after being awarded two of the channels the BBC proposed its own satellite service, but by 1983 started talking with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), subsequently, BBC joined a joint-venture with Granada, Virgin, and Thorn-EMI (dubbed the "Club of 21") to try and start up a joint satellite service but failed in 1985 with the BBC saying the costs were prohibitive, because the government insisted that the BBC should pay for the costs of constructing and launching a dedicated satellite."
If such an alliance had been formed and such a service had been launched, would Sky have existed?
Well, seeing as Thorn EMI was Thames' owner at the time, it wouldve been interesting to have seen a joint venture involving Granada and Thames, and how it wouldve evolved through the 80s and 90s.
Well lets have a look shall we?
If Granada and Thames had worked together than its futures may would have been different. If Thames were behind several national stations then the loss of its licence may have been less of a shock.
I found this on the wikipedia page on British Satellite Broadcasting:
In 1977 the World Administrative Radio Conference assigned each country five high-powered channels for direct broadcast by satellite (DBS) for domestic use.[8] in 1982 after being awarded two of the channels the BBC proposed its own satellite service, but by 1983 started talking with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), subsequently, BBC joined a joint-venture with Granada, Virgin, and Thorn-EMI (dubbed the "Club of 21") to try and start up a joint satellite service but failed in 1985 with the BBC saying the costs were prohibitive, because the government insisted that the BBC should pay for the costs of constructing and launching a dedicated satellite."
If such an alliance had been formed and such a service had been launched, would Sky have existed?
Well, seeing as Thorn EMI was Thames' owner at the time, it wouldve been interesting to have seen a joint venture involving Granada and Thames, and how it wouldve evolved through the 80s and 90s.
Well lets have a look shall we?
If Granada and Thames had worked together than its futures may would have been different. If Thames were behind several national stations then the loss of its licence may have been less of a shock.
There were also help created "Super Channel" which also failed.
But lets say the alliance went ahead. With the BBC having two channels and Thames/EMI and Granada having the other three a stronger public service package would have IMO formed a more formidable opponent to Sky than BSB did.
Sports for example. A "UK Sports" channel owned between the Beeb, Thames and Granada would have such a popular and strong lineup (we might have even had live 3PM kickoffs on Saturday)
Thorn EMI being a strong movie company in the 80's might have provided a backbone for a movie station.
:-(
A former member
Yet Sky could have still come along, and out bid them for everything. In 1992 that what Sky did to get customers.
I cant see the IBA ever given up on its demands for British built satellite, which caused have the problems. If what you said happened along with allowing them to rent and hire space of any Satellite going, then it might have had a chance, we could have Sattellite TV in operate years before 1989.
It is entirely possible. If this fictional version of BSB had launched in 1985 then by the time Sky came along they would have had a huge battle on their hands.
Yes its possible that some stuff would have gone to Sky anyway but maybe not as much as what really happened
