BSB – British Satellite Broadcasting

British Satellite Broadcasting launched in March 1990 on cable and in April 1990 as a direct-to-home satellite service via the Marco Polo Satellite. It was doomed from the start, as it had been beaten by Sky’s launch in 1989.

BSB had one thing on its side, it was the Government backed franchised satellite broadcaster, although this was to be no advantage in the end. Things didn’t go well for BSB, and they were finally forced to merge with Sky TV in November 1990 to form British Sky Broadcasting.

But forget the demise, there is no doubt the BSB identity was a serious coherent design. The project of work streched back over a year and included product designers, model makers, composers and other specialists. The BSB identities emerged with startling clarity, with an upmarket pitch. Stylish and distinctive both on screen and in print, Lambie Nairn designed identites which told stories.