Sky Movies 1989 – 1993 Branding

Sky movies started out as a free movie channel in 1989. In 1990 Sky Movies becomes the first UK encrypted channel, it was due to share the same transponder as The Disney Channel, but this fell through and never happened, instead they launched ‘The Satellite Shop’ a shopping channel during the daytime hours.

In 1988, this press release describes the launch of Sky Movies.. “Sky Movies will offer an unencrypted preview period from February 5th with films from 2pm to midnight, with an extra midnight movie at the weekends. Films in the early days will include The Color of Money with Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, Ruthless People with Danny DeVito and Bette Midler, 9 1/2 weeks with Kim Basinger, Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Aliens with Sigourney Weaver, Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton, Eye of the Tiger with Garey Busey, Eddie and the Cruisers with Tom Berenger, Daniel with Ed Asner, Project X with Matthew Broderick, One Summer Love with Susan Sarandon and Ladyhawke with Michelle Pfeiffer. Nearer to the launch of Sky Movies as a premium channel along with The Disney Channel, the station will increase its broadcast hours to at least 18 hours a day. Late Summer/Autumn, Sky Movies and The Disney Channel will encrypt their signals and will become a premium service offered as a joint package. For your guide, home dish owners will be offered a total subscription price of £12 per month (inc VAT) to receive these quality services. Major agreements with Hollywood’s most successful studios in ’88 guarantee that the Sky Movies schedules will be packed with blockbuster films. Warner Brothers, Twentieth Century Fox, Touchstone Films and Orion are top studios signed up to Sky Movies.”

The original launch ident only lasted a few months before being replaced.

A selection of various stings, idents and break bumpers…

Later in 1990 Sky Movies was rebranded Sky Movies Plus

Sky Movies Programme Promotions

Sky Movies Print Advertising

Some early adverts for Sky Movies from 89/90

Sky Movies BBFC Classification Symbols

Sky Movies films were originally classified by the BBFC and would show these classification symbols before the start of a film, similar to what was used for VHS rentals and at the cinema.