Now (TV channel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

Now
Launched	27 March 1990
Closed	1 December 1990 (Replaced by Sky News and Sky Arts)
Owned by	BSB (Later BSkyB)
Availability At time of closure
Satellite
Analogue	Marcopolo 1 11.93846

Now was a British television channel transmitted as part of the British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) service during 1990.

[edit] History

The Now Channel, was broadcasted throughout BSB's short spell on air from March to December of 1990 on the Marcopolo satellites. The content of the channel was similar to that of Living TV, UKTV Style and various other lifestyle based channels. The channel was promoted under the slogan "The Channel For Living".

In November 1990, BSB merged with Sky to form BSkyB. BSkyB decided to streamline the channels available on both services. The decision was taken to replace Now with Sky News which Sky Television had broadcast on the Astra satellite.

Now ceased broadcasting on Saturday 1 December 1990 at 1am. The ending of Now was faded into the clock of Sky News and the newsreader welcomed those watching on the Marcopolo satellite. As there were still programmes yet to be shown on Now, BSkyB initially broadcast Arts programmes intended for "Now" on a weekend when Sky Arts opted out of the Sky News service on the Marcopolo satellite. Once all shows had been broadcast Sky Arts closed.

[edit] Programming

Now featured a mix of talk and chat shows, inspiring documentaries, news, current affairs and arts programming within its schedule. As with all of BSB's channels Now carried the compulsory BSB News segment. Some of Now's most memorable programming include "Now Sir Robin" fronted by ex-Question Time presenter Sir Robin Day. The programme featured all of the week's political happenings and confrontations. Now focused heavily upon arts and broadcast a number of theatre and classical music performances during its short lived period on-air. Arts programming was prevalent in the schedule and featured most nights.

v • d • e British Satellite Broadcasting Channels Galaxy • The Movie Channel • Now • The Power Station • The Sports Channel Replaced by Sky One • Remained • Sky News & Sky Arts • Sky Movies • Sky Sports Other Marco Polo House • Marcopolo • British Sky Broadcasting • Sky Television plc

v • d • e British Sky Broadcasting Channels Sky One • Sky Two • Sky Three • Sky Arts • Sky Box Office • Sky Movies • Sky News • Sky Sports • Sky Sports News • Sky Real Lives • Sky Travel • Sky Vegas Defunct Channels Sky 2 • Sky Arts (defunct channel) • Sky Soap • Sky Scottish • .tv (TV channel) • The Amp • The Comedy Channel • Sky News Ireland • Sky Sports Gold Joint Ventures At the Races • The History Channel • MUTV • Music Choice • National Geographic Channel • Nickelodeon • Paramount Comedy 1 & 2 • Sky News Australia • Sky News Business Channel See also Sky Digital • Freesat from Sky • Sky Sports Active • Sky Magazine • Sky Kids • Sky HD • Sky Broadband • Sky Anytime • Sky Active • Sky Text • Sky Bet • Sky+ • Sky Picnic • Sky Multichannels • British Satellite Broadcasting • Sky Television plc • Granada Sky Broadcasting