| Sky Box Office | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 16 March 1996 |
| Owned by | British Sky Broadcasting |
| Formerly called | Sky Box Office (1996-2011) |
| Sister channel(s) | Challenge, Pick TV, Sky1, Sky2, Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Livingit, Sky Living Loves, Sky Movies, Sky News, Sky Sports, Sky Sports News |
| Website | http://movies.sky.com/sky-movies-box-office |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky | Channels 700 - 741, 743, 744 and 754 - 761 Channel 752 (HD1) Channel 753 (HD2) Channel 217 (Sky 3D) |
| Internet television | |
| Sky Go | Watch live (UK & Ireland only) |
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.
Contents |
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 Bruno'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 films are also screened on Sky 3D.
On 1 February 2011, Sky Box Office was rebranded as Sky Movies Box Office for Movies.[1] Later in the year, Sky Sports Box Office branding was added for sports and Sky 3D Box Office for 3D.
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 rental 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.
Since 1997, the channel has also shown World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (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).
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