and here we are...

"An era ended in 1988 when the BBC and ITV went head-to-head for the last time. The following year, ITV had pulled out of the joint dealings for all worthwhile football, and nabbed the week-in, week-out coverage of the Football League, which they'd traditionally shared with the BBC, all for themselves. The BBC retaliated by buying up the FA Cup, in partnership with new satellite broadcasters BSB, who would get a share of live matches from the competition and highlights of the final.

This was both the first and last major football purchase by BSB, as within a few years they'd been swallowed up by Sky. Come 1992, you could see more live league matches on television than ever before - but only if you were prepared to stick a satellite dish on the side of your house and pay for them. The purchase of the Premier League undoubtedly brought respectability to Sky, giving them returning audiences week after week."

Posted By: mr carra, Oct 11, 15:27:23