Date: 15th February 2001

BSKYB Wins War Over Star Wars


BSkyB, the British satellite service controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has agreed to pay $17 million for the rights to show the four Star Wars movies, including 1999's Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, over the next year, the London Financial Times reported today (Thursday).

The films will initially be shown on BSkyB's subscription channel, Sky Premier, on four consecutive Saturday nights beginning March 17. Analysts indicated that the package represented a "loss leader" for the satellite service, noting that while it was unlikely to recoup directly the amount paid for the Star Wars films, it would benefit indirectly nevertheless by attracting additional subscribers

Source: Studio Briefing