Sky Sports were a key component, arguably the single-most important, in the unprecedented success of the Premier League.
In 1992, when Rick Parry, David Dein, Alan Sugar and the Big Five clubs created their breakaway, Sky were the broadcast partner who showed live games behind the paywall in a way that created glamour, excitement and insight.
Because of them, the Premier League lured huge wealth, ambition and opportunity, which facilitated the arrival of the world’s best players and managers, and became a global force whose popularity and revenues soared year-on-year.
The irony is that after more than three decades of undeniable power and influence, Sky themselves appear to be at a crossroads.