Amstrad plc

Amstrad PLC is the successor to Amstrad, the electronics and computer manufacturer founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. In 2007 Amstrad was wound up, its shares being split into Viglen and Betacom instead. Betacom PLC was then renamed Amstrad PLC. Amstrad had been a major supplier of set top boxes to UK satellite TV provider Sky since its launch in 1989 and had been key to the introduction of Sky, as it was the only manufacturer producing receiver boxes and dishes at the system's launch. Amstrad PLC has continued to manufacture set top boxes for Sky, from analogue to digital and now including Sky's Sky+ digital video recorder. In 1997 Amstraad PLC supplied set top boxes to Australian broadcaster Foxtel, and in 2004 to Italian broadcaster Sky Italia. In 2000 Amstrad released the first of its combined telephony and e-mail devices and in 2004 produced its first videophone. In July 2007 BSkyB took over of Amstrad PLC.