New Sky EPG

I believe I read on a thread some time ago on here that any channel signing a contract to appear on Sky's EPG had a right to that position (and originally the 2 subsequent numbers) in relation to other channels within their section of the EPG . In other words all Documentaries could move from 551 to 901, but they would have to keep the main Discovery channels at the top,

I'm not sure what deal BBC made with Sky in 2003 to move BBC THREE/FOUR from 160/161 to 115/116 (originally Disney) but it was probably to do with the payment to include all the other regions in the 800s and the necessary postcode allocation for channels 101/102.

Perhaps someone has better knowledge of the precise information regarding EPG positioning?

I certainly can't see Sky moving (for example) LivingTV to the bottom of the 100s as this would seriously affect their chances when renegotiating a decent contract renewal payment.

EDIT: It's worth remembering just how ITV3 managed to go on DSat on their launch night (after being told by Sky that there was no available EPG position)! ITV plc bought out Sky's share of GSkyB that afternoon, and then closed Granada Plus at 4:30pm the same day (without much notice) and then moved ITV2 to EPG 118, allowing them to use 119 for ITV3. They wouldn't have been able to do that without some contractual owenership of the EPG position.

I've still got the old Sky EPG. Should I have?

I thought all models had been updated now, but it might be worth ringing Sky Customer Services if you still have the old EPG. Perhaps your box just failed to download it if it was done during one of the recent thunderstorms and the signal wasn't received correctly.

I haven't got the new Sky EPG background either - I have a Pace box if that means anything. Some help?

I thought the Pace Digiboxes were upgraded first, but there is a lengthy thread on DigitalSpy that might tell you if your model should have been done by now:

DigitalSpy Sky EPG Upgrade

Pace 2200 always get them first, luckily I have one of these, so I always get the updates first, I think my FTA receiver has better software though.

Got mine a few days ago. When do they update the TV Guide categories?

My pace box FINALLY got downloaded with new background this morning!

Warning - I'm just thinking aloud here - but do you think there will be a point in the future when the traditional channels may vacate their 101-105 spots and be grouped with their spin-offs?

Though this could initially be seen as bad for the main channels, the costs could be outweighed by the benefits of the spin-off channels being located next to their "parent" station - and it would also make it easier for the viewers to remember the EPG numbers of these channels.

For example, they could be ordered something like this:

101 Sky One (as Sky would nick this slot at the first opportunity!)
102 Sky Two
103 Sky Three

111 BBC1
112 BBC2
113 BBC3
114 BBC4

(* nothing in the 120's, but this slot would be used for S4C in Wales and RTE in Ireland)

131 ITV1
132 ITV2
133 ITV3
134 ITV4

140 C4
142 More4
143 More4 +1
144 E4
145 E4+1

150 Five

Then from 160, other channels beginning with the biggest families of channels:

160 UKTV Gold
161 UKTV Gold +1
162 UKTV G2
163 UKTV G2+1
164 UKTV Drama
165 UKTV Drama+1

170 Living TV
171 Living TV+1
172 Living TV 2

etc....


Just a random thought and I'm wondering your opinions on it!

Nice idea Brekkie, it's logical and would be better for the viewer. I could see this happening at some point after Ofcom allow analogue switch-off, but not before.

Although I have reservations about Sky's EPG (at present), it is far more orderly and logical than those offered by NTL/Telewest and Freeview/TUTV.

I makes sense to place "families" of channels together, but many channel owners will be dragged "kicking & screaming" to go further down the EPG. Hopefully, Sky's promised "favourites EPG" will solve this problem, since it wouldn't matter then whether five (for example) was ch105 or ch150, it might still be on the first page depending on your selection.

So what your trying to say is it'll never happen!

just for the record, i have had the new background on a normal sky box, no idea what make, its a grey box which sits under the tv.

the reason for the mail, i think they have missed the trick with the alphabetical index (currently option 9)

i would have thought it would have been better to list the program as one line (if you look under bob the builder, for example, you will get a long list of them.

surely it would have been better to list the programs (or programmes?) 1st, then select again to get the various times and channels that that prog appears on.

ashley