Sky's Branding

Seems odd to go to the effort of relaunching the EPG but already have the entertainment EPG full from day one.

It was full when it launched first time round. It was later expanded to cover the 200-299 range when all the HD and +1 channels came along.

A previous system used a three channel block so you'd have as it was Channel 121 for Challenge, 122 for Challenge+1 and 123 would be spare. Then you'd have channel 124 for Brave, 125 for +1, etc..

This was later dropped and after many reshuffles resulted in the urban sprawl we have now.

It's a lot tidier than I expected. I particularly like the +1 numbering and tucking away the SD channels in the 800s. It will be much faster to just scroll through the main channels without seeing duplicates and +1s littering the place.

As others have said, it does seem rather odd to have an overspill section from the start, but there probably wasn't any way around that without demoting some of the more 'dubious' entertainment/documentary channels to the specialist or international section (eg Vox Africa, AIT International).

Something I've noticed is that S4C is in the place that Channel 4 usually is nationwide. I'm sorry if I sound stupid or anything, but I don't remember S4C being in place with Channel 4, as I've went to Wales once in a while.

S4C has always been on 104 in Wales.

On most/all digital TV platforms in Wales, S4C gets the true 4th overall channel position (4 or 104), just like it always did on analogue terrestrial. Although the "Channel 4" station is also available in Wales, it is relegated to further down the listing (e.g. Freeview channel 8 ).

Is there much point in the BBC still providing SD versions of BBC4, BBC News, CBBC and CBeebies on Sky? Are ancient SD Sky boxes able to show HD channels, though obviously without the picture quality benefits?

Apart from sport, drama or film, I record most other things in SD to save space.

This should answer your question, it's from 2015 but think its still relevant:
https://www.a516digital.com/2015/11/are-old-satellite-receivers-stopping.html

Interesting thanks. I wonder how many of the old boxes are still being used.

My grandparents took the Freesat From Sky option, so yeah, they're still on an old box.

I wonder if the 'secondary channels' in the 800 range are now going to be labelled as 'xxxxxx SD' as shown in the list.