Satellite broadcaster Sky is implementing one of the biggest changes to its channel line-up for over a decade involving the swap out of 33 channels in Sky’s HD pack with its standard definition counterparts.
Under the new line-up, HD subscribers will find Sky 1 HD at No 106, with Sky 1 moving to No 170.
The company says the changes reflect increasing demand from customers who prefer to watch their favourite TV shows in HD.
It promises that viewers who don’t subscribe to Sky+ HD will be unaffected by the change.
New line-up of top pay TV channels
The company will also be relocating a range of its top pay TV channels, including MTV, Comedy Central, Universal, Syfy and FX to higher-profile channel slots.
Comedy Central, for example, will be moving to No 112 from No 126, while Universal moves to No 113 from No 130 and MTV will move to No 126 from No 350 and be reclassified as a general entertainment channel.
Sky also confirmed that Sky Atlantic, its new channel devoted to hotly anticipated shows like Mad Men, will launch at channel No 108 for Sky+HD subscribers.
Living will be rebranded as Sky Living and will move to No 107.
Stations like RTE, RTE2, TV3 and TG4 will remain at Nos 101, 102, 103 and 104 respectively.
“We want our customers to be able to discover and enjoy the content they are most passionate about,” said Rob Webster, Sky’s commercial director.
“That’s why we’ve worked with a range of partner channels to ensure that customers can find their favourite pay TV channels and programming as easily as possible. And with high-definition viewing now demanded as standard, this has also meant swapping HD channels into the EPG numbers that our customers know best,” said Webster.
