Sky HD boxes to get new EPG this year

Sky has confirmed that its high definition boxes will get a new version of electronic programme guide software this year.

Details of the new guide software first emerged in November, and at that time it was understood that newer Sky+ and Sky HD boxes would be upgraded. Now Sky has confirmed that only HD boxes will receive the upgrade.

The current 4 top level options (TV Guide, Box Office, Services and Interactive) are to be replaced with 10 options, in which television, radio and interactive services will be listed separately. Other alterations including a 1/8th size mini-TV display showing video from channels as they are selected in the TV Guide are also planned.

> For full details of the changes, click here

Sky has told broadcasters that it "expects to introduce a new version of its EPG software for HD set top boxes at some time during 2008".

It added: "The new version of the EPG software will have separate menus for television channels (the TV Guide menu), radio stations (the Radio menu) and interactive services (the Interactive menu)."