Remove channels from Sky EPG?

dahamsta

A quick google tells me no but perhaps there's an unofficial way of doing this? I don't want channels like bloody Wine TV, they're just getting in my way.

adam

Our man in Havana

Can't be done Murdoch wants it that way so you can't miss all the box office and other crap you can pay more cash for.

Ulsterman 1690

I know its a pain in the @r$€; The lack of a facility to add/remove channels, the lack of programme info for more than a few hours ahead (unless one is prepared the extortionate premium charged for $ky plus) and the wierd order in which channels are arranged ruins what could be a good setup :mad:

Plus theres the extortionate prices charged to broadcasters by $ky for EPG placment

Its only a matter of time before someone starts an alternative EPG on the astra satellite. Given that the European courts opened up the market for the publication of TV guide listings (in paper format) over ten years ago its about time they followed suit with the electronic version

In the meantime all you can do is pick out your 20 favorite channels and use that asd a crude EPG filter

byte

Well, according to reports, Sky are giving the EPG a major overhaul before the end of the year. This will include a better Favourite Channels system so I guess this is your best bet...

There were rumours also that it would be possible to completely remove channels, though this may only apply to adult channels.

chern0byl

People have managed to achieve it but as the software is so well wrapped in security and updates it will never work.

Well done to murdoch and his crew. You take what Sky gives you, complain all you might, you cant do a thing in reality.

Ulsterman 1690

One could always buy a non-$ky digivox with an NDS videoguard CAM of course.

Trouble is EPG functionality on these seems to be much poorer i.e one has to be tuned into each channel for maybe 20 seconds before the EPG data for that channel downloads

chorus techy

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

One could always buy a non-$ky digivox with an NDS videoguard CAM of course.

Trouble is EPG functionality on these seems to be much poorer i.e one has to be tuned into each channel for maybe 20 seconds before the EPG data for that channel downloads

And since sky jiggle around the transponders they use for many channels at the drop of a hat, it means the EPG would constantly become very out of step as I don't think ordinary boxes will automatically detect the transponder changes. Another anti-competitive measure, only with sky.

Capt'n Midnight

Even a previous channel button would help.

There is no technical reason why it's can't be done - just a mechanism to stop you flicking to another station when you are supposed to watch adds. /RANT

Sparky

there should be a favourite channel mode where only your marked favourite channels will come up when using the up and down arrows, but say if you want to get to a unfavourite channel you can just enter the number.
Alternitavly if sky intoduced a second card that had only the channels that you wanted to be available on the tv ie. if the kids were in the room or for general use in the sitting room. but knowing sky this would be a security thing with them.

Ulsterman 1690

When I had NTL digital (Belfast) it had a facility where you could mark as many channels as you wanted and then rearrange them with "my favorites first"

chorus techy

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

When I had NTL digital (Belfast) it had a facility where you could mark as many channels as you wanted and then rearrange them with "my favorites first"

Yes, NTL Ireland has this also, and NTL also has the nifty feature whereby it skips channels you have not subscribed to when you are going up through the channels! With sky, it shoves up a nice box on the screen telling you what you're missing and how to subscribe.

digiking

I'm guessing the reason sky don't let you hide channels you don't pay for, is soso f you can see what is on them, and possibly from a marketing point of view it might entice you to buy them...

Epg overhaul, Can't wait, I'm getting tired of the current layout, its been like that for about 4 years now, I think it would be nice if they allowed you to change the backround colours etc. And one think in particular, I wish they would allow you to change the font sizes, so that it would be easier for peole with sight problems to use the epg

Digiking

Ulsterman 1690

in particular, I wish they would allow you to change the font sizes, so that it would be easier for peole with sight problems to use the epg

A very good point maybe someone should mention to OFCOM (given that they have all these rules on disability now such as audio description compulsary subtitling and Channel 996) actually on my FTV box I can get a display of signal strength/quality (for EACH channel not just the default transponder) and frequency/PID's as well but I suppose $ky would say thats just pandering to Anoracks

byte

Another reason as to why you can't remove EPG channels, is due to the fact that Sky charge every channel for EPG placement. None of these channels would be happy if Sky allowed subscribers to remove these other channels from EPG, after them paying Sky to be there.

netwhizkid

Yeah this is true Unfortunatly, but thats life, you can choose what goes in your "other channels" though. I sure would love to get rid of a few channels all the shopping ones to name but a few.

Regards netwhizkid