Some recent Sky channel name changes :
Tuesday 1 December:
GOLD (110) renames to ChristmasGOLD
GOLD +1 (166) renames to Xmas GOLD +1
Good Food (133/255) renames to Christmas Food
Good Food HD (255/133) renames to Xmas Food HD
Good Food +1 (243) renames to Xmas Food +1
Chartshw Dnce (372) renames to Dancember
Blissmas (376) was removed from the Guide.
A change in transponder parameters affecting NHK World HD and RT HD was made this week.
New frequency settings for NHK World HD and RT HD
(Astra 2, 28.2-5 East)
•Frequency / Polarisation: 11.225 / V
•Symbol Rate: 23.000 (23.0 Mbaud)
•FEC: 2/3
•Broadcast standard: DVB-S2, 8PSK
Viewers using free-to-air satellite receivers should use the new parameters listed below to regain access to the channels. Viewers with Sky or Freesat boxes that are affected should initially reboot their boxes. Some Freesat users may need to do a new Freesat scan to regain access to the channels if a reboot doesn’t work.
As part of the agreement between Eutelsat and SES, and as part of the satellite renewal program at 28 east, many channels are changing frequencies, as they are moved between the satellite.
Viewers with Sky and Freesat receivers: Frequency changes should be handled automatically by the receiver.
Viewers with other satellite receiver may have to perform a rescan to continue to view channels that have changed frequencies.
Sky is to consolidate its two arts channels into one from June.
The new combined Sky Arts channel will be moving to a new, higher position on Sky’s channel list.
Sky Arts has confirmed that the changes will happen on 9th June 2015.
As part of the recent deal between the two satellite companies that provide UK satellite TV, SES Astra and Eutelsat (
http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/ses-eutelsat-settle-ukireland-satellite-frequency-dispute )
It is expected to see services such as the Freesat EPG, NHK World, CBS Drama, Bloomberg and True Movies 1 and 2, and the other channels currently broadcast on transponders on the Eutelsat 28A satellite moving across to SES-operated satellites, including Astra 2E, 2F and the forthcoming Astra 2G.
Another reason for this is that the Eutelsat 28A satellite is widely seen as getting towards the end of its operational life.
This may mean a change in reception for the channels currently on Eutelsat 28A.
The Europe beam for the three Astra satellites 2E doesn’t cover the east as well as Eutelsat 28A, so there may be difficult times ahead.
And if the Freesat EPG moves to a UK beam on one of the new Astra satellites, then it may mean that areas that cannot receive that beam may struggle to use their Freesat boxes properly.
A few channel frequency and name changes (Sky and Freesat boxes should automatically update)
More 4 HD has left frequency 12266, H More 4 HD is now on a new frequency 12324 V SR:29500 FEC:3/4 SID:3944 PID:513
Channel 5 HD has left frequency 12266 H Channel 5 HD is now on a new frequency 11798 H SR:29500 FEC:3/4 SID:3945 PID:513
MTV Classics has been renamed to MTV XMAS
NOW Music has been renamed to NOW Christmas
Movies 24 has been renamed to Christmas 24 Movies 24+ has been renamed to Christmas 24+
More Sky / Freesat channel frequency changes – many channels moving satellites from Eutelsat to Astra
Further to http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/10/sky-freesat-channel-changes-many-channels-moving-satellites-from-eutelsat-to-astra/ there have been a few more UK TV channels that have changed their satellite and satellite frequencies over the last day or so.
This is nothing to do with new satellites, more to do with old agreements.
The changes to many channels today and yesterday as the channel are moved from the Eutelsat satellite to the Astra satellites – as mentioned a few days ago in our blog : http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/09/some-uk-tv-frequency-changes-over-the-next-few-weeks/
This is part of an agreement, where by some of the frequencies that were allocated to Eutelsat, hav now been reallocated to Astra.
Over the last day or two, some people with Freesat or “free to air” or “generic” satellite receiver, may notice that many of the “cheaper” channels are no longer available.
This is nothing to do with new satellites, more to do with old agreements.
The changes to many channels today and yesterday as the channel are moved from the Eutelsat satellite to the Astra satellites – as mentioned a few days ago in our blog : http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/09/some-uk-tv-frequency-changes-over-the-next-few-weeks/
This is part of an agreement, where by some of the frequencies that were allocated to Eutelsat, hav now been reallocated to Astra.
Over the next few weeks, some UK TV channels will be moving frequencies (and satellites).
These changes should be unnoticed for Sky and Freesat users, but some users with “generic” free to air receivers may have to perform a rescan should they lose a channel.
These changes are nothing to do with the new UK TV satellite Astra 2E ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/astra_2e_satellite_reception_testing_news_updates.php ).
Basically UK TV come from satellites operated by two companies, SES Astra and Eutelsat.
Recently, some frequencies currently used by Eutelsat, have been allocated to SES Astra. This means that the channels on those frequencies will be affected.
Some channels may simply move to new Eutelsat frequencies.
Other channels may move frequencies and satellites, from Eutelsat to Astra.
One such case is RT- UK SD (Russia Today) – http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/09/rt-sd-russia-today-satellite-frequency-changes-coming-soon/.
It looks like many changes will be happening, on both Astra and Eutelsat satellites, as channels on existing frequencies are shuffled around to accommodate these changes – which is probably the reason for this spate of channel frequency changes ( http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/showthread.php?91374-Important-Sky-TV-and-Freesat-TV-Channel-Frequency-changes-and-updates&p=122133&viewfull=1#post122133 )
Due to some satellite changes, some UK channels will be moving to a temporary transponder / frequency from September 30.
They will them move again on October 4 to the final destination transponder / frequency and satellite.
For RT-UK SD (Russia Today UK) , this means:
Sky users, and Freesat box users should see the changes handled automatically by set-top boxes, with no viewer action required.
(Although some Freesat boxes may not do this until their “midnight” housekeeping, so performing a Freesat scan should make the channels on their new frequencies available earlier)
However, people with generic Free-to-Air satellite receivers will have to do a rescan at each transponder change.
RT-UK SD (Russia Today) : Frequency changes:
Until September 30: Broadcasting as now on Eutelsat 28A, 11.623 Horizontal. Symbol Rate 27500; FEC 2/3. (txp D9S)
From September 30 to October 10: Broadcasting on Astra 1N, 12.401 Vertical. Symbol Rate 27500; FEC 2/3. (txp 36)
From October 4 onward: Broadcasting on Astra 2F, 12.610 Vertical. Symbol Rate 22000; FEC 5/6. (txp G8) [NB. Change to Symbol Rate and FEC]