User:POWERStarz2004/Custom List/Additional information

HD swap and prominence of HD channels
For channels with identical SD & HD versions, channel numbers sometimes differ between HD & SD boxes. Where a channel has both an SD & an HD version, subscribers with an SD box always see the SD version of a channel in a more prominent position than the HD version. Subscribers with an HD box generally see the HD channel listed in the more prominent position.

The tables of channels in the main article assume that the HD version is always shown in the more prominent position (e.g. because a customer has the HD packages). In reality viewers this will not always be the case (see rest of this section) in which case the HD & SD channels should be swapped when looking at the lists.

For subscribers to HD, non-premium subscription HD channels and Sky's premium subscription HD channels (Sky Sports) on an HD box are "HD swapped" with the SD counterpart, giving the HD version of the channel greater prominence in the EPG. Subscribers to Sky Cinema and Sky Sports packages get both the SD & HD versions of the Sky Cinema and/or Sky Sports channels respectively and the HD versions are given greater prominence on the EPG.

For free-to-air channels the HD channel is generally in the more prominent position on all HD boxes, regardless of subscription. However, in the case of a small number of channels with regional variations in their programming or advertising (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV & Channel 4) the HD version is only in the more prominent position in areas of the UK that receive identical HD & SD versions. On HD boxes in Ireland, BBC One HD is more prominent because the SD & HD versions are both BBC One NI but BBC Two SD is more prominent because the HD & SD versions show different regions (England & NI respectively); and RTÉ One HD, RTÉ2 HD and TG4 HD are in the more prominent positions of 301, 302 and 304 respectively, regardless of whether the HD pack is enabled.

For certain premium channels (BT Sport Channels), the HD swap applies only for subscribers to those channels.

Ultra-HD
Unless the HD version of a channel or service is free-to-air, ultra HD downloadable content requires the HD Boost and the relevant standard boost (if required). For example, the series Bulletproof is shown on Sky One. To watch Bulletproof in ultra HD, the Entertainment and HD boosts are required.

Channel formats and aspects
Format: An ultra-high definition (UHD) channel broadcasts in 2160p. HD channels are broadcast in 1080p. Standard definition channels broadcast in 576i.

Aspect: Most SD and +1 channels are broadcast in 16:9 SDTV. For genres that have channels that broadcast in 4:3 aspect, an aspect column is included in the table of that genre and "4:3" appears in the relevant rows.

Genres and number ranges
This table shows the different genres/sub genres and their number ranges.

Footnotes to Sky’s genres and number ranges table
 * 1 - Separate genres but have shared number ranges in the 301-389, 390-399 and 700 series.
 * 2 - Generally SD duplicates on HD boxes (or HD duplicates on SD boxes). There is a dedicated secondary channel number range (701-799) covering the Entertainment, Documentaries, Sports (subscription/free only), Kids, News, Movies, Music and International genres; and a dedicated secondary channel number range for the Entertainment (UK HD in Ireland) sub-genre (390-399). Sports (pay per view) and the entertainment channels from 827 to 848 are secondary channels within the main number range for the genre. On occasion, I may reshuffle dedicated secondary channel lists to align the order with that of the main channels.

UK HD version in Ireland
In Ireland, the HD version of some channels are in the 390s. The SD versions of these channels are more prominent because these have adverts tailored to Ireland, while the HD version has adverts tailored to the UK. As a result, the HD version is placed in a dedicated secondary channel list in the 390s, rather than in the 700s.

This table shows the different channel numbers with and without the HD pack.

Ireland
In Ireland, the channels listed in the table are defined in some publications as " Bonus Channels " but are either included within the Entertainment Boost (i.e. RTÉ, Virgin Media and some Channel 4 channels, TG4, Oireachtas TV) or are free-to-air (i.e. BBC channels, Film4 +1). The BBC channels listed in the table are free-to-air in the UK and Ireland and do not require the Entertainment Boost.

This table shows which channels are free-to-air, and which require either the Entertainment Boost or the HD pack in Ireland.

Northern Ireland
The following Irish channels are part of the Entertainment Boost, and are not defined as bonus channels in Northern Ireland:

Region mapping
Sky divides the UK up into regions (and there is an additional region covering Ireland). The tables below show which region of BBC One (SD/HD), BBC Two (SD/HD), ITV/STV/UTV (HD/SD/+1),which advertising region of Channel 4 (HD/SD/+1) and which version of local tv (where available) is shown in each Sky region. The tables exclude regional channels in the 701-849 range.

HD/SD Note:
 * The numbers shown in these tables the numbers available on HD boxes. For example, when the HD and SD versions of a ITV region are identical, ITV HD is shown on channel 303 while ITV SD is on channel 703. Where they are not identical, the SD version is on 303 and the HD version is on 342.
 * For SD boxes that cannot receive HD channels, the numbers shown below need to be reversed (e.g. ITV SD is on 303, while ITV HD is on 703).
 * The HD channels shown on 306, 328, 342 and 397 are on these numbers regardless of type of box as the SD version of those channels (i.e. on channel 301, 302, 303, 304, 306 or 332) is given greater prominence because it is the more local version.

Ireland
ITV, ITV HD, ITV +1, Channel 4 HD and Local TV are not on the EPG in Ireland.

Footnotes for the region mapping tables:
 * 1 - Local TV are channels that are only available for specific regions. These do not include local channels broadcast throughout the UK or Ireland (e.g. BBC Scotland)
 * BBC One Generic version - This BBC One channel is the generic HD version that simulcasts BBC One London but does not broadcast local news bulletins.
 * BBC Two Network version - This BBC Two channel is the network version that is the main BBC Two channel in England and Scotland.