BSkyB is understood to be preparing a new EPG that will be made available to subscribers with new Sky+ and Sky HD boxes during 2008.
The new look and feel, still under development, will be based around the Sky Anytime section of the current Sky Guide. It will offer a preview screen, taking up one-eighth of the picture, which will change as different channels are selected.
The number of channels shown per page will also increase from the present 10 to 12 or 24 of the preview screen is switched off.
The Search and Scan banner will also be enhanced, allowing the synopsis of other programmes to be displayed, functionality already available on some Freeview boxes.
The Sky Guide has remained virtually unchanged, other than some minor cosmetic alterations, for the past 10 years. Meanwhile, the Digital TV Group is developing specifications for the Freeview Replay personal video recorder, expected to improve the functionality across the range of DTT receivers sold in the UK.
