complete disaster, my new hd box froze, lost all my planner and cannot use it know and have to have a new box to replace, sky refuse to reinstall older guide, its a disgrace

Posted by: rob hykin | July 25, 2009 9:22 PM

Guide, what guide, installed new card today, but still have old guide:(

Posted by: David Lewis | July 27, 2009 7:38 PM

It's the best thing since sliced bread!

Posted by: Steve | October 20, 2009 7:41 PM

Promised the new TV guide when i went to HD still nothing 6 months on and been through 2 HD boxes as they continue to fail. All my friends that have HD have the new guide all within 2 miles of me and yet i am stil waiting...... Really unimpressed with SKY currently.

Posted by: P Smith | October 20, 2009 8:06 PM

I have been I touch with Sky and they assure me it will happen I have had New HD Box since March, I emailed a complaint acknowledged 2 weeks ago still waiting

Me thinks they have a BIG problem

Posted by: Melvyn Gill | October 25, 2009 11:20 AM

Apparently, SAMSUNG sky boxes will not be updated until vary late in the year.

Posted by: Larry | October 27, 2009 5:57 AM

Guys he guide updates with the new sky cards going around. The HD guide is so much better than the SD one which is just annoying. If the techs avaliable why can't they make it so everyone can carry on watching whatever they have on and see what's on the other sides at the same time!

Posted by: Cheap TVs | October 29, 2009 12:22 PM

I just got mine today, absolutely hate it! but of course we will all unfortunately have to get used to it :)

Posted by: Georgskey | October 29, 2009 1:19 PM

The new programme schedule layout is hopeless.
It is driving me to a fury.

Can we please have a return to the old layout.

Posted by: alasdair | October 29, 2009 10:36 PM

I am very disappointed with the New Sky Guide.
We always praised the Old Sky Guide as easy to read and to use.
The New Sky Guide is not easy for us, the Text size is too small and the white background is too vivid, also there is now too much Information displayed, if we wanted this information before we could select it by use of the remote, and not have it displayed all the time.
Why have you changed this very user friendly Guide? my Wife whose eyesight is not that good could read the Old Guide but cannot read the New Guide.
Can we have the option of Guides selectable from a Menu which would allow us to select options on the New Guide and be able to select the Old Guide?(Classic) preferred).

Regards

Michael

Posted by: Michael John Lees | October 30, 2009 2:29 PM

The new Sky HD TV Guide is probably the worst example of progress I have seen. It is simply awful. Complicated and fussy. Get rid of the annoying picture which limits your page view and you're apparently left with the sound of some programme or other which you are at a loss to know how you chose it. I guarantee this guide will not appear to get better with the passage of time. Whoever thought of it should be summarily sacked!

Posted by: walton blue | October 31, 2009 10:55 PM

Total shambles. My mum watches Sky in her bed and now can't make out what's written on the tv guide. Contract due to expire and she wants to go freesat HD instead. Can't say I blame her. The new TV guide is slow, unresponsive, clunky, ugly...just a mess. What was so wrong with the simple layout before??

It's nothing to be proud of.

Why can't there be an option to choose classic view.

Posted by: Ross | November 1, 2009 12:31 PM

This is a disgrace. I have 3 Sky+ HD boxes, 2 on multi room, and I will be cancelling them all at the end of the billing month.

The main reason we chose Sky over competitors was the simplicity of it.

This is worse than when Microsoft revealed Vista.

Posted by: Hmmm | November 5, 2009 10:08 AM

I have a Samsung box, and I got the new format TV guide overnight.

Miles better than the old one, a real step forward.

Posted by: Neil | November 5, 2009 1:21 PM

The new layout is horrible!! how do i change back!! :'(

Posted by: Susy | November 5, 2009 7:28 PM

Does anyone have my problem with the new guide. Since being installed I've got no text, nothing on the red button and no interactive services. I've telephoned twice and after much too-ing and fro-ing was told they have a technical problem, although my next door neighbours is ok an dmy son who lives 90 miles away is ok!

Posted by: Des Askins | November 5, 2009 7:48 PM

What on earth possessed sky to change the format for sky+HD. Its hideous!! Bring back the old format now! So easy to use and browse. The change was made without any notice, just turned on one morning and there it was. so confusing. As sky+HD customers we pay the most for our package and that's what we get in return for our hard earned cash!! Why not trial it first and ask the customer what they think first BEFORE implementing. We will be cancelling our subscription.

Posted by: michael wasley | November 5, 2009 10:31 PM

SKY FAIL ! bring back the old guide

Posted by: john | November 6, 2009 12:37 AM

The new programme guide is utter rubbish the old guide was so easy to use!

Posted by: stephen | November 7, 2009 12:29 AM

New Sky+ HD guide is absolutely awful! Can hardly wait for my new HD blu-ray twin tuner recorder to arrive so I can get rid of Sky forever.

Posted by: Nemesis | November 7, 2009 3:04 PM

Sky+ HD New TV guide is dreadful!Text is too small to read easily at normal viewing distance and there's way too much text on screen at one time. Old system was far easier to use. This just confirms my view that Sky are a "cavalier" outfit who have no idea of what customer service is about. Thank goodness Panasonic have released a twin tuner blu-ray HD recorder which will provide an alternative. Can hardly wait to cancel my Sky+ HD contract

Posted by: Zoo | November 7, 2009 3:12 PM

This new guide is terrible, they clearly have not thought this through. Just a few points are:

1.) Sound does not go away from the previous program so if you switch from some terrible program, you still hear it while choosing what to watch next.

2.) The text is small and for a lot of people in my family, hard to read.

3.) The background music has gone

4.) you can no longer see anywhere near as clearly or as many programs on the screen

5.) Linked to 4, it is just way too cluttered. People prefer simple, which is exactly what they got with the old Sky.

Change it Back for gods sake

Posted by: James | November 7, 2009 3:56 PM

new guide is terrible anybody interested in starting petition.

Posted by: Adrian | November 7, 2009 5:14 PM

Why change something just for change's sake? The old format worked so well, and this new one is awful. It seems to me someone high up in Sky had to justify their salary by being seen to be doing something. Totally unnecessary, unwanted and poorly thought out. PLEASE change it back!! (particularly find the background noise of a previously watched programme VERY annoying when choosing another channel!)

Posted by: Brigitte | November 7, 2009 10:36 PM

Does anybody know if Sky have recieved a lot of comlaints about the new guide and if they will giving us an option of going back to the old one

Posted by: Liam | November 9, 2009 1:36 PM

Its like I've gone gack in time. Well done sky for making such a simple process so complicated! Please please please change it back.

Posted by: jim | November 9, 2009 5:42 PM

A classic example of a crass, poorly thought out and uncoordinated attempt to 'modernise' a perfectly fine system. My planner is no longer fun to browse through and the lack of music exposes the whole operation as soulless.

The fact we have now to listen to the Tv no matter what is an unsubtle attempt to force us to absorb whatever stupid advert is currently playing, rendering the whole point of sky plus pointless.

Take a bow sky! lets give a big hand for corporate greed and non existent customer service.

Posted by: L/D | November 11, 2009 7:06 PM

I am incandescent about it. Its a disaster and clearly they have given no thought of the impact on of this on their elderly customers, many of whom will be totally confused

Posted by: GS | November 12, 2009 3:26 PM

the new hd guide is utter rubbish !

poor design , hard to read.. hard to understand..

I wonder , was it designed by a group of 13 year old home economics students while there teacher was off on maturity leave?? looks like it !!

change it back !!!!

Posted by: ps | November 18, 2009 8:16 PM

New Sky Guide is absolutely shocking - it's awful !! I have always said the best thing about Sky was the easy to use on screen guide. What on earth possessed them to change to this monstrosity ? I have perfectly good eyesight and a 42 inch tv and I am struggling to see everything so what on earth it's like for someone with not great eyesight on a smaller tv I don't know. Way to complex - If we wanted a programme synopsis we could press "i" before now we get it whether we want it or not so that combined with the picture in the corner and the other banners up the top leaves hardly any room for the important stuff. Absolute rubbish. Anyone who agrees should email sky and make their feelings known - If everyone does it they will have to take notice.

Posted by: Marie | November 23, 2009 7:45 PM

the new guide is absolutely awful, it's dated, unbelievably difficult to use and i have many qualifications in computers and technology and if i find it difficult then others definitely would too. we have a normal sized tv screen and i still can't read the guide. the remote was rubbish to begin with and now with all the on-screen options open all of the time jumping from one thing to another, just picking a channel to watch is near impossible.
i hate the new guide and i know a lot of other people who hate it too. and what the hell possessed them to fiddle with the planner??

whoever decided to change it should be sacked!
im going to watchdog...who's with me??

Posted by: lauren | November 25, 2009 12:08 AM

Agree with most of the posts above that it is a major step backwards.

Also - does everyone else have to hit 'Select' twice to view the programme? The first time only brings it up in the preview screen top right.

Posted by: Iain | November 25, 2009 10:45 AM

have just had SKY+HD put in and my SKY+ box put in my bedroom and i cant wait for the new guide to be on the + box aswell. For those of u who want the new guide follow these steps--Turn off your SKY+HD box at the mains then hold your finger on the Back Up button then turn the box back on but make sure your finger is still on the Back Up button and stays on there and when it comes back on it will perform a software update usually takes about 20 mins (even though it says 10) then wil switch itself off for about 5 then come bk on then it should be there if not u will just have to wait (sorry). And for those of u who dont like it STOP MOANIN SKY WILL NOT CHANGE IT BACK TO THE "BASIC,SIMPLE" guide this 1 is so easy to use what is wrong with u JUST DEAL WITH IT. Thanx

Posted by: DJKantC | November 25, 2009 10:31 PM

I agree with Iain I think this is a major step forward. There are some long needed features on this new sky guide, like for example being able to view other programme information without having to go to that channel or going to the tv guide itself, which is currently very annoying and I for one cannot wait for the new guide. The only people complaining about it here are people who hate change, no matter how much better it is and unfortunately the world is full of them! If anyone from sky is reading these reviews, ignore these stupid lazy people, who cannot be bothered learning a few new steps, you have done a fantastic job with the new guide.

Posted by: Chris | November 29, 2009 10:39 AM

I agree with Iain I think this is a major step forward. There are some long needed features on this new sky guide, like for example being able to view other programme information without having to go to that channel or going to the tv guide itself, which is currently very annoying and I for one cannot wait for the new guide. The only people complaining about it here are people who hate change, no matter how much better it is and unfortunately the world is full of them! If anyone from sky is reading these reviews, ignore these stupid lazy people, who cannot be bothered learning a few new steps, you have done a fantastic job with the new guide.

Posted by: Chris | November 29, 2009 10:41 AM

I agree, I like the new guide, like anything else you just have to get used to it. It's not difficult and it has some improved features, like the series link is easier and you don't get moved into the planner after you set something up to record. For everyone who doesn't want the small tv screen in the corner there is an option to get rid of this which would then allow more content on the screen.

Posted by: Jane | December 1, 2009 7:41 PM

The new menu is simply TERRIBLE. Whoever thought of this idea managed to cram as much useless text into screen as possible. It's ugly, it's complicated, it honestly puts me off watching TV. The old menu was lovely. It was simple, with just the right amount of text and information. You didn't have to listen to the sound of the previous channel while searching for a new one. Think about it, if you're looking for a different channel, it's most probably because you don't like what is on at the moment, so why would you want to see it and hear it??

I really hope they either put the old menu back, or set up an option for users to choose which menu they see. After all, we spend OUR money on it, we should have the right to request which menu we want!

Posted by: Sophia | December 2, 2009 3:51 PM

maybe if enough people complain bout this new sky guide they will change it back why fix something thats not broke in the first place we pay to much for sky as it is without them making silly changes without asking the customers first

Posted by: andy | December 2, 2009 11:59 PM

The new menu is simply TERRIBLE. Whoever thought of this idea managed to cram as much useless text into screen as possible. It's ugly, it's complicated, it honestly puts me off watching TV. The old menu was lovely. It was simple, with just the right amount of text and information. You didn't have to listen to the sound of the previous channel while searching for a new one.

Posted by: Kenneth | December 3, 2009 8:53 PM

I'm loving the new HD Guide. Just give it time and you will get used to it. It's so much better now you can still watch the tv while checking to see what else is on. Even if you complain, they will not change it. I work for sky and can assure you most people are impressed.

Posted by: Karen | December 5, 2009 4:24 PM

HATE HATE HATE it - its so much slower to the point of being unusable, so that its impossible to evaluate whether the new features are any good or not. It's so frustrating. How do you speed it up??? Also it looks so much worse. I'm all for change, but don't expect things to be slowed down ever for the sake of a few gimicky extras that I don't have any interest in.

Posted by: Josie | December 6, 2009 1:14 AM

the new layout is absolute rubbish. it looks cheap like a freeview box listing and it iis so complicated to use. i have a young son who will now find it impossible to use...thanks for nothing sky. any way i can change it back? otherwise may have to cancel and go back to the old sky+ instead.

Posted by: siouxsie edwards | December 7, 2009 8:08 AM

My head hurts tryin to get my head round the sudden change. I can't work it out. Give us an option to have classic guide. God knows were paying enough for it.

Posted by: Mr owen | December 7, 2009 6:05 PM

I can't believe this is called an update. It's absolute rubbish even Gordon Brown couldn't have made as much of a mess this. Sack all the people responsible for this folly.

Posted by: LeavingSky | December 7, 2009 7:17 PM

i got the new sky hd guide today and i must say i absolutely HATE it. the writing is far too small and its really hard to choose a channel. there was no need to change the old one it was fine as it was

Posted by: phillis | December 7, 2009 7:39 PM

I must say I also hate this upgrade, it looks cheaper and poorly designed. As someone in their 30's with 20:20 vision I am also struggling to read the tiny text.

However you can make it resemble the old Sky+ guide if you go to options along the top menu and coose Customise, then change the mini Tv mode to off and press 'green' to save settings. I feel happier after discovering this!!

Posted by: Bisto | December 7, 2009 9:55 PM

For god sake, stop moaning!!!!!
All you old codgers who dislike progress go back to freeview.......
The Text is too small, too much info, the music has gone!!!!!!
For crying out loud, if thats the biggest problem youve got, count yourself lucky.
Its an intuitive system, works well, loads of info.
Good Job SKY.

Posted by: julian appleby | December 7, 2009 10:25 PM

What a load of crap! Its hard to use and only displays a few channels at a time.

Well pissed of with this!

Posted by: James | December 7, 2009 10:38 PM

step forward for content

but MAJOR step back for those with failing eyesight unless you have a 50 " screen

Posted by: bi | December 7, 2009 10:58 PM

Why! Why! Why!

With all our subs I am sure Sky could have employed someone with a simple grasp of design. It looks rather like Tracey Emin's bed: a dog's dinner.(Sorry Tracey I think your mess is vastly superior)

We Sky's clients don't like it, Sky should listen to their paymasters, us. Do something to placate your users and end this April Fool's joke.
What realy worries me is that Sky probably thinks the world it.

Keep the programme info, but remember KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid/Sky)

Posted by: Tim Hawkins | December 8, 2009 1:24 AM

The New EPG arrived overnight.

The whole household dislikes it. Some members have to get up AND WALK TO THE SCREEN in order to READ the thing - all have difficulty reading it from their normal viewing seats.

This legibility cock-up is so obvious, that anyone with half a brain cell and 20-20 vision should have pointed it out at the first SKY in-house try-out.

What a disaster.

And that's just the font, the font size, and the colours.

The new EPG fails the first practicality test - is it better and easier to use than the old EPG? No.

Why? The addition of extra features cannot hope to counter the sheer stupidity of the design and its interface.

Click, click, click, side-scroll, side-scroll... trying to get to features you could access far more simply and swiftly in the old guide.

The new New EPG freezes up, is slow and clunky; there is already an inability to delete programmes from planner; you can switch off mini-tv to get a decent amount of barely-readable info on the screen, but then you cannot switch the sound off...

This is not rocket science, these are rock-bottom problems that should have been pointed out at inception by any half-competent designer.

Good grief, what happened to COMMON SENSE!

I could go on, but I'll be repeating the comments above.

To sum up: A Programme Guide is supposed to do just that. Guide you, simply and swiftly, through the programme, search and record options. This doesn't.

It's slow, ugly and NOT easy to use. e.g. which ninny stopped the double 'i' press - once to get the info, once to remove it??? How annoying. Just another of the truely BASIC FLAWS that litter this classic example of what happens when you ignore the first principles of design.

We would like the old EPG back. We NEED it. So we can READ it. Use it. Record with it. Search it. With Ease. So For Pity's Sake, give us the option of restoring it.

The New EPG puts you off watching the telly. It's that simple.

Stunningly awful.

Posted by: Gill | December 8, 2009 2:32 AM

People calling complainers "codgers" need to understand customers are entitled to their own opinions. Just because they disagree with them doesn't make them wrong.
I got the new guide yesterday and can say I also can't stand it. What is the point of that mini tv? Who in the hell is going to watch that whilst changing channels? I want the program info up so I can choose what to watch. If I want to watch something I'll watch it in 40", not in that tiny corner of the screen that serves no purpose whatsoever.
As for having to press twice to select a program, that is already infuriating, god knows what it'll be like in a months time. And why reduce the programs visible on the planner. The old one had twice as many channels up at once making it easy to choose if you were just browsing for something. This removes this luxury. Genuinely would consider ditching sky hd over this. This reeks of microsoft Vista all over again. A big corporate who wouldn't admit they'd fu*ked up and keep telling the customer it's right for them when all the evidence is saying it's not.

Posted by: Chris | December 8, 2009 11:12 AM

I'm not exactly Mr Magoo but this new Sky Guide has rendered my 17" LCD in the Bedroom totally useless. Even with Glasses I can't read the text at all.

I have reported this to the Government Dept. that deals with the Disability Discrimination Act and would suggest that anyone else suffering the same sight based problems should do likewise, to give extra weight to the complaint. My reference number for the complaint is 1-672 0264

Their number is 0845 6046610

Posted by: mark | December 8, 2009 2:22 PM

A total disaster. Our hi definition picture which produced the text clearly with the old planner is now blurry and the sound level is much lower and cannot be raised in the sky box. I may cancel my subscription and go elsewhere. Has anybody found better settings than the default for HD tvs?

Posted by: John Williams | December 8, 2009 5:02 PM

Someone has really messed up over this one. Text too small and unable to read it. Spoke to Sky and basically told 'tough because it is not going to change back'...disgraceful! Now giving a LOT of thought to changing to another supplier and if they can sort it out before Christmas then I will change.

Posted by: Dave | December 8, 2009 8:07 PM

The new sky planner what a disgrace i absolutly hate it ,freezes all the time why on earth have they ruined a perfectly easy 2 use planner feel like throwin it out the window thinkin of cancelin the lot

Posted by: david | December 8, 2009 9:31 PM

WELL HOW CRAP IS THIS NEW PLANNER CAN WE GET THE OLD ONE BACK?

Posted by: Neal | December 8, 2009 11:54 PM

The whole house hates the new Guide. I will consider moving to Virgin whan the Sky sub runs out. Also, the picture quality now appears to be much worse. Very "grainy" even on HD.

Posted by: Mick | December 9, 2009 10:57 AM

There is some good additional stuff like being able to get info on the program you've browsed to in the banner without having to go into the full screen guide. And i was very keen to get the update. But 2 things are infuriating and inexcusable.
1. The inability to silence the mini tv sound even if you turn off the mini tv.
2. The general sluggishness of performance whilst navigating to different sections of the guide.

These problems completely negate any advantages. Especially the sound issue; blaring out whatever channel is on or being recorded. Esp if if you coincide with crucial plot points of something you plan to watch later. I cannot believe this did not get picked up in user testing and feedback.

Posted by: Simon Rossi | December 9, 2009 7:20 PM

There is some good additional stuff like being able to get info on the program you've browsed to in the banner without having to go into the full screen guide. And i was very keen to get the update. But 2 things are infuriating and inexcusable.
1. The inability to silence the mini tv sound even if you turn off the mini tv.
2. The general sluggishness of performance whilst navigating to different sections of the guide.

These problems completely negate any advantages. Especially the sound issue; blaring out whatever channel is on or being recorded. Esp if if you coincide with crucial plot points of something you plan to watch later. I cannot believe this did not get picked up in user testing and feedback.

Posted by: Simon Rossi | December 9, 2009 7:22 PM

There is some good additional stuff like being able to get info on the program you've browsed to in the banner without having to go into the full screen guide. And i was very keen to get the update. But 2 things are infuriating and inexcusable.
1. The inability to silence the mini tv sound even if you turn off the mini tv.
2. The general sluggishness of performance whilst navigating to different sections of the guide.

These problems completely negate any advantages. Especially the sound issue; blaring out whatever channel is on or being recorded. Esp if if you coincide with crucial plot points of something you plan to watch later. I cannot believe this did not get picked up in user testing and feedback.

Posted by: Simon Rossi | December 9, 2009 7:24 PM

The new Sky+ HD guide is horrible - why fix something that isn't broken? I lost three recordings overnight when this supposed 'upgrade' kicked in - thanks for the warning, Sky! The writing is too small, the screen is cluttered and navigating the channels is an utter nightmare. There definitely should be a 'classic view' option...until then Sky are going to have a majorly dissatisfied customer base :(

Posted by: Katherine | December 10, 2009 2:06 PM

Is this for real? Someone should be sacked. Sooo frustrating.

Poll please.

Posted by: Si | December 10, 2009 5:43 PM

Following my letter of complaint about the new Sky Guide I've just had a call from Sky's Customer Relations Dept. from the Negative response, it's obvious that THEY ARE RUNNING SCARED. What we need is a concerted effort to show Sky what their Customers think. So, CALL SKY AND COMPLAIN.

Next stop WATCHDOG.

Posted by: mark | December 10, 2009 9:25 PM

what is your problem, got 2 sky+ hd boxes at 2 different houses. 1 with new and 1 with old, and love the new one, that background music has been doing my head in for years now and makes everything easier too.
if you cant read the writting, get glasses!
if you think its to vivid, change the tv settings!
why wouldn't you want the program that your watching in the corner if your just seeing whats on later/after, you could miss someting
..... and for GOD sake it's HD
Can't wait for more channels!!

Posted by: Tom | December 11, 2009 5:36 PM

New sky guide is terrible worse than anything they have ever done get the old one back now!

Posted by: Fraser | December 11, 2009 6:23 PM

I agree with all the disgruntled postings above. The new guide is a complete disaster. The sound from the mini tv (which can't be turned off) is most irritating, the screen is cluttered, difficult to read and less programs are displayed. My wife is refusing to use it and I may well follow her example, Please, Sky, return to the old format or at least give us the option to choose the classic view if we so wish.

Posted by: Jim | December 11, 2009 7:29 PM

I agree with all the disgruntled postings above. The new guide is a complete disaster. The sound from the mini tv (which can't be turned off) is most irritating, the screen is cluttered, difficult to read and less programs are displayed. My wife is refusing to use it and I may well follow her example, Please, Sky, return to the old format or at least give us the option to choose the classic view if we so wish.

Posted by: Jim | December 11, 2009 7:34 PM

Hey Tom, are you an MP, claiming for your two different houses?

By the way, have you never heard of punctuation and grammar?

If you're really into the programme, why would you be flicking the EPG back and forth?

Go back to your mistress, Tom. You f|_|ckwit

Posted by: Tom Dick | December 11, 2009 9:37 PM

The favourites function is the worst,it keeps taking you backwards before you can move on - nightmare

Posted by: Maggie | December 11, 2009 11:12 PM

I also hate the new sky guide.

I like some of the features - being able to see the info for any programme while watching another programme full screen and the series stack.

However, you can only see 6 channels on the guide with the mini tv turned on (which can be switched off in the options, giving you 11 channels per page and prevents you from having to hit select twice) and it is very slow with tiny text.

I was looking forward to getting the new guide but now that I have it I wish I could go back to he old one.

Posted by: Chris | December 12, 2009 12:01 AM

I HATE this new set up. Please can the people who make the decisions at Sky bite the bullit, swallow their pride and change it back; chalking this little episode down to experience. If they think a change is needed, how about changing the colours in the menu - why fix what isn't broken?!

Posted by: John | December 12, 2009 9:58 PM

Right on John!

Posted by: Fanny | December 12, 2009 10:33 PM

Just got a new hd box for my parents that was installed with the old epg, perfect for them, nice and simple and easy to read.

Last night it upgraded the epg and now it is useless for them, they cannot read the screen anymore.

And this is the first week of a years contract.

I am pretty upset about this.

Posted by: Amdy | December 13, 2009 8:26 AM

Amdy

You can contact Sky's Accessibility services dept. on 08442 410 333. Ask for a normal Sky+ Box and a reduction in the subscription due to the loss of HD. This is the only way that you can get back the old Guide.

Posted by: mark | December 13, 2009 9:01 AM

I must join the chorus of disapproval regarding the new sky + programming guide which has obviously been designed by "nerds" without consultation of the vast mahority of users. WHY! it has been taken from a simple single click of a button into a realm of up-down, sideways, preview and double clicking. If this is progress I am going out to get a starter handle for my car

Posted by: sandie | December 13, 2009 10:41 PM

UPDATE

Sky called me again Today. They say they will replace my HD Box with a normal Sky+ Box. HOWEVER, sometime next year, ALL Sky Boxes will get the new Guide. Therefore, They're offering me a Downgrade in Kit as a solution that may only last a few months or so.

THEY NEED MORE COMPLAINTS. IN WRITING.

Posted by: mark | December 14, 2009 5:57 PM

The new guide is hopeless to us - we cannot read it, the contrast is too little, there is too much on the screen and the print is too small. I cannot see any advantage whatsoever. I intend cancelling my sky subscription if I am not given the choice of going back to the old style guide.

Posted by: Barry | December 14, 2009 10:10 PM

ANOTHER UPDATE

I've spoken to the RNIB this morning. They are well aware of the sight based issues with the new Guide and have had several complaints. They were pleased to receive a complaint from a normally(ish) "Sighted" person and I'm sure other such complaints wouldn't go a miss.

Their number is, 0207 391 2322

Posted by: mark | December 15, 2009 11:48 AM

What a complete disaster!!!!

This is beyond belief how awful this new screen is? I have to get up from the sofa, walk towards the TV to read anything in there.

Too fussy and complicated when it should be simple.

SKY should not dictate us on what to use, SKY should soon give us an option to choose to go back to the old version, and this way, please everyone.

Give us this option now!

Posted by: Gem | December 16, 2009 3:02 AM

The new HD guide is terrible! I agree with all the complaints on here. However, the one main problem with it is that it uses up one of the two tuners to run the ridiculous mini TV. Now even if you turn mini TV off, it still uses that tuner just to provide you with the sound from the channel you are trying to navigate away from. So instead of recording two programs at once, and letting you jump straight into the planner just before they start, it fails one of the recordings as the tuner is still being used. Just being in the planner menu does not allow the recordings to start. You must now select either one of the channels a recording will be on, or start watching something out of the planner for both recordings to be successful. A huge backwards step compared to the old planner. If when you turned off mini TV, it actually turned off and stopped using a tuner, I could almost put up with all the other awful "improvements".
I now much prefer using my non HD box, although by the sound of it, that one will be ruined too next year.

Posted by: Mark | December 16, 2009 3:02 PM

The new HD guide is terrible! I agree with all the complaints on here. However, the one main problem with it is that it uses up one of the two tuners to run the ridiculous mini TV. Now even if you turn mini TV off, it still uses that tuner just to provide you with the sound from the channel you are trying to navigate away from. So instead of recording two programs at once, and letting you jump straight into the planner just before they start, it fails one of the recordings as the tuner is still being used. Just being in the planner menu does not allow the recordings to start. You must now select either one of the channels a recording will be on, or start watching something out of the planner for both recordings to be successful. A huge backwards step compared to the old planner. If when you turned off mini TV, it actually turned off and stopped using a tuner, I could almost put up with all the other awful "improvements".
I now much prefer using my non HD box, although by the sound of it, that one will be ruined too next year.

Posted by: Mark | December 16, 2009 3:04 PM

SERIOUSLY AWFUL the greatest injusticed is the fact that non-HD (lower paying customers) have the classic menu which we have all loved for the past decade. A CLASSIC option would be much appreciated.

Posted by: Alex foligno | December 17, 2009 8:36 PM

SERIOUSLY AWFUL the greatest injusticed is the fact that non-HD (lower paying customers) have the classic menu which we have all loved for the past decade. A CLASSIC option would be much appreciated.

Posted by: Alex foligno | December 17, 2009 8:37 PM

I thought I would give it a go for a week before I complained as I thought it would grow on me. I was wrong. I still hate it. I want the old one back. The old one was straight forward and easy to use. This one is just a mess. It really puts me off watching tv.

Posted by: James | December 17, 2009 9:08 PM

FINAL UPDATE

Sky have now relented and I'm going to get a Sky+ Box with the Old Guide. The Sky+ Boxes will NOT now be getting the New Guide and Sky have said that there "MAY" be an option to have the Old Guide back on HD Boxes at some time in the Future.

This has all been confirmed by Sky's Accessibilty Dept. TEL: 08442 410 333

Posted by: mark | December 18, 2009 11:41 AM

Counter intuitive, slow, poor to navigate and a step backward.
Makes deciding whether to leave sky easier!!!

Posted by: Kris | December 19, 2009 3:31 PM

Why did Sky change the format? Text now too small; can't turn off the continuous background talking. Sky, please do something about these problems.

Posted by: Ellie | December 19, 2009 6:09 PM

I love change and improvement. Where did Sky go wrong???? Did they not trial this with a cross section of their customers before imposing such an unfriendly, difficult to use interface on their paying punters.
I can't believe that some in the company saw this as progress. Take a look at Apple and how their stuff is intuitive, Sky certainly don't have that skill.
A disaster...............

Posted by: Norman | December 19, 2009 9:49 PM

its crap basically listen to your customers change it back for god sake or you will be losing alot more then you already have

Posted by: danny | December 20, 2009 1:36 AM

The new guide is shockingly bad. If I wanted a guide like that I would have chosen Virgin. They should give the option to change it back before I cancel SKY.

Posted by: Richard | December 22, 2009 9:46 PM

The new planner is absolute rubbish....Since the new planner I keep getting problems with low audio and often the lip sync is about a half a second out...Also have had problems with jerky playback, bith problems are cured for a while with a re boot of the HD box... but it has to be done about 3 or 4 times a week...A definate backward step..Bring back the old planner please ..

Posted by: Les | December 26, 2009 9:56 PM

Just moved over from Virgin to Sky and I find the EPG great. We've got the new one on the HD box downstairs and the old one on a standard Sky box upstairs. Coming from Virgin, the new EPG is much easier to use and more intuitive. It's easy to read but then this is on a 40" 1080p TV! The old EPG upstairs I find pretty poor in comparison.

Posted by: Topper | December 26, 2009 10:30 PM

I detest the new HD EPG. I have now had enough of sky and as soon as my contract is up they go....the phone...the broadband and the HD. I have a freesat box sat next to it and it knocks spots of Sky. Worse mistake I ever made. I hope they go bust then everything can be free on freesat.

Posted by: Bruce | January 8, 2010 2:19 AM

New planner absolute rubbish annoying picture preview and only able to browse 5 channels at a time also slow response and error messages "no satellite signal is being received" (never happened under the old system) who ever designed this wants sacking

Posted by: chris | January 8, 2010 10:18 AM

Absolutely hate it, the classic version is simple and simple is what we want!!!

Posted by: Russell | January 9, 2010 12:51 PM

I think after having sky for a long time,and being used to the same thing,they really shouldn't of changed it.
We find it kinda hard to adjust to the new setting.
I actually think it wouldn't be a bad idea for them to give us the option to change the layouts if we wanted to :)

Posted by: Louise | January 9, 2010 6:46 PM

To all the comments about people on here being "moaners " or " old codgers ", Would you buy something that you didnt like ?? Well we werent given a choice. It is an absolutely awful system and layout and theres loads of lag. You can carry on eating your flies in your soup but the majority of people on here are standing up for themselves and rightfully complaining about something which is total crap !!

Posted by: Alan | January 10, 2010 2:37 PM

The new guide is good in theory, but hopeless in practise.

Sorry Sky but the old one is much better.

We find it easier to watch our Sky+ rather than HD.

Swallow the pride, and the development cost. Sample systems with users, before you roll them out in future.

Posted by: John | January 11, 2010 11:33 PM

Can anyone advise how many favourite channels you can have on the Sky HD box? The Sky + box allows 50.

Posted by: David | January 14, 2010 8:55 PM

the new format is rubbish. too complicated. too fidly. bring it back

Posted by: russell | January 14, 2010 9:12 PM

Bring back the old format. the new one is simply awful. How many complaints will it take

Posted by: Hen | January 14, 2010 9:18 PM

the new sky manu is big mistake on behafe of sky, its slower then virgin media box,

Posted by: baz | January 21, 2010 8:49 AM

Don't know how you can say this is slower than the Virgin guide - a lethargic tortoise is quicker than Virgin's seldom accurate guide. What I will say though is that it would be nice to be able to 'drop the font size' as it were so you could see more of the day and therefore, more programme information. Being as the new guide is only on HD, I don't see why they couldn't.

Posted by: Goldie | January 23, 2010 8:49 AM

Crap.

Posted by: Tex | January 24, 2010 9:57 PM

I have not regretted anything like I have in upgrading to Sky + HD. For the last 3 months I had my box changed 3 times, still don't have the new menu, and guess what? My remote has just failed, spoke to Sky and they are sending yet another box! Does anyone know what they do at Sky? How can so many problems still be coming out of the woodwork. Incredible!!!!

Posted by: simba | February 8, 2010 10:35 PM

Following SKY introducing new guide on SKY+HD we have no text, red button doesn't work and unable to obtain interactive servies. Several weeks ago spent nearly an hour on telephone to SKY to no avail. Told it would be reported but have heard nothing since. Will cancel the HD if SKY do not respond and revert to ordinary SKY+. I notice one other person has same problem. Are there any other users out there with similar problem?

Posted by: Bryn | February 11, 2010 6:33 PM

Thought Sky could of perhaps done a littler more to make it a bit less slow and clunky. I'm lining up for a switch to the new TiVo HD later this year.

Posted by: Sue | February 14, 2010 12:26 AM

why is half my tv guide orange on my sky HD box?

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Posted by: new | March 9, 2010 7:50 PM

Absolutely hate the new Sky HD guide. They've taken a simpe to use thing of beauty and completely screwed it up. Hadn't thought of changing to Virgn until now, but going to look into it.
Major fail......

Posted by: Mark | March 9, 2010 10:22 PM

Awful interface. Move around with three arrows right, one down, two up, four left- oh hang on..... you get the idea. Intrusive channel sound when in planner- REALLY annoying and messes up planning. Couple of bugs where I've had to exit the menu altogether. I used to work in IT in QA. I could have tested it better. Looked like they economised on user testing- I saw it all the time as a way to 'save' money. It’s a false economy. It’s not about being unable to adjust to the new as some have said: It’s about adjusting to the bad.

Posted by: RW | March 10, 2010 6:08 PM

The change was bad enough to begin with and still takes some getting used to, but now the whole thing has crashed... it is soooo slow and does not show programme synopsis anymore. This has happened to EVERYONE in my area so I assumed sky would be looking into getting it fixed but, 5 weeks or more later, we are still struggling to use it! Time to spend a fortune on phone calls to sky to see what they are doing about it I guess :(
My guess is zero!

Posted by: Keely | April 19, 2010 4:59 PM

Just get used to it people, its a fact noone likes change but just think about it the other guide was boring... hd's new menus are more modern you feel you are getting your moneys worth plus it looks just that little bit better

Posted by: Ian Hughes | April 22, 2010 10:43 AM

If you cant use the HD guide, your a moron, and shouln't have sky.

I really wonder how some people get through life.

Posted by: Calum | July 20, 2010 6:12 PM