New EPG for 38,000 Sky+ HD boxes

A new version of Sky's electronic programme guide was rolled out to 38,000 Sky+ HD boxes during the early hours of this morning.

Reports on the Digital Spy Sky+ HD forum indicate that customers with 4E300E version Thomson boxes have been the first to receive the long-awaited upgrade.

The new guide has been in development for over two years, having been first announced in November 2007. A beta version was previewed last May and it was revealed last month that its release was "imminent".

It is understood that the 4E300E boxes are among the rarest in the Sky+ HD install base and were thus chosen for the first major rollout so that any issues not found during extensive beta tests could be discovered and rectified before other models are upgraded.

Sky said the new guide will be rolled out "gradually" to all Sky+ HD boxes "over the next few months" and that customers would receive an information pack in the post a few days before the software switches to the new version.

"The roll-out will be phased to ensure that there are no disruptions," Sky said.