Sky have changed almost every TV channel on your Sky box - here's everything you need to know

Customers turning on their Sky+ HD and Sky Q boxes today will notice that things look dramatically different.

The UK broadcaster has reshuffled almost every channel in its TV Guide, and while they say “it will make it easier to find the programmes you love”, the changes are going to cause a lot of confusion in the short term.

Before you throw the remote control out the window in frustration, here’s everything you need to know in order to get to grips with it all.

Firstly, you don’t need to do anything to your Sky box, as the changes below will happen automatically from this morning (May 1).

The changes in a nutshell:

Documentaries channels moving higher in the TV Guide.+1 channels moving into a new section.Duplicated HD/SD channels moving to a new section.Changes to other areas of the TV Guide.

Here’s Sky’s own detailed rundown of all the changes:

Documentaries channels

What's changing?

From today (May 1), the Documentaries channels (such as Nat Geo HD, History HD and Discovery HD) will be listed in the main section of the TV Guide, making them easier to find in the All Channels menu.

The channels will also continue to be listed in the Documentaries menu within TV Guide.

The distinction between the programming on Documentaries channels and general entertainment programming has become less defined as more factual and factual-entertainment programmes are shown on the mainstream channels.

Why have Sky made this change?

As viewing habits and the types of programmes scheduled across all channels change over time, we need to review how we list channels in the TV Guide.

The distinction between the programming on Documentaries channels and general entertainment programming has become less defined as more factual and factual-entertainment programmes are shown on the mainstream channels.

Are Sky removing the Documentaries menu?

No, while the channels will move to the All Channels menu, the Documentaries menu will also remain.

Will my series links and favourites be affected?

No, series links you've set will continue to record as normal and when you select your favourite channels they'll be listed as normal, with their new numbers.

What do I need to do?

Nothing. The updated TV Guide will be automatically sent to your Sky box.

+1 channels

What's changing?

For channels in the Entertainment and Documentaries sections of the TV Guide, we'll be moving the +1s to a new section starting at 201.

To make the +1s even easier to find, we'll align the channel numbers for the main channel and the +1. For example, where Sky One is at 106, Sky One+1 will be at 206.

The changes affect both Sky+ and Sky Q.

Why are Sky changing the +1 channel numbers?

+1 channels provide viewers with a second chance to view their favourite programmes. Over time the channels have become increasingly difficult to find, the changes we're making will make it far easier for viewers to find their favourite +1 channel.

Will there be a +1 menu introduced at the same time?

Yes, in order to make it even easier to find +1 channels we're introducing a new +1 menu in the TV Guide. The +1 menu will list all +1 channels from every genre within TV Guide.

When will these changes appear in the TV Guide listings?

The +1 channels will be moved, and the new +1 menu introduced, on 1 May.

Will my series links and favourites be affected?