Changes to the Sky TV guide - February 2021

[Chloe-W22]

Monday 1st

• SportystuffTV HD Launches to EPG number (437). Channel description: Sport and sports stuff from around the world

Thursday 4th

• CGTN and CGTN HD (509/891) was removed from the EPG.

Friday 12th

• Sky Must See Movies​ (302)​ renames to SkyHarryPotter / HarryPotterHD​. All aboard for a trip to the Wizarding World.​

Thursday 18th

• Celebration TV (598) closes in ROI only

Monday 22nd

• NTD launches to EPG (190). NTD brings you a completely fresh approach to up-to-date independent news and general entertainment with content to thrill, excite, and entertain the entire family.
  

Tuesday 23rd

• Sky Sports NFL (407/861) renames to SkySp Action / SkySp ActionHD​. Enjoy a huge range of sports including NFL, NBA, international and domestic rugby, darts, boxing and more. Upgrade today by pressing red or go to sky.com.​
• Deen TV launches to EPG (783). Deen TV serves the Bangladeshi community with a British Bengali heritage with a mix of current affairs, entertainment, and drama. ​

Sunday 28th

• Sky Harry Potter (302) renames to Sky Musicals/SkyMusicalsHD. We give up the stage - and an entire channel - for a selection of Hollywood's best-loved song'n'dance extravaganzas.​

[Ev71]

Looking at their EPG for the week, it's all Car Racing, Dish Lickers and that popular sport of "Teleshopping".

[PATV+Scunthorpe]

CGTN (509) has been removed due to their Ofcom license being revoked.

https://twitter.com/Ofcom/status/1357272000004292613

[TimmyBGood]

@PATV+Scunthorpe 

Our investigation  concluded that Star China Media Limited (SCML), the licence-holder for the CGTN service, did not have editorial responsibility for CGTN’s output. As such, SCML does not meet the legal requirement of having control over the licensed service, and so is not a lawful broadcast licensee.

In addition, we have been unable to grant an application to transfer the licence to an entity called China Global Television Network Corporation (CGTNC). This is because crucial information was missing from the application, and because we consider that CGTNC would be disqualified from holding a licence, as it is controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted.

Following careful consideration, taking account of all the facts and the broadcaster’s and audience’s rights to freedom of expression, we have decided it is appropriate to revoke the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK.

We expect to conclude separate sanctions proceedings against CGTN for due impartiality and fairness and privacy breaches shortly.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/ofcom-revokes-cgtn-licence-to-broadcas... 

[TimmyBGood]

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@PATV+Scunthorpe wrote:

CGTN (509) has been removed due to their Ofcom license being revoked.

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I have a feeling 'our man in Beijing' (who is currently Her Excellency Caroline Wilson) will shortly be getting an invitation to Zhongnanhai for a conversation which will later be described as 'difficult' ; )

[smurph69]

Guess viewers in Ireland will not missed CGTN, since it was removed in January following the Brexit transition, now it's removed in the UK this month for their broadcasting license in the UK revoked. Looking at the Kremlin-backed RT...

[TimmyBGood]

@smurph69 

I believe RT actually plays the game and has an ownership structure that is at least nominally independent and doesn't go directly back to the dominant political party: the Chinese appear to have thought this wasn't necessary.

[Anonymous]

Lifetime is closing on all platforms on 28/02 or 01/03:
https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertainment/broadcasting/news/exclusive-lifetime-channel-to-close-in-u...

[Anonymous]

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@Chloe-W22 wrote:

[...]

Monday 22nd

• NTD launches to EPG (190). NTD brings you a completely fresh approach to up-to-date independent news and general entertainment with content to thrill, excite, and entertain the entire family.
  

[...]

 Why is Court TV and NTD in the Entertainment section? Should they not be in the News section?

[Annie+UK]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Chloe-W22 wrote:

[...]

Monday 22nd

• NTD launches to EPG (190). NTD brings you a completely fresh approach to up-to-date independent news and general entertainment with content to thrill, excite, and entertain the entire family.
  

[...]

 Why is Court TV and NTD in the Entertainment section? Should they not be in the News section?

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Just because news is part of a channels content does not mean it should be in the news section

[SDR]

NTD

The Epoch Times is a far-right^[12] international multi-language newspaper and media company affiliated with the Falun Gong new religious movement, based in Midtown Manhattan.^[17] The newspaper is part of the Epoch Media Group, which also operates New Tang Dynasty (NTD) Television.^[18] The Epoch Times has websites accessible from 35 countries^[19] but is blocked in mainland China.^[19]

^{how long can it stay out of ofcom's reach I wonder}