I was rather expecting the four Red Button channels to appear in the Sky EPG today but they haven't on my box.

As per http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/abouttheb...-Button-summer they are expected to appear on 977,978,979 & 980 - but the key phrase is "subject to commercial agreement".

I know BBC RB 303 HD is up and running on Freeview HD - first program was tennis from Queen's at 11am today, and there are reports in the Freesat forum that they have appeared there.

Anyone got any inside info on how the negotiations are going?

All four were added to VirginMedia and Freesat - and as many as possible in the Freeview regions.

First programme on HD is in one minute - as I type - so it looks as if the commercial agreement as not been resolved.

UPDATE: Looks as if they have dropped HD programmes for today or are just running late - which happens a lot on the RBs.

On Freeview HD I see that BBC RB 303 HD has gone back to their new showreel - I guess they've given up on the tennis due to the weather. Next scheduled program is World Athletics from 19:00.

Murray is currently playing and BBC2HD has just left for the night - pointing to the RB service.

It does say "subject to commercial agreement" for it launching on sky.

The EPG on all platforms lists tennis at 5.45pm - but it didn't start on HD - only RB1.

It is only the Sky EPG that it is not in.

...can't upset Eggheads fans (and I bet it's a repeat!!).

No wonder the BBC lose sports to other channels.

Thanks - it's on 301 in SD. Funny how 303 isn't showing it in HD. I'm actually following the cricket, so he's going to have to get through the first round without me

edit: apologies for talking Freeview in the Sky forum!

Well I am watching the Murray match via the red button and it is either superb SD or BBCs Average HD.

I would have expected the red button HD to be available through the red button all it offered on that was Spring Watch, both on freeview and the Sky platform

Given the current stand-off regarding retransmission fees, I would not be surprised if these new red button services became just another casualty of the bad feeling that has been developing between Sky and the BBC..

Only a few weeks ago the BBC was reportedly threatening to charge Sky to carry its channels unless it dropped these fees! Sky on its part seems to think that last year's reduction of 40% with the promise of a further 27% in 2014 should be good enough.

The new DG seems to have emboldened the Beeb and with the culture minister now on their side they appear to have the bit firmly between their teeth:

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...056636.article

While I cannot see them actually carrying out the threat to withdraw channels, the Red Button services are another matter.

Amazing how they can work together for the olympics but soon as thats finished lets continue the bad blood, both sides need to sort themselves out.

Your rather patronising statement is both naive and ill-informed.

The BBC had stated that they wanted people to be able to record these broadcasts on their PVRs. They cannot do that by accessing them on Sky via the 'red button', so intended them to appear on the EPG for that purpose.

Sky Response

So not going to be any Confederations cup in hd,

Do you have a source for that?

I think it may be a clever negotiating move by the BBC as part of their ongoing argument/negotiations regarding the Sky EPG charges. The BBC would find it hard to get into a situation where any of the main channels got removed from the Sky EPG- unless handled very carefully they'd probably have a bigger PR problem from it than Sky would - but these red button channels can be used as a lever against Sky - if Sky don't agree to the BBC's new demands, then no red button channels which makes Sky's platform look less attractive for sport relative to Virgin, Freesat and even Freeview - and sport is one of Sky's key drivers. The BBC are probably hoping that enough of us complain to Sky that we aren't getting the red Button sports channels. Sky will try to deflect the blame onto the BBC - but if enough people blame Sky then they might be forced to realise that the BBC enhances their platform and should not be having to pay for its EPG entries.

As for the "bad blood, both sides need to sort themselves out" suggestion, I think that is confusing a Corporation and a PLC for individual human beings. Sky exists to maximise profits for its shareholders, and the BBC reports to the BBC Trust which generally means acting in the best interests of licence fee payers. You can see why Sky want the BBC to pay for all its EPG entries, and you can equally see why the BBC thinks it shouldn't, since the presence of their channels significantly enhances Sky's TV offering. Due to the Newscorp links I can't see the politicians wanting to get themselves or Ofcom involved in this, so the BBC is probably going to have to do this on their own.

Sky's twitter feed response to a question posed by someone

https://sky.response.lithium.com/por...rsation/687615

Have they started using the HD red button service yet? Are Sky viewers missing anything?

On my Freeview HD TV the HD red button is just showing a preview loop.

I'm using the BBC Sport app on my LG TV to watch the Murray match in HD, rather than in SD on BBC Three.

The BBC HD red button is being used right now for Fifa confederations cup Brazil v Japan and all next week too for the other games.

I completely forgot that existed on my Apps, thanks for that!

Luckily for me, and I'm sure for alot of others, I've got Freeview build into my TV and I do have Sky, so as the streams are not at present available on Sky I'm able to the Football in HD via the live streams.
Ian.

And was used all day today for the MotoGP practise and quali sessions.

This needs sorting by sky watching this now in crappy SD vision.

It's the BBC we need to pressure. License payers shouldn't be punished by their re-transmission fee row with Sky. If a compromise can't be reached then the matter should go to arbitration. In the meantime don't hold content hostage; especially sports content on the UK'S largest pay tv service.

Go on the BBC sport app on ps3 HD on there sod sky.