[Keith]

So the EPG will be ordered according to popularity? So we're going to see even more of a mess of a channel list than we do currently.
[[SNIP]]
I think they have missed an opportunity to create a proper EPG that caters for all the existing channels, leaves them room to expand if they choose to, and puts all broadcasters channels together for ease of navigation. The only real positive I can see from this so far is that +1's now have their own section, as do the shopping channels.

I'd broadly agree that one positive from this change is moving the timeshift channels away to a separate section. I do think that it's a pity they didn't allocate a section for Sport or Movies due to industry pressure, especially as a movies section already exists on Freesat.

I am sceptical about the channels being 'ordered according to popularity'. I think it depends a lot on how often this resulted in channels being reordered, due to a new popularity. If it's roughly once or twice a year (not counting additions and removals) then I don't think it would be too much of a hassle. However, if it's every other month then that would likely be detrimental to viewers.

So set top boxes will come. satellite support will come eventually but will launch as a hybrid DTT/Internet service. rxtvinfo.com 

www.cordbusters.co.uk 

It's interesting to note the article talking about Freely being designed to ensure "backwards and forward compatibility", with mentions that if not connected to the internet it would provide a Freeview/Freesat service.

With this in mind I think there's probably a case for them to restructure the existing Freeview and Freesat channel numbers, especially considering that they're all (now) owned by the same company. The only possible slight difference might have to be channels 1 to 5, where on Freeview they'd probably still need to be the SD version (as not all devices support HD), with HD versions in another position.

This way there wouldn't be a difference if the Freely device was operating in 'Freeview/Freesat mode' without the internet connection. It would also simply the TV guides slightly, by having fewer different channels numbers listed.