BBC controversies about the Director General's decision'. The BBC's chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, affirmed the need to broadcast "without affecting and impinging on the audience's perception of our impartiality" and that in this case, it was a "real issue." The 2009 Gaza appeal is the only occasion on which the BBC is known to have refused an appeal broadcast request from the DEC. It is reported the 2009 DEC Gaza appeal screened only by Channel 4 and ITV raised £8.3m. In August 2014 the BBC broadcast a new DEC aid appeal for people in Gaza, without similar controversy, which raised £16m
Sky Arts Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, switching to Sky Arts 1 from 7pm onwards on those days. On 2 March 2009, Sky Arts HD was split into two channels. Sky Arts 1 HD then broadcast from 7pm to 2am daily, and Sky Arts 2 HD from 8am to 7pm. The standard definition channels continued to broadcast a full schedule from 8am to 2am. Sky Arts 1 HD also broadcast a further hour of HD-only programming called 'Aquariavision' intended to be recorded by Sky+ HD owners. As of June 2009, both Sky Arts 1 and 2 HD broadcast full-time between 6am and 2am.