Previously published data for the optical band gap (E,) of thin film CdSxTe1-x has been reviewed and combined in a meta-analysis to provide a new set of parameters for the bowing equation E-g(x) = E-0 + (E-1 - E-0 b)x + bx(2). A non-linear least squares fit to 125 data points from nine publications gave EO 1.54 +/- 0.01 eV, E-1 = 2.36 +/- 0.02eV and b = 1.88 +/- 0.07eV. Analysis was based only on published data for thin films grown by physical vapour deposition, and no statistically significant dependence on the nature of the deposition source was observed. The results are compared to published data for screen-printed CdS/CdTc layers. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.