Say Goodbye to These Sky Channels: Major Changes Coming This Week
More than a dozen Sky channels are expected to disappear on satellite this week as part of a major upgrade plan. Fortunately, it’s not the absolute end of these beloved stations – but some viewers may lose access if their box is too old.
Switching to HD: Sky’s Channel Upgrade
Sky is switching off the standard definition (SD) versions of its popular Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Cinema. Instead, they’ll be available in HD-only now. This move affects satellite broadcasts, but they’ll still be accessible in SD via Virgin Media.
The Shift to HD: A Growing Trend
BBC and ITV have already made the switch to HD earlier this year, as the UK transitions away from old quality and embraces HD as the new norm. Sky’s changes will see SD sport and movie channels go first, impacting viewers with outdated boxes.
Is Your Box Compatible? Check the List
Most people have a Sky Q or Sky+HD box, which should mean the impact is relatively low. However, if you’re still using an old Sky+ or Digibox, you’ll lose access to the channels entirely as these boxes aren’t capable of handling HD. Here are the affected Sky box models:
Digibox
– 4F01 to 4F08 (Amstrad)
– 4E01 to 4E05 (Grundig)
– 9F01 to 9F08 and 9F0A (Pace)
– 0F01 to 0F05 (Panasonic)
– 4E06 to 4E08 (Thomson)
Sky+
– 4F2001 to 4F2006 (Amstrad)
– 4F2101 to 4F2118 and 9F2101 to 9F2137 (Amstrad or Pace)
– 9F2001 to 9F2024, PVR2, 9F2201 to 9F2235, 9F2301 to 9F2339 (Pace)
– 4E2101 to 4E2141 (Thomson)
Free Upgrades Available: Embrace Sky Q
If you’re impacted by this change, you can get a free upgrade to Sky Q. According to RXTVInfo, the following SD channels will disappear from satellite on Wednesday:
- Sky Cinema Premiere
- Sky Cinema Greats
- Sky Cinema Family
- Sky Cinema Action
- Sky Sports Main Event
- Sky Sports Premier League
- Sky Sports Football
- Sky Sports Cricket
- Sky Sports Golf
- Sky Sports F1
- Sky Sports Action
- Sky Sports News
- Sky Sports Arena
- Sky Sports Mix
- MUTV
- Sky Sports Box Office
Why the Change? Understanding the Shift
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Senior Technology and Science Reporter at Central Recorder, explains the reason behind this switch to HD. HD TVs are now common, and ending SD broadcasts via satellite frees up capacity and reduces costs for companies. Remember, this change only affects satellite broadcasts for now, and SD broadcasts of other channels will still be available on Freeview.
Don’t miss out on the superior experience of HD – consider upgrading your equipment to stay connected to your favorite Sky channels.