ITV channels will disappear from some Sky boxes next month as part of a major shake-up to satellite broadcasting.
Fortunately the vast majority of households will be unaffected but those who are will have to upgrade to continue receiving ITV1 and ITV2.
ITV is switching off the SD (standard definition) feeds on satellite of its two most popular channels in October.
Instead, the company’s broadcasts on satellite will only be available in HD.
Several older boxes from Sky and Freesat aren’t equipped to deal with HD channels, meaning ITV’s channels will effectively disappear.
The move is part of a wider shift to HD-only, with the BBC already switching off its SD satellite channels.
ITV has already done the same for ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe but next month ITV1 and ITV2 will join them.
The changes only impact satellite, so Freeview and Virgin Media services will continue as normal.
It also coincides with Sky’s own SD channels ending and customers being told their subscription will end next month unless they upgrade to Sky Q.
ITV says only one per cent of satellite set-top boxes are SD only.
Dated boxes in Scotland will also lose STV as a result.
“Here at ITV, we have completed our upgrade to all-HD on satellite for ITV1, bringing the best picture quality to all satellite viewers,” the company said.
“From October 2024, households with an SD-only satellite set-top box will need to upgrade to a High Definition (HD) satellite receiver to continue to watch ITV1.
“ITV1 and ITV2 nationally will no longer be available in SD on satellite.”
A help scheme led by the BBC that provided people with vouchers towards an upgrade ended in the spring.
Here is a full list of the Sky box models that will lose ITV1 and ITV2 soon:
Digibox
Sky+
If you’re unsure what your model is, follow these steps to find out:
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Fear not – your favourite channels aren’t shutting down, it’s just the standard definition versions.
And about time too.
HD TVs are commonplace now – those who aren’t watching via HD are missing out on a far superior viewing experience.
Ending SD broadcasts via satellite frees up satellite capacity, which costs companies money to run and ultimately falls on all customers to pay towards – it’s hard to justify this cost when so few are still using them.
Remember, this only affects satellite for now.
SD broadcasts of other channels will still be available on Freeview for the foreseeable future.
And if you’re a Sky customer, you can contact the firm for a Sky Q upgrade at no extra cost.
