GB News is receivable across a wider area of Europe following satellite switch. The HD channel can now be watched in places including the south of Spain and Italy via satellite.
- Free-to-air news & opinion channel moves to Astra 2G.
- Sky and Freesat boxes received an update to retune to new slot.
- Easily accessible on 60cm dishes across most of Europe.
News & opinion channel GB News has completed a satellite change, with Sky boxes having received an update on Wednesday morning. The Freesat channel guide was updated on Monday to point receivers to new copy of the channel.
Since launch, GB News had broadcast via the Astra 2F satellite. The signal from the satellite supplied both Sky and Freesat boxes. Last week, a new copy of the channel launched via the Astra 2G satellite, which is stationed in orbit next to 2F. Following the migration of Sky and Freesat viewers across to the new Astra 2G signal, the channel now enjoys a large overspill across continental Europe.
What’s changed?
Previously, GB News was broadcast on the Astra 2F satellite. The transponder it was broadcast on utilised the satellite’s UK spotbeam. This meant its coverage area consisted of north-western Europe, including the British Isles, as shown below.
Now GB News broadcasts on the Astra 2G satellite. Its coverage area now encompasses most of the continent and beyond.
For example, UK migrants & retirees living in the south of Spain can now watch the channel via a normal domestic-sized 75cm dish. Other parts of Europe can now receive through a 60cm dish pointing at Astra 2G 28.2°E)
The migration of all main UK channels to the spotbeam during 2012/13 resulted in many viewers in mainland Spain, plus the Canaries and beyond losing access to UK channels via satellite unless they upgraded. In some cases, dish sizes in excess of 2.5 metres are needed to restore services. That’s not practical for every viewer.
The downside for UK viewers is if they use a smaller Sky zone 1 dish in parts of northern and western Britain. The GB News signal may be more prone to fade in heavy rain. Affected viewers may wish to consider an upgrade to a zone 2 dish (60cm).
Tuning parameters
Satellite: Astra 2G (28.2°E) Frequency: 11671 Polarisation: Horizontal Symbol Rate: 23000 FEC: 2/3 Mode: DVB-S2 Service ID: 50241 Label: GB News HD
Sky Mix reduces coverage
Meanwhile, Sky has finally removed Sky Mix SD, the channel formerly known as Pick. The channel was replaced by an HD version last month. The SD version was briefly removed, but then restored in late October, although it was no longer listed on either Sky or Freesat channel lists.
The change means Sky Mix is no longer easily receivable across many parts of continental Europe. Effectively Sky Mix has done the opposite of GB News in terms of coverage.
[Satellite footprint images: Eutelsat. (Although SES operate the satellite)]