Sky’s satellite channel list, once brimming with the biggest selection of channels, continues to get smaller, highlighting technological changes to the way we consume TV.
- Additional channels are leaving Sky this week
- Broadcasters withdraw niche and simulcast channels.
- But nearly three years after Sky Glass launched, the closure channels is helping reduce the differences between Sky’s satellite and IP platforms.
Hot on the heels of nine channel closures at the beginning of the month, a further three channels leave Sky this week.
The number of services listed on Sky’s satellite channel list in the UK has continued to decline this year, with more channels leaving than joining.
The decline has been led by broadcasters finally deciding to close SD simulcasts of HD channels, but only once the number of affected households was thought to be lower than 2%.
Niche channels in the international, religion, music and adult sections have also closed down in bulk.
Although some new services have launched, a number have simply replaced existing channels, such as That’s Memories, which replaced That’s 60s. Zee Punjabi is the latest addition to the international section. However its addition was cancelled out by the closure of 92 News, also in the international section days later.
92 News will be followed by adult channel Get Lucky and Sukh Sagar Radio in departing Sky’s satellite line-up this week. There are now fewer than 10 adult channels remaining on Sky.
RXTV has complied a list of channels that have delisted from Sky (see below) with the withdrawal of SD simulcasts thinning out the 800-899 channel range considerably. The SD simulcast closures reflect the fact that almost every satellite household now uses an HD compatible receiver.
Convergence
However, the closure of channels has resulted in the gap between Sky satellite and Sky Glass/Stream’s channel list getting smaller.
Sky Glass/Stream never included HD/SD simulcasts, adult and religious channels. It’s also light on many niche channels, although some notable absences including Talking Pictures, remain.
Earlier in July, MUTV and LFCTV joined Sky Glass/Stream.
What’s behind the channel closures?
Channel closures can be group into four main categories:
- Standard definition (SD) simulcast closing. The BBC, ITV and Sky have withdrawn a number of SD simulcasts. This has resulted in a marked reduction in channels listed between 800-899 on the Sky channel list.
- Streaming transition. Channels like Tiny Pop and TalkTV have withdrawn from traditional broadcast platforms and continue as online streams only.
- Niche channels withdrawing from the market. A number of channels in the international, adult and shopping genres have ceased broadcasting altogether.
- Broadcaster withdrawing from a particular market. Viaplay Xtra and 4Music are examples of channels that have closed after their parent broadcaster have withdrawn from either a geographic or genre-based market.
Channels that have closed this year on Sky Satellite in the UK
The following list excludes channels that rebranded – e.g. Chart Show Dance to That’s Dance and excludes channels on-air for less than two weeks. This list contains confirmed closures up to 31st July 2024. TV channels only.
- 4Music */**
- 92 News
- BBC Alba SD
- BBC One SD
- BBC Two SD
- BBC Three SD
- BBC Four SD
- BBC News SD
- BBC Parliament SD
- BBC RB 1 SD
- BBC Scotland SD
- British Muslim TV
- Channel 4 SD regions
- DAZN 1 HD
- DAZN PPV HD
- Direct Store
- Dunya News
- EarthxTV **
- E! **/^
- Inspiration TV
- ITV1 Border Scotland, Channel Islands, Wales SD
- ITV3 SD
- ITV4 SD
- ITVBe SD
- Get Lucky
- JML Direct
- Kerrang! */**
- Kiss */**
- Magic */**
- MUTV SD
- RTÉ One SD (NI only)
- RTÉ Two SD (NI only)
- TalkTV */**
- The Box */**
- Tiny POP*/**
- Tiny POP+1 **
- TG4 SD (NI only)
- TJC SD
- Sky Cinema Action SD
- Sky Cinema Family SD
- Sky Cinema Greats SD
- Sky Cinema Premiere SD
- Sky Cinema Premiere+1
- Sky Intro SD
- Sky Sports Box Office SD
- Sky Sports Action SD
- Sky Sports Arena SD
- Sky Sports Cricket SD
- Sky Sports F1 SD
- Sky Sports Football SD
- Sky Sports Golf SD
- Sky Sports Main Event SD
- Sky Sports Premier League SD
- Sporty Stuff TV **
- STV Glasgow, Dundee SD
- UTV SD (NI only)
- Viaplay Xtra
- XXXPublicpikups
*Was also available on Sky Glass/Stream. **Also closed on non-satellite TV platforms. ^Closed at 23:59:59 31/12/2023, but removed from Sky EPG in 2024.
By: Marc Thornham | image: Sky
