The halfway point of 2024 ushers in a flurry of channel closures on the satellite TV platform, as a number of broadcasters review their portfolios.
- Sky reshuffles music section
- Channel 4 cuts back on SD service that hardly anyone is using
Sky satellite viewers will have fewer channels on their channel list going forward, with nine channels going and just one new channel launching.
Sky has also become the second platform operator after Virgin Media to confirm it will be reshuffling its music section, with the operators of NOW Music taking on the channel numbers previously used by The Box, 4 Music and co.
Sky satellite channels closing 28/06/2024 – 06/07/2024
- British Muslim TV – Sky channel 752 (28/06/2024)
- 4Music – Sky channel 354 (01/07/2024)
- The Box – Sky channel 355 (01/07/2024)
- KISS – Sky channel 356 (01/07/2024)
- Magic – Sky channel 357 (01/07/2024)
- Kerrang! – Sky channel 358 (01/07/2024)
- Dunya TV – Sky channel 754 (01/07/2024)
- Inspiration – Sky channel 584 (01/07/2024)
- DAZN 1 – Sky channel 429 (06/07/2024)
Channels being replaced or rebranded
- That’s 60s becomes That’s Memories – Sky channel 360
Channels moving to new channel numbers on 1st July
- Clubland moves from 364 to 354
- NOW 70s moves from 361 to 355
- NOW 80s moves from 362 to 356
- NOW ROCK moves from 363 to 358
One new channel…
NOW 90s and 00s launches on channel 357 on Wednesday 3rd July.
Channel 4 cuts SD regions
Following the closure a numerous channels on older SD boxes, there’s practically no-one left viewing the SD versions of remaining main channels.
Channel 4 will close its regional SD channels on Monday 1st July, which are solely used for localised adverts, meaning there will be just one version of Channel 4 SD going forward – the London version. The move paves the way for Channel 4 to save on satellite capacity it requires to broadcast all of its services.
Sky+HD and Sky Q users won’t notice any change – Channel 4 HD continues to be regionalised on 104 (108 in Wales).
In the Republic of Ireland, Channel 4 will be HD only on Sky Ireland channel 135.
By: Marc Thornham