Customers who still have an older subscription and use a non-HD box will have their subscriptions cancelled in October.
- Withdrawal of Sky’s own channels from SD boxes this month leaves receivers with access to very few channels.
- Sky continues to urge affected viewers to make the switch to Sky Q or Sky Stream.
Sky has confirmed that anyone still using an older box will have their subscriptions cancelled in a final step to discontinue any support for its first generation receivers.
As previously reported, Sky began to withdraw channels from older boxes this summer. Then Sky confirmed it would discontinue all of its own channels from SD boxes by the end of August.
This leaves older boxes only able to access a small selection of non-Sky owned subscriptions channels, like Comedy Central (Paramount), Cartoon Network (WBD), GOLD (UKTV) and a small number of free-to-air channels. Sky will now cancel all remaining legacy subscriptions. Anyone who doesn’t upgrade in time will lose access to any remaining channels on their October billing date.
Affected users (list of receivers below) can still apply for a free upgrade to Sky Q, which will be installed by Sky’s engineers on a day that suits the customer. Alternatively, Sky is also offering the option to switch to its internet-delivered Sky Stream service. Sky has been appealing to viewers to upgrade since confirming the closure of services to SD boxes earlier this year.
Earlier this year, Sky already cancelled legacy Sky Cinema and Sky Sports subscriptions for users with older boxes as it turned of SD copies of its channels. Entertainment channels continue to be available in both SD and – for an extra fee – in HD, but only on newer boxes.
Following the cancellation of legacy subscriptions, Sky will be able to fully discontinue its SD Electronic Programme Guide, finally making the receivers obsolete.
▶Timeline: lead up to the change
Late 2022
BBC announces timeframe to close SD channels on satellite
The BBC confirms it will make all of its channels available in HD and remove regional services in SD in early 2023. Remaining SD channels would follow later.
January 2024
First major SD channels close
The BBC closes its SD service on satellite. ITV joins in by removing a number of its regional ITV1 stations and sister channels.
Spring/Summer 2024
Sky begins migration
Sky closes SD versions of its Cinema and Sports channels, but migrates SD copies of its entertainment channels to DVB-S2 transponders. This allows Sky to continue offering an HD add-on fee for some channels, but older receivers begin to lose channels. The migration of entertainment channels is due to complete August.
Sky also migrates Ireland’s main channels to HD-only.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 begins to close some of its SD services.
▶ Affected boxes
If your satellite user interface looks like the one pictured above, it’s likely you are affected and have already lost channels.
First generation ‘Digibox‘
- 4F01 to 4F08 (Amstrad)
- 4E01 to 4E05 (Grundig)
- 9F01 to 9F08 and 9F0A (Pace)
- 0F01 to 0F05 (Panasonic)
- 4E06 to 4E08 (Thomson)
Sky+ (first gen)
- 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)
Sky is advising affected users to call 0333 759 5121 (UK) or 0818 500 068 (ROI) to arrange an upgrade. Doing nothing will result in the service being cancelled, with no penalties due.
Sky+HD boxes are not affected, although support for enhanced interactive services has ended. Sky Q is the default Sky satellite receiver and is expected to remain the default receiver until Sky confirms a full migration to streaming.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Sky