The original Sky Sports Active service has ended, as the broadcaster takes further steps to reduce support for older receivers.
- Follows the launch of broadband-delivered Sky Sports+ red button streams.
- Sky has been gradually closing interactive apps from Sky+HD boxes at the same time as ending support for older SD boxes.
Sky has removed Sports Active streams from satellite, 25 years after the service was launched as internet delivery of extra sports takes over.
The mass switch-off came on Monday, when the broadcaster removed multiple Sports Active streams from one of its transponders (Astra 2E, tp 19, 12070 H), as part of a wider technical change to its platform taking place this year.
Sky Sports Active was launched in April 1999. The launch saw coverage of Arsenal v Manchester United exclusively available via the red button on Sky Sports 1. The service was also used to offer multiple coverage options of the same sports event.
However in recent years, the Sky Sports Active brand had been allowed to fade away. For users of Sky+HD boxes, the red button option was deployed less frequently, or not at all for some sports coverage. Sky Q users were quietly migrated away to online streams. But the closure of the remaining part of Sky Sports Active isn’t the end of the red button option.
The replacement…
Last month, Sky launched the replacement to Sky Sports Active: Sky Sports+, a combination of a live broadcast channel and online pop-up streams that can offer live coverage of multiple concurrent events. The Sky Sports+ service is available on Sky Q, Sky Glass/Stream, Virgin Media and NOW.
Behind the glossy launch was a drive to switch TV delivery from satellite to broadband. As a result, anyone following the red button prompt on Sky Q is now directed to an internet stream. By launching Sky Sports+, Sky effectively tidied up the branding of its existing internet-delivered red button sports service.
Technically, Sky is now able to offer customers live coverage of up to 100 concurrent events. Just like Sky Sports Active, Sky Sports+ can technically provide different camera or commentary options, if offered by Sky.
For users of older Sky+HD boxes, an extremely limited service that includes streams covering Greyhound racing remains for now.
▶ What it means for current Sky TV customers
What’s the difference?
| Name of service | How it works… | Supported by… |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports Active* | Red button streams transmitted via satellite. | Sky+HD |
| Sky Sports + | Red button streams delivered via your internet connection. | Sky Q, Sky Glass, Sky Stream |
Do you need to take action?
- Sky Q users aren’t affected, but do need a reliable broadband internet connection to use the Sky Sports+ streams.
- Sky Glass and Sky Stream users aren’t affected. These are streaming-only platforms and never had access to satellite-based services.
- If you have a Sky+HD or Sky HD box, you’ll need to upgrade to either Sky Q (hybrid satellite-broadband internet) or switch to Sky Stream (broadband internet TV). This will allow you to continue accessing the full range of extra sports coverage from Sky. An extremely limited residual service including Greyhound racing continues via satellite for now. Importantly, your Sky Sports subscription will remain the same price, even if you can’t receive some of the live coverage now it’s transferred to internet delivery.
Meanwhile, the development follows moves by Sky to kill off first generation boxes this year. Unlike those boxes, second generation Sky HD and Sky+HD receivers can continue to access live satellite TV channels, if not much else.
By: Marc Thornham | Updated 04/09/2024 11:39 to add footnote to table ‘what’s the difference’ and to clarify ‘limited residual service’.