Ahead of Sky finally withdrawing support for older ‘digiboxes’, various free-to-air broadcasters are making changes that could affect all satellite viewers.
- Changes affecting ITV, Channel 4, S4C and STV
- May also affect users of newer satellite receivers
- Keep your receiver connected to receive all available updates
This month sees a flurry of activity as various broadcasters make changes to how their channels are carried on satellite.
While older SD boxes, including the original Sky Digital ‘digiboxes’ will permanently lose more channels, even users of newer HD receivers, including Sky Q and Freesat HD boxes may temporarily lose services.
The changes relate to ITV, STV, Channel 4 and S4C’s signals on satellite. Some channels are moving to new frequencies and some services switching to the newer DVB-S2 standard (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite 2nd generation).
Most HD satellite receivers should access updates sent out by Sky and Freesat and adjust automatically. Updates include changes to the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). The EPG includes instructions to the receiver to tune to a particular frequency to access any given channel.
But RXTV has heard reports that some receivers have missed an update. This may result in the loss of channels. Users who manually tune in services (for example to access a different ITV region) may also lose services.
ITV has confirmed that changes to its satellite services will complete in October. S4C completed changes last week. STV and Channel 4 changes are ongoing.
What to do if you’re missing channels?
- Ensure your HD satellite receiver remains plugged in to receive over-the-air updates.
- A reboot will normally restore access to channels. Freesat boxes also have the option to complete a rescan/retune.
- If this fails, it may indicate a different problem, unrelated to the changes described here. If you’re a Sky subscriber, please contact Sky. If you use Freesat, please contact a local satellite installer/specialist.
What changes are broadcasters currently doing?
ITV is currently in the process of migrating some of its HD channels to other satellite transponders. The changes comes ahead of it switching off SD channels next month.
- Latest ITV satellite manual tuning frequencies. You’ll only need this information if you manually tune your satellite receiver to access another ITV region, or live in the Republic of Ireland, where ITV isn’t on the main channel list.
Channel 4 is currently reorganising the load on its satellite transponders. In the past week, it has begun the process of consolidating its portfolio of free-to-air SD channels on one transponder. Unlike the BBC and ITV, HD simulcasts of Channel 4’s offshoot services (like E4 and Film4) are behind a paywall, meaning Channel 4 has to maintain SD services for free-to-air viewers.
S4C‘s SD service was withdrawn from older Freesat and Sky SD boxes last week. The SD channel is now only receivable on HD (DVB-S2) compatible boxes.
The SD version of S4C is currently only listed on Sky+HD and Sky Q, where you can find it on 804 (Wales) or 829 (rest of UK). Anyone still able to watch S4C SD can access the HD channel on 104 (Wales), 134 (rest of UK). Freesat only lists the HD version of S4C.
STV is also making changes. It’s preparing to offer STV North HD on Freesat. Meanwhile, STV’s HD channel covering Glasgow and the West of Scotland is changing satellite transponder. And STV’s regional HD channel for the Edinburgh area, currently on Sky only, has recently also changed frequency.
By: Marc Thornham