Ongoing technical changes to the way remaining standard definition channels are broadcast on satellite continues, affecting Sky viewers in the UK and Ireland.
- 19 channels removed from older Sky boxes.
- Sky SD boxes no longer supported after 31st August.
- Follows changes to Freesat yesterday.
Two satellite transponders carrying groups of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD)-owned channels have this morning converted to DVB-S2.
The technical change mirrors recent adjustments Sky has been making to its own portfolio of channels.
It means older, pre-HD Sky boxes have lost up to 19 standard definition (SD) channels in one go. They consist of a mix of free and pay TV channels, including Discovery Turbo, Quest and DMAX.
Many of the pay TV channels, including Discovery Channel are being kept available in SD to maintain Sky’s current policy of charging extra for HD channels in the entertainment/factual genres.
But in a change in policy for Sky, only users with HD receivers (Sky+HD, SkyQ) will actually have the choice between paying more for HD or receiving channels in SD only. Older SD-only boxes (first generation Sky receivers) don’t support the newer DVB-S2 broadcast standard.
As reported yesterday, Sky has confirmed that delivery of Sky channels to older SD boxes will cease by 31st August. Until then, affected viewers will gradually lose channels. Unlike recent changes to sports and cinema channels, Sky will continue billing entertainment channel subscribers, even though they’ve lost channels.
Ahead of the technical changes, Freesat disabled access to Quest, Quest Red, DMAX, Food Network across its older receiver stock on Monday.
Technical details
The affected transponders that have transferred to DVB-S2 are: Astra 2G transponder 62 (11038 V) and Astra 2E transponder 35 (12383H).
The symbol rate on transponder 35 has changed from 22000 to 23000. The symbol rate on transponder 35 has changed from 27500 to 29500. The FEC has changed on both transponders to 2/3.
This affects the following UK and any applicable Irish versions of the following SD channels: DMAX, DMAX+1, Food Network, Food Network+1, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Animal Planet+1, Discovery Science, Discovery History, Discovery History +1, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Turbo+1, Quest, Quest+1, Quest Red, Quest Red+1, TLC, TLC+1 Investigation Discovery. Additionally HGTV Ireland is affected, but not HGTV UK.
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By: Marc Thornham | Image: RXTV composite/WBD