ITV2HD ITV3HD and ITV4HD have been free to air on satellite for a few months now.

They were automatically swapped for the SD versions on Freesat boxes.

And also for Sky subscribers.

But those using SkyHD boxes with no subscribers, the swap from SD to HD for channels 118, 119 and 120 did not take place.

Until today.

Now those using SkyHD boxes with no subscription will, from today, have been allocated ITV2HD ITV3HD and ITV4HD on Sky channels 118, 119 and 120.

The SD channels have been moved to the “SD / HD/ swap secion, in the 800s, on channels 816, 817 & 818.

This will be useful for some in my service area, who are unable to receive the HD versions of these channels, due to location and dish size.

A well aligned 110x120cm satellite dish should just about get these HD channels perfectly fine (apart from in heavy rain).

A correctly aligned 125x135cm ( a “1.4m”) satellite dish should just about get these HD channels perfectly fine (apart from in heavy rain).

A correctly aligned 1.8m, 1.9m or 2.4m satellite dish should just about get these HD channels perfectly fine (apart from in heavy rain).

Users with smaller satellite dishes will struggle to get the HD versions, so will have to revert to using the SD versions on Sky channels 816, 817 & 818 – for however long they are kept available on satellite.