If you are still using an old grey Sky digibox, that is only able to show SD channels, then you will need to read this.

By now, if you are viewing BBC channels in SD, you will have seen the large banner across the bottom half of the screen informing you that the BBC SD channels are closing on satellite. To continue to watch the BBC channels after the 8th January 2024 you will need to upgrade your SD Sky Digibox to a HD compatible satellite receiver (Freesat HD, Sky HD, Sky+HD or SkyQ).

Now it appears that in early 2024, Sky will be following the BBCs lead and making some SD changes and closures.

It is being reported that Sky will be closing down any channel that has a HD version as standard. This appears to stem from a post on the Sky Community website by a Sky Employee that reads

Some SD channels that are available to our customers in HD as standard will be closing. Customers with Sky+HD and Sky Q already get these channels in HD at the top of the TV Guide so will not need to take any action.

For example, this could mean that the 4 or so Sky Cinema channels, that are still transmitted in SD, yet available in HD at no extra charge for Sky Cinema subscribers, could close.

Also, Sky will start to change their transmission format from DVS-S to the more efficient DVB-S2. This change means that more channels can be placed onto a single frequency. This means that the Sky SD-only digiboxes will not able to receive channels in the updated format. Again, Sky customers will need to upgrade your SD Sky Digibox to a HD compatible satellite receiver (Sky HD, Sky+HD or SkyQ) to continue to watch your Sky pay channels.

This does not mean the affected Sky pay channels in SD will be closed down, as they will still be available in box SD and HD. It is just that users of old grey Sky and Sky+ digiboxes will not be able to access these Sky pay channels.

Sky HD , Sky+HD and Sky Q are unaffected and SD channels will continue to be available on these boxes.