As we previously posted back in November 2023, ( HERE ) Sky have announced that some of their Standard Definition (SD) channels will be closing down in the next few weeks.

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Sky Cinema SD Channels

The SD versions of Sky Cinema Premiere, Sky Cinema Greats, Sky Cinema Family, Sky Cinema Action will all close and cease transmission on Wednesday 29th May 2024.

This is not unexpected for these channels, as all Sky Cinema channels are already available in HD as standard, and have been for many months.

And if people have been watching and subscribing to just these four Sky Cinema channels, as they are viewing them on an old SD Sky Digibox, then they have been paying full price for half of the channels. So makes sense to close down the SD versions and make these Sky Cinema channels available exclusively HD

So the only way to continue to watch Sky Cinema channels via satellite is in HD, on a Sky HD, Sky+HD or SkyQ box.

Subscribers to these SD channels that will close will have their subscriptions automatically cancelled unless they upgrade to an HD box.

Sky Sports SD Channels

It appears that Sky will be closing down the satellite versions of their Sky Sports SD channels on Wednesday 29th May 2024 also. Again, Sky Sports channels have been offered in HD as standard for many months already. So if you are watching Sky Sports in SD on an old SD digibox, then you will lose access to these channels (as per the on screen message that has been flashing up on the screen for the last few weeks).
Note that these changes will be for UK customers only, the Sky Sports SD channel closures do not affect users in the Republic of Ireland.

Sky Sports Main Event SD (Satellite 401/859) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 401 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Premier League SD (Satellite 402/860) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 402 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Football SD (Satellite 403/861) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 403 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Cricket SD (Satellite 404/862) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 404 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Golf SD (Satellite 405/863) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 405 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports F1 SD (Satellite 406/864) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 406 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Action SD (Satellite 408/865) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 408 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports News SD (Satellite 409/866) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 409 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Arena SD (Satellite 412/867) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 412 – no changes to ROI
Sky Sports Mix SD (Satellite 416/873) closes permanently in the UK only – HD remains at 416 – no changes to ROI

Also, ​MUTV SD will also close permanently – HD remains at 418

Again, subscribers to these SD channels that will close will have their subscriptions automatically cancelled unless they upgrade to an HD box.

IMPORTANT NOTE : It is not enough to relocate your Sky viewing card from your SD Digibox a Sky HD digibox. The card MUST be paired to the new HD box. If you do not perform this pairing, then you will still not be able to view the Sky Cinema and Sky Sports channels, and Sky will still cancel your subscription as you have not informed them of your move from SD to HD.

Why these changes?

These changes are in conjunction with the change from DVBS to DVBS2 broadcast standard. DVBS2 is only available on HD boxes. This is part of an industry wide move to reduce satellite capacity (and thus costs) as much as possible, by moving channels onto the more efficient DVBS2 format, and close and SD channels where there are HD channels available as standard.

For more information about these changes, please view the video below:

Click to view video