A few weeks ago, ITV revealed plans to shut down its remaining standard definition (SD) channels on satellite in October, but an exact date wasn’t provided.

Now, Sky has confirmed that satellite viewers will lose access to ITV1 SD and ITV2 SD on Thursday, 3rd October 2024.

Starting from that date, ITV channels will be available exclusively in HD on satellite, following the BBC’s transition to HD nearly nine months earlier. All ITV HD channels will remain free-to-air, ensuring that viewers can continue enjoying their favorite programs in high definition.

The closure aligns with Sky’s discontinuation of support for its oldest satellite receivers. However, even viewers using Sky Q and Sky+HD boxes will lose access to the ITV SD channels, which are currently located on channels 803 and 816 in the channel list.

What does this mean for you?

The closure aligns with Sky’s discontinuation of support for its oldest satellite receivers. However, even viewers using Sky Q and Sky+HD boxes will lose access to the ITV SD channels, which are currently located on channels 803 and 816 in the channel list.

From Thursday, 3rd October 2024, households with an SD-only satellite set-top box will need to upgrade to a High Definition (HD) satellite receiver to continue to watch ITV1. ITV1 and ITV2 nationally will no longer be available in SD on satellite.

With all Sky customers transitioning to HD boxes, this change is expected to impact a very small group of viewers—specifically non-Sky customers with older SD-only set-top boxes, representing at most around 1% of all satellite households.

However, if you are watching ITV in SD because you are unable to receive the ITV HD signals, then you will need to upgrade your satellite dish to a larger satellite dish to enable reception of the ITV HD signals. For example, if you are watching ITV in SD on Freesat channel 111, or Sky channel 803, then you will lose access to ITV in October.

In my service area, a 125x135cm satellite dish will receive all ITV HD channels apart from in very heavy rains. The smaller 110x120cm satellite dish should just about receive the ITV HD channels. Users with smaller satellite dishes will struggle and may need to upgrade to a larger satellite dish.

Generally, if you can receiver BBC HD channels, then you should be able to receive ITV HD channels.

You may have to change the ITV HD region you are using (easily done on Freesat boxes by changing the postcode), to receive a “stronger” ITV HD signal.