BBC SD Channels CLOSED on satellite (Freesat and Sky) on 8th January 2024
You need to upgrade to a HD satellite receiver to continue to watch BBC channels post 8th January 2024.
In late 2022 the BBC announced plans to close their Standard Definition (SD) channels on satellite during 2023.
This will mean that the BBC channels will only be available in High Definition (HD) via satellite.
This page will keep you updated with the changes as they happen.
BBC SD Channels will CLOSE on satellite (Freesat and Sky) on 8th January 2024
You need to upgrade to a HD satellite receiver to continue to watch BBC channels post 8th January 2024.
How to add BBC SD channels to your Manhattan SX Freesat HD set top box
How to add BBC SD channels to your Humax Freesat HD set top box.
How to add BBC SD channels to your Freesat 4K set top box – and annoying non Freesat mode problems
BBC TV and Radio Channel Satellite Frequencies – up to date as at 13th March 2023
25 March 2024
BBC SD channels are removed from Freesat SD boxes. Tomorrow they will be removed from Sky SD digiboxes. Nothing special as they have not transmitted any content since January. Once removed, expect them to be removed from their satellite frequency soon after.
6 January 2024
BBC and ITV viewers on Freesat and Sky need to take note, as the era of Standard Definition (SD) broadcasting is coming to a close.
On the 8th and 9th of January 2024 a change on satellite tv will see the shutdown of all BBC channels on older SD-only boxes, along with three ITV SD channels.
8 January 2024
6 January 2024
Reminder of the closure of BBC SD channels on satellite on 8 January 2024
8 November 2023
Remaining BBC SD channels removed from Freesat HD channel list – more info here
16 October 2023
A new on screen caption is now appearing DURING programming on BBC SD channels to ensure awareness from the few people who are still using the BBC SD channels, that these BBC SD channels will soon be closing. The new caption being shown from today, shows the date that the BBC SD channels will be closing on satellite.
Click here to see the new caption and the date when the BBC SD channels will close on satellite.
5 September 2023
A new on screen caption is now appearing DURING programming on BBC SD channels to ensure awareness from the few people who are still using the BBC SD channels, that these BBC SD channels will soon be closing. More information here – New On Screen Caption on BBC SD Channels Announcing Channel Closure – Sept 2023
15 March 2023
BBC One South HD is still transmitting from a borrowed Sky frequency, which is very tricky to receive here in Spain. A well aligned 110x120cm satellite dish, with the correct LNB correctly aligned, should just about be able to receive this regions. If not then simply use an alternate BBC One HD region, up inthe 800s on Sky HD boxes, and in the 950s on the Freesat EPG.
5th March 2023
BBC SD channels and Radio are still transmitting, on a weaker frequency – 12422. But this past week, they have also appeared on an old BBC SD frequency 10803, which is easier to receive than 12422. Perhaps they will moved from 12422 to 10803 soon?
24 Feb 2023
From the amount of phone calls and emails I have been getting this past week, the following may help with the BBC HD changes:
1 check to make sure your receiver is HD. If an SD satellite receiver, like a “grey” Sky Digibox, then you will need to upgrade your receiver to a HD satellite receiver.
2 Sky HD, Sky+HD, Freesat HD and Freesat+HD set top boxes have all automatically updated with the new frequencies (but one or two Freesat boxes have needed a new Freesat scan to help kick them in!). No need to do anything to them.
3 Users of “non Sky or Freesat” satellite receivers have to perform a channel scan to get the BBC HD channels on their new frequencies
( see our Youtube Channel where we have “how to perform a channel rescan” for a number of receivers, like Strong, Ariva, Opticum)
4 if you are in my service area, then a well aligned 110x120cm satellite dish, with a good performing LNB, should be able to get all the UK TV channels in all but the heaviest of rains. Including the BBC HDs on their new frequencies.
5 if you are in my service area, and have at least a 110x120cm satellite dish, and are unable to get the BBC HD channels, then please get in contact and I shall arrange to assess your satellite system and upgrade or realign.
6 if you are in my service area, and have a satellite dish less than 110x120cm, then you will need to upgrade your satellite dish to a larger satellite dish to be able to receive a good and stable BBC HD satellite signal
23 Feb 2023
Remaining BBC radio stations have been moved from frequency 10803, to frequency 12422, to sit with the BBC SD “now non regional” channels. This 12422 frequency is tricky to receive on dishes smaller than 125x135cm in my service area, and may mean the loss of BBC radio via satellite for some people, before they move onto BBC HD frequencies.
Of course, now 10803 has been cleared, we could see all the SD TV channels and Radios move to 10803.. but then why move the radios off it, just to move them back on there..? Maybe 10803 will be reconfigured for HD, BBC One South HD, currently on a Sky owned transponder, moved there, along with the radio stations
22 Feb 2023
All SD to HD upgrades have been completed, with updates completed for Freesat and Sky users. There may still be a few frequency changes to come (like BBC One South HD which is currently on a Sky operated transponder and not a BBC transponder), but the majority of the work has been done.
Locally, I am seeing reports that some people in Torrevieja, using “1.4m” dishes are now struggling to receive the BBC HD channels, when they could receive them in the SD form. Yes the move from SD to HD has made the BBC frequencies slightly harder to receive, and may just mean that these people have a poor make of dish, a warped dish, a poor make of LNB, or the dish and or LNB are not correctly aligned. Hearing about the cowboys who put up many of these dishes years ago and who are now no longer around, its not surprising there are lots of people in contact with me to try and help them. Unfortunately I do not travel that far south!
In my service area, most people whom i have been to see over the last few weeks, their dishes are working fine, and they either needed their old SD Sky Digibox upgrading, or they needed help adding the new channels to their “free to air” receivers.
20 Feb 2023
BBC Parliament HD, BBC One NE&C HD, BBC One N West HD, BBC One Yorks HD, BBC Two Northern Ireland all launched and replaced their SD versions on Freesat this afternoon. These will be changed for Sky users tomorrow
16 Feb 2023
The next BBC frequency has been converted for HD channels – 10.773 H, 23.000, 3/4, DVB-S2, 8PSK. And is currently carrying transmissions for BBC Parliament HD, BBC One NE&C HD, BBC One N West HD, BBC One Yorks HD, BBC Two Northern Ireland in readiness for their launches on Freesat and Sky next week
13 Feb 2023
The next passe of BBC One regions to migrate from SD to HD has taken place for Freesat users. Sky users will have to wait a day or two for their migration. Details of regions affected today here
11 Feb 2023
Reports that there is a slight delay in the next batch of HD upgrades, affecting viewers of London, West, South West , Channel Islands and BBC Red Button – more details here.
9 Feb 2023
Frequency 10.788 V, that was cleared of SD channels yesterday, has now been converted to DVBS2 ( 10.788 V is now 23.000, 3/4, DVB-S2, 8PSK. ) to carry HD channels. And already a test for BBC Scotland HD is on there.
8 Feb 2023
Frequency 10.788 V now cleared of tv and radio stations, in readiness for HD conversion – further details here
6/7 Feb 2023
Next batch of changes, affecting BBC West Midlands, and BBC East Yorkshire and Humberside take place – further details here
2 Feb 2023
BBC One Yorkshire & Lincolnshire HD and BBC One W Mids HD have been set up on their frequencies ready for launch on the 6/7 Feb
30 Jan 2023:
Second batch of HD channels migrate to HD only on Freesat, Sky tomorrow – further details here
26 Jan 2023:
Frequency 10.818 V has today has its second BBC one HD region added. BBC One East HD. This afternoon BBC Two Wales HD, CBeebies HD / BBC Four HD, BBC Scotland HD have also been added.
25 Jan 2023:
Frequency 10.818 V has today been converted to 10.818 V 23000 DVB-S2 8PSK to carry HD channels. BBC One East Midlands HD currently on test there.
24 Jan 2023:
First BBC frequency – 10.818 V, 22.000, 5/6, DVB-S, QPSK – cleared of channels (BBC One South, BBC One Northern Ireland, BBC Two Northern Ireland) , and ready to be reconfigured for HD.
23 Jan 2023:
BBC have released a schedule of when regions will close on SD and be HD on channel 101 on Sky and Freesat boxes.
View the schedule here
Changes on Freesat are slightly different to changes on Sky.
And this has meant that on Freesat HD boxes BBC One South HD is now (like today 23rd Jan!) on Freesat 101, taking over from BBC One South SD, which has now closed. Freesat users with SD Freesat boxes are now directed to the “Nightlight” version of BBC One, which does not carry any regional programming. Sky boxes will get this change on Tuesday 24th January 2023.
Worth noting that the BBC One South HD channel is currently on a temporary frequency, a frequency which can be tricky to receive in some fringe reception areas, or on satellite dishes less than 110x120cm, or satellite dishes that are not well aligned. Reception should improve when the BBC One South HD channel moves onto its permanent frequency in the next few weeks.
Also,
– BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Two Northern Ireland SD versions have been closed and removed from channel lists
– BBC Two SD, BBC Three SD, CBBC SD and CBeebies SD moved to 12422 H. If using SD “free to air” receiver, and you still want these channels in SD, then you will have to rescan for them on their new frequency.
Todays (and tomorrows for Sky users) changes effectively clears frequency 10818 of channels, in readiness for its conversion to a HD frequency.
20 Jan 2023 :
First batch of BBC TV changes, affecting BBC South and BBC Northern Ireland viewers takes place on Tuesday 24th January 2023. More information.
18 Jan 2023 :
BBC One East W – 10.773 H, 22.000, 5/6, DVB-S, QPSK – no signal.
BBC One Oxford – 10.818 V, 22.000, 5/6, DVB-S, QPSK – no signal.
BBC One South West has moved from 10818 V DVB-S SR 22000 FEC 5/6 to 10773 H DVB-S SR 22000 FEC 5/6
Looks like 10818 V will be the first BBC frequency to be cleared and converted to DVB-S2 for HD, as all other channels on this frequency (BBC Three, CBBC, BBC News, BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Two Northern Ireland) are already available in HD.
17 Jan 2023 : BBC close two sub regions – Where has my BBC One Oxford and BBC One East West gone?
BBC One Oxford and BBC One East West were removed from Freesat on Monday 16th January 2023
BBC One Oxford and BBC One East West have removed from Sky (101 and 965 and 962) today, Tuesday 17th January 2023. Read more
Jan 2023 : BBC create one frequency that will carry SD channels only – 12422 H DVB-S SR 27500 FEC 2/3 – that will carry a generic versions of BBC1 and BBC2 (ie no local news), for those still using SD satellite receivers. This frequency will close by April 2024.
23 Nov 2022 : BBC to start switching off SD channels and go HD only
“The BBC have announced plans to close their Standard Definition (SD) channels on satellite during 2023.
This will mean that the BBC channels will only be available in High Definition (HD) via satellite.
Users with a Freesat HD or Sky HD or Sky+HD set top box should not be affected, unless you watch BBC SD channels if you cannot receive BBC HD channels.
But users with older Freesat SD and Sky digiboxes will begin to lose services.” Read more