Channel 4 HD Television Channel

Channel 4 HD was launched on satellite on 10 December 2007. Channel 4 HD was the first full-time high definition channel from a terrestrial UK broadcaster.

As Sky agreed to contribute toward the channel’s satellite distribution costs, Channel 4 HD was initially “free to view”, requiring a Sky viewing card to watch.

Channel 4 HD was added to Freesat on 19 April 2011, and moved from being free-to-view to free-to-air, no longer requiring a Sky viewing card to watch.

Channel 4 HD carries the same schedule as Channel 4, broadcasting programmes in HD when available. When not possible, SD programming is upscaled to HD.

Most Channel Four TV channels are are available for free on satellite, without viewing card or subscription. They are classed as “free to air” channels, and can be received on most digital satellite receivers, including Sky digiboxes and Freesat set top boxes. The channels were transmitted from the Astra 2D satellite with its “spot beam”, aimed at the UK. This tried to limit reception of Channel Four channels in Europe. To some extent this worked, as some areas of Spain, like the Costa Blanca, had to use large 1.8m satellite dishes, 1.9m satellite dishes, and 2.4m satellite dishes to watch Channel Four TV channels. Some areas of Spain were more lucky, like the Costa del Sol, where they could use the smaller “125x135cm” ( or a “1.4m” ) satellite dish.

In February 2012, the Channel Four TV channels moved from the Astra 2D satellite, to a temporary home on the Astra 1N satellite. The Astra 1N satellite “signal footprint” is more generous to expats in Spain, and so the Channel Four TV channels on Astra 1N could be received on a satellite dish as small as 90x100cm, a “1m” satellite dish.

During February 2014, the Channel Four TV channels on Astra 1N moved to their new satellite,Astra 2F.

During June 2015, Channel 4 HD moved to their new satellite,Astra 2G

The new Astra 2G and Astra 2F satellites UK “spot beam” or “narrow beam” signal footprint is different to the previous UK TV satellites UK beam. This has meant that reception of channels on the new Astra 2 satellites will be different to previous reception. In the areas between Valencia and Alicante, our service area, the Channel Four channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam can still be received on a small satellite dish – as small as a 110x120cm satellite dish with a 125x135cm satellite dish being the recommended size satellite dish.

However, in other areas of Spain, reception of these Channel Four TV channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam has become harder. For example, in areas such as Barcelona, Catalonia and Zaragoza, you need at least a 1.8m satellite dish to receive these channels on the Astra 2F UK beam, whereas previously you only needed a smaller 80cm satellite dish. It is a similar story in the south of Spain, in areas like the Costa del Sol, Malaga, Almeria, Seville, Gibraltar and even Portugal, where even the larger 2.4m satellite dishes are struggling to receive these channels on the Astra 2 satellites UK beam.

Channel 4 HD on Freesat and Sky

Channel 4 HD is on Freesat channel 126.

Channel 4 HD is on Sky channel 227.

Channel Four TV Channels:

Channel Four : Channel and frequency Information