SOME Sky boxes are at risk of being locked from all channels in a matter of hours as part of a big upgrade plan.
Sky is automatically cancelling affected subscriptions from tomorrow (October 1).
BBC has already closed its SD satellite channels[/caption]
Fortunately, the vast majority of viewers should be unaffected by the move.
But anyone with a very old Sky box may be impacted unless they upgrade to Sky Q now.
The broadcasting giant is offering Sky Q at no extra cost.
It’s all come about because Sky is ending SD (standard definition) broadcasts of its channels on satellite.
Instead, all its channels will be at least HD only.
A number of other big names have already done the same, including the BBC earlier this year.
And ITV is set to conclude its SD switch off on satellite this week too.
The changes don’t affect other services like Freeview and Virgin Media.
Sky has been urging people to check their account and upgrade for weeks.
“We’re changing how we deliver our TV services,” the company says.
“To keep your Sky TV services you’ll need to upgrade to a HD compatible box before your payment due date in October.”
The models that will no longer work include:
Digibox
- 4F01 to 4F08 (Amstrad)
- 4E01 to 4E05 (Grundig)
- 9F01 to 9F08 and 9F0A (Pace)
- 0F01 to 0F05 (Panasonic)
- 4E06 to 4E08 (Thomson)
Sky+
- 4F2001 to 4F2006 (Amstrad)
- 4F2101 to 4F2118 and 9F2101 to 9F2137 (Amstrad or Pace)
- 9F2001 to 9F2024, PVR2, 9F2201 to 9F2235, 9F2301 to 9F2339 (Pace)
- 4E2101 to 4E2141 (Thomson)
If you’re unsure what model you own, you can check by doing the following:
- Press Services on your Sky remote
- Then tap the 4 key, followed by 5
- Here you’ll see the version number
- Check if it matches any listed above
Act now or miss out
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Most people will be unaffected by this move but for those who are, you risk losing access to all channels unless you act now.
Broadcasters are finally doing away with the old SD channels and moving to a HD world.
Those who aren’t watching via HD are missing out on a far superior experience.
You might be wondering why Sky and others would bother.
Well, all broadcasts cost money to operate and continuing with SD channels when audience numbers are falling isn’t worth it.
