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Sky viewers warned 14 channels will disappear from some TV boxes this week in major satellite upgrade
Don't miss the fall list of channels - and how you can get a free upgrade
MORE than a dozen Sky channels are expected to disappear on satellite this week as part of a major upgrade plan.
Fortunately it's not the absolute end of these beloved stations - but some viewers may lose access if their box is too old.
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Sky is switching off the standard definition (SD) versions of its popular Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Cinema.
Instead, they'll go HD-only.
The move affects satellite broadcasts - they'll still be available in SD via Virgin Media.
BBC and ITV have already done the same earlier this year, as the UK finally shifts from old quality and increasingly makes HD the norm.
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Sky's changes will see SD sport and movie channels go first.
Most people have a Sky Q or Sky+HD box which should mean the impact is relatively low.
But if you're still using an old Sky+ or Digibox, you'll lose access to the channels entirely as these aren't capable of handling HD.
See the full list of affected Sky box models below.
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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)
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Fortunately if you are impacted, you can get a free upgrade to Sky Q.
"We’re changing how we deliver our TV services," Sky's website says.
"This means if you have an SD box, you'll need to upgrade to continue watching Sky channels."
According to RXTVInfo, the following SD channels will disappear from satellite on Wednesday.
- Sky Cinema Premiere
- Sky Cinema Greats
- Sky Cinema Family
- Sky Cinema Action
- Sky Sports Main Event
- Sky Sports Premier League
- Sky Sports Football
- Sky Sports Cricket
- Sky Sports Golf
- Sky Sports F1
- Sky Sports Action
- Sky Sports Arena
- MUTV
- Sky Sports Box Office
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It was originally reported that Sky Sports News SD and Sky Sports Mix would be among those to go but they have been granted a limited reprieve.
SD broadcasts will continue for the Republic of Ireland.
Why are channels disappearing?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Senior Technology and Science Reporter at The Sun
Don't panic, your favourite channels aren't shutting down, it's just the standard definition versions.
And about time too.
HD TVs are commonplace now - and if you can afford to subscribe to Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, you can surely afford a HD TV too.
Those who aren't watching via HD are missing out on a far superior experience.
Sky is even offering a free upgrade to Sky Q, which you may as well take up.
Ending SD broadcasts via satellite frees up satellite capacity, which costs companies money to run and ultimately falls on all customers to pay towards - it's hard to justify this cost when so few are still using them.
Remember, this only affects satellite for now.
SD broadcasts of other channels will still be available on Freeview for the foreseeable future.