Following in the footsteps of the BBC and Sky, ITV is now set to switch off its standard definition broadcasts on satellite TV: From October 2024, those still using older Freesat or Sky boxes won’t be able to watch ITV1 and ITV2.
This move comes after ITV has already removed several of its other channels from older boxes, and follows similar actions by the BBC earlier this year. Sky has also been pushing its customers to upgrade for months.
But while this change won’t affect many people, it could be a worry for those still relying on older equipment. These viewers, who might include pensioners or families on tight budgets, will need to upgrade their boxes or find new ways to watch ITV.
The Road to HD
The transition to High Definition broadcasting in the UK has been a gradual process, with major broadcasters leading the charge over the past few years.
This shift represents a major improvement in picture quality for viewers, albeit years after most of the streaming world already moved to 4K, so even HD is starting to feel a bit ancient.
In 2022, the BBC took a major step forward by making all its channels available in HD, including regional news on BBC One.
This finally eliminated the long-standing issue of ‘red screen’ warnings during regional news broadcasts on HD channels, which had been a source of frustration for many viewers.
Building on this progress, in January 2024, the BBC accelerated its SD switch-off on Freesat and Sky platforms, citing low demand for SD channels as the primary reason.
ITV has been following a similar path, gradually phasing out its SD channels on satellite platforms throughout 2024.
Earlier in the year, ITV removed SD versions of several of its channels, including ITV3, ITV4, and ITVBe, from satellite platforms.
However, ITV1 remained available in SD to ensure continued access for viewers with older equipment.
Sky, as both a broadcaster and platform operator, began its own transition in earnest earlier this year. The company unveiled a detailed timeline for discontinuing support for older SD-only boxes, implementing the changes in stages.
The process began with the removal of all BBC SD channels from Sky’s satellite platform in March 2024. This was followed by the closure of several key Sky channels in SD in May, including multiple Sky Sports and Sky Cinema channels.
Last month, Sky set a firm October 2024 deadline for all remaining customers using SD-only boxes to upgrade their equipment.
Subscribers who haven’t upgraded their boxes by their October payment due date will face automatic cancellation of their Sky TV service.
This aggressive push towards HD aligns with the broader industry trend and has likely influenced ITV’s decision to finally switch off its SD broadcasts for ITV1 and ITV2, since – at this point – very few households still have old SD-only boxes, though they do exist.
It’s worth noting that these changes only affect satellite viewers.
Freeview, the UK’s digital terrestrial TV platform, has maintained SD broadcasts for longer due to bandwidth constraints and the wider variety of equipment in use among its viewer base.
ITV’s Latest Announcement: The Final Push to HD
This week, ITV has announced the final countdown for ITV1 (and ITV2) in SD.
From October 2024, these channels will only be available in high definition (HD) via satellite, which means viewers with old, SD-only boxes will no longer be able to watch ITV1 or ITV2.
ITV emphasises that this change will impact a very small portion of viewers – potentially just 1% of all satellite homes.
This limited effect is largely due to Sky’s proactive efforts in moving its customers to HD boxes over recent years – so it’s likely most of the affected viewers are those that still use old, non-Sky Freesat boxes.
If you have an older Freesat SD box, you’ll need to upgrade before October to keep watching ITV1 and ITV2. Of course, many other channels, including ITV’s other offerings and BBC channels, are already unavailable on these older boxes.
How to Check if You’re Affected
The steps to determine if you’re affected are pretty straightforward:
Freesat Users: Navigate to Channel 799 on your Freesat box. This is an HD test channel provided by the BBC, but it’s also relevant to affected ITV users.
This channel provides a tool that indicates whether your box is HD-compatible or not. If your box is incompatible, a message will be displayed, guiding you on the necessary steps to transition to HD.
Sky Users: Sky suggests two methods to check your box’s compatibility:
Select Channel 105 on your remote. If Channel 5 HD is displayed, your box is HD-compatible. If Channel 5 is displayed in SD, you’ll need to upgrade your box (Channel 5 is not related to the upcoming changes – but it’s simply an easy channel to use for testing).
Alternatively, press Services on your Sky remote, then press 4, followed by 5 to check your box’s version number. Cross-reference this number with the list of affected boxes provided by Sky.
The affected Sky boxes are:
Digibox:
- 4F01 to 4F06 (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)
These changes won’t affect Sky customers with newer Sky boxes, such as Sky Q, or the streaming-based devices – Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
Upgrading Your Equipment
If you find that your set-top box is SD-only, you’ll need to upgrade to continue enjoying ITV’s channels.
Contact Your Provider: Both Sky and Freesat have helplines to assist you with the upgrade process.
Sky has emphasised that this upgrade to Sky Q comes at no extra cost, and importantly, there will be no change to the customer’s existing Sky TV package or pricing (as Sky continues to offer some SD-only channels on the newer boxes, and some HD channels are available on Sky Q at no extra cost).
To initiate the upgrade process, affected customers can either visit Sky’s website or call 0333 759 5121.
Once the upgrade is requested, Sky will arrange for one of their engineers to install the new Sky Q box at a time convenient for the customer.
Freesat users can dial 0345-3130051 for guidance.
However, keep in mind that you will likely need to buy a new Freesat box on your own.
Alternatively, viewers can keep watching ITV’s channels and on-demand library via its streaming app, ITVX, which is available on most Smart TVs and streaming devices in the UK.
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