Sky Glass and Sky Stream, the two streaming-based devices from Sky TV, are getting a boost of 19 additional HD channels from the BBC next week.
As we previously reported, BBC One and BBC Two finally have fully regionalised versions in HD across satellite and streaming (though the process is still ongoing on Freeview).
On some platforms, such as Freesat and Sky Q – all of the BBC’s regional versions are already available as separate channels, which means you can watch whichever local news programme you want – regardless of where you’re located geographically.
But until now, on Glass and Stream – you could only watch the BBC HD version of your local region – depending on where you actually live/reside.
Starting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 – BBC One and BBC Two’s regional HD versions will all become available on Sky Stream and Sky Glass (see the full list of channels below).
That means viewers will be able to catch the local news from any region they’re interested in – live in London and want to see local HD news from West Midlands? You’ll finally be able to do that on Stream and Glass.
Sky Glass (see my review), which was released in 2021, is a 4K TV set that features a QLED HDR display and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar with six speakers.
Sky Stream (see our review), which launched in late 2022, is a standalone streaming set-top box that works with any broadband provider.
Unlike Sky’s other devices in the UK, Sky Glass and Sky Stream don’t use a satellite dish – instead, they rely on broadband, and stream all the content to the TV, much like other streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV and Roku – or streaming services like Sky’s own NOW (see our Sky Glass VS Now comparison).
All BBC Regional HD Channels Coming To Sky Glass / Stream
BBC One HD launched as a separate channel back in 2010. A few years later, regional programming (which mainly consists of regional news broadcasts) also became available in HD – but only in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The promise of regional HD news for viewers in England has been around for years – but BBC One HD viewers were still stuck with the red warning screen that prompted them to switch to BBC One (SD) to watch their regional news (along with BBC Two in Wales in Northern Ireland).
Sky Glass and Sky Stream were actually ahead of the pack in getting the HD versions of the BBC’s regional news – back in 2022. But customers were only able to watch their local version – without being able to flip to the other regional versions.
Earlier this year, the regional versions of BBC One HD and BBC Two HD finally became available on Freesat and Sky Q – and on those devices, viewers were able to access all the different regional versions.
From April 11, these channels will be added to Sky Glass and Sky Stream as well.
The schedule for these channels isn’t all that different from the “primary” versions of BBC One and BBC Two – but local news programmes (at 6:30pm) and a few additional news updates – differ between regions.
Your “true” BBC One HD regional version will remain on Sky Channel 101, as it is now. But if you want to watch a different region – it will be waiting for you on channels 951 and up.
Here’s the full list of upcoming channels and their Sky Glass / Sky Stream numbers:
- BBC One Lon HD launches to 951
- BBC One NE&C HD launches to 952
- BBC One North West HD launches to 953
- BBC One Yorks HD launches to 954
- BBC One Yk&Li HD launches to 955
- BBC One West Midlands HD launches to 956
- BBC One East Midlands HD launches to 957
- BBC One East HD launches to 958
- BBC One South East HD launches to 959
- BBC One West HD launches to 960
- BBC One South HD launches to 961
- BBC One South West HD launches to 962
- BBC One Channel Island HD launches to 963
- BBC One HD Scotland launches to 964
- BBC One HD Wales launches to 965
- BBC One HD N.Ireland launches to 966
BBC Two Regional channels:
- BBC Two HD launches to 967
- BBC Two Wales HD launches to 968
- BBC Two NI HD launches to 969
It’s worth noting again that with the HD channels replacing the BBC’s SD channels – the SD versions will be shut down on Sky and Freesat soon.
Therefore, Sky is offering free Sky Q upgrades to those with older, SD-Only Sky boxes.
Terrible news of BBC SD channels being replaced with HD ones as one will need huge capacity HDD’s on PVR boxes like Humax to do any program recordings or archiving.