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BLACKOUT

TV viewers warned another major channel will disappear TOMORROW along with BBC and ITV – check now before it’s too late

Check if you'll be affected with the guidance below
Adults will spend 81 hours watching TV, 40 hours cooking, and 155 hours warming up the home this Christmas. A poll of 2,000 people revealed how British households consume energy during December, with 146 hours being spent with festive lights switched on. The study found 49 per cent will sit in front of the television more during the festive period compared to the rest of the year, and 47 per cent will do the same when it comes to heating up the home.

TELLY viewers are set to lose STV's standard-definition (SD) channels, along with more than a dozen BBC and ITV channels this week.

It forms part of an industry shift towards high-definition (HD) channels, which are only available on newer receivers.

STV is a broadcasting partner of ITV
1
STV is a broadcasting partner of ITV

STV's SD service for the West of Scotland (Glasgow) and Dundee will be removed from satellite EPGs on Tuesday, 9 January.

STV is a broadcasting partner of ITV.

From today, 8 January, BBC viewers using older TV boxes that aren't compatible with HD channels won't be able to access these 10 channels, which include:

  • BBC One SD
  • BBC Two SD
  • BBC Three SD
  • BBC Four SD
  • CBBC SD
  • CBeebies SD
  • BBC News SD
  • BBC Scotland SD
  • BBC ALBA SD
  • BBC Parliament SD

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Tomorrow, along with STV, ITV will wave goodbye to three of its standard-definition (SD) channels on 9 January: ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe.

Going forward, these channels will only be be available in HD format.

Viewers will have to upgrade their old TV boxes to a newer, HD compatible, box to avoid the blackout.

Is my TV affected by the HD satellite upgrade?

Viewers who are not sure what type of set-top box or TV they have, can use the BBC’s checking tool, which is live on Channel 799 on Freesat.

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On that channel, you will see one of two messages:

  • "Good News, you’re not affected and can continue to use your box as normal."
  • "Sorry, your satellite set-top box is not capable of receiving high-definition services. You will be affected by the satellite changes."

Sky has shared the exact models affected, which are:

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)

Sky viewers should head to channel 105 - if it's listed as "Channel 5 HD" your equipment is HD capable.

But if it simply says "Channel 5" with no mention of HD on the end then you will need to upgrade.

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