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Final warning issued to Sky customers as channels disappear from boxes today unless they upgrade now
Find out an easy three button trick that reveals whether your TV is affected
ALL Sky's channels will disappear from some boxes today unless customers upgrade.
The broadcaster has been warning viewers of the upcoming shake-up for some time.
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SD (standard definition) versions of channels will no longer be available on older SD boxes as Sky changes how they deliver TV services.
However, Sky Q and Sky+HD boxes will still be able to receive them.
The move presents a problem for much older boxes, meaning they effectively lose Sky channels.
Sky has clarified that it isn't closing down its SD entertainment channels entirely just yet.
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But other broadcasters have as they move away from the old SD broadcasts.
The BBC and ITV have already done so.
"We’re changing how we deliver our TV services," Sky's website now reads.
"To keep your Sky TV services you'll need to upgrade to a HD compatible box before your payment due date in October."
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The company is dishing out a free upgrade to Sky Q for those impacted.
If your box model is listed below, you will lose channels.
Sky Alert: Sky Go App & Sky Box Updates
- 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)
To find the model number, press services on your Sky remote, followed by the the 4 key, then the 5 key.
Alternatively, you can see if you're affected by going to channel 101 on your remote.
If it shows as "BBC One HD" you're not affected.
Why is Sky making the changes?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Sky has been gradually signalling the end for these older boxes.
However, the firm has since clarified that it isn't ending SD broadcasts just yet - though it's safe to assume it can't be too far off given that others like BBC and ITV are doing the same.
Continuing to broadcast two versions of the same thing costs money, and it becomes harder to justify as more people move away from SD.
It's important to note, the SD switch off plans have been happening on satellite only - not other services.
Freeview for example will continue to have SD channels for the foreseeable future as there isn't enough capacity in the technology to offer more than a handful of HD feeds.
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