topic Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!! in Sky+

Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

bmitie — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:03:53 GMT

I find this hard to believe but my contract with SKY expires tomorrow and the new prices are off the wall. I got a deal that brings the price down a lot BUT is it true Sky Essential is SD only??!! Cant believe my eyes, I only watch sport and news and Sky Sports news is now SD and Sky news SD a well.

I have a few days before I cancel the lot but I was not told package was SD the sports are still HD and I am not sure if they have downgraded those as well. I still us a SKY HD + old box. I dont want sky Q.

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

SKY1992bf — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:10:06 GMT

@bmitie That's correct, you would need the entertainment hd add on to watch in hd which is only available with the signature bass pack and upwards

also note you can't have sports with the essentials package on sky plus or Q you would need signature and above

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

SKY1992bf — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:10:58 GMT

@SKY1992bf wrote:
@bmitie That's correct, you would need the entertainment hd add on to watch in hd which is only available with the signature bass pack and upwards
also note you can't have sports with the essentials package on sky plus or Q you would need signature and above

@bmitie Please read the updated post above

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

bmitie — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:42:26 GMT

Thanks for swift reply. Must look awful with a sky q box but so be it. Where can I find the bit about sky signature?

It doesn't matter. I just twigged its all Sky Q now or streaming.

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

TimmyBGood — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:04:57 GMT

@bmitie @SKY1992bf

'Television Essentials' on a Sky Q box has the free to air HD channels as standard without requiring an HD supplement because, by definition, they are free...

The subscription charged by Sky is basically for the recording, playback and app availability.

'Essential TV' on Sky Stream also doesn't have an HD supplement, but is a very different product.

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

bmitie — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:27:36 GMT

I got an offer from sky 2 years ago and was quite happy so out of the loop but a lot has happened since then as I am just discovering. My Sky HD + box is now regarded as an antique and even though I have 2 spare you can no longer pair the card from old box.

To get Q I need a new WIDEBAND lnb and as I have a few other boxes that is a problem.

I send sky round the house via RF and this cant be done with Sky Q.

There may be other bits that I am not aware of yet.

To use SD in this day and age beggars belief.

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

Mark39 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:32:26 GMT

@bmitie wrote:

To use SD in this day and age beggars belief.

That's one of the reasons why it's cheap.

Re: Is Sky Essential SD only but not mentioned!!!

nigea99 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:36:34 GMT

@bmitie wrote:

I got an offer from sky 2 years ago and was quite happy so out of the loop but a lot has happened since then as I am just discovering. My Sky HD + box is now regarded as an antique and even though I have 2 spare you can no longer pair the card from old box.

To get Q I need a new WIDEBAND lnb and as I have a few other boxes that is a problem.

I send sky round the house via RF and this cant be done with Sky Q.

There may be other bits that I am not aware of yet.

To use SD in this day and age beggars belief.

@bmitie you have mentioned a couple of the main ones.

A few other bits are in some notes I have made for people considering switching from SKY +/HD to SKY Q

SKY +/HD to SKY Q

Even though SD is limiting a couple of channels (U&W for example owned by UKTV) closed their HD Satellite versions recently to reduce costs