topic Re: Missing channels in Sky Stream

Missing channels

LilyL — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:13:21 GMT

I've just subscribed to sky stream essential package. The website said the challenge hd channel was part of the bundle but it's asking me to upgrade.

I will cancel my subscription if this is the case.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-channel-list-sky-glass-roi

Re: Missing channels

mikealanr — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:41:48 GMT

Hi @LilyL

We are fellow customers here on the community. You will need to speak to sky or make a complaint: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/how-to-make-a-complaint

MikeAlanR

Re: Missing channels

Stephen+Mourton — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:35:38 GMT

@LilyL I subscribe to the full Sky package and Challenge is only available on 159 in SD. I am not aware it is available anywhere in HD possibly because a lot of the shows are older and not originally filmed in HD

Re: Missing channels

Hunter2660 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:41:39 GMT

I believe it's HD in the Irish Republic...... lord knows why though.

Re: Missing channels

HavencroftKev — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:23:20 GMT

159 Challenge is clearly in HD. I'm not even sure SD channels are available in Sky Stream 🤷

Re: Missing channels

TimmyBGood — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:13:34 GMT

@HavencroftKev wrote:

I'm not even sure SD channels are available in Sky Stream 🤷

Individual items of content may well have been captured in SD if that's what the channel has available to it (particularly for vintage material) : the main point is unlike the satellite platforms there's no HD subscription supplement payable on Glass & Stream.

Re: Missing channels

Stephen+Mourton — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:24:07 GMT

@HavencroftKev I am prepared to be proved wrong but when you say Challenge is clearly in HD, on what are you basing that? If you go online it says Challenge is not available anywhere in UK in HD. There is nothing on screen to say it is in HD, so obviously I'm unsure what you are seeing that would show it is clearly in HD. As I said I am prepared to be proved wrong!

Re: Missing channels

HavencroftKev — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:37:08 GMT

I'm seeing the quality of the picture🤷

But as pointed out, on Challenge a lot of content is vintage so won't have been recording using HD technology.

Re: Missing channels

HavencroftKev — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:40:36 GMT

Yes, Challenge is available in HD on Sky Stream.

Unlike Sky Q or older satellite systems where you often had to pay extra for an "HD Pack" to see certain channels in high definition, Sky Stream is an all-HD platform by default.

Key Details for Challenge on Sky Stream:

Resolution: It broadcasts in 1080i HD. Even though some of the classic content (like old episodes of Bullseye or Family Fortunes) was originally filmed in SD, the channel itself is delivered as an HD stream.
Channel Number: You can typically find Challenge on Channel 116 (though this can occasionally vary slightly by region).

Cost: On Sky Stream, the HD version of Challenge is included in the basic "Sky Ultimate TV" (Sky Entertainment & Netflix) bundle at no extra cost.

Why does the quality sometimes look different?

Because Challenge focuses on vintage game shows, you will often see "pillarboxing" (black bars on the sides) for older 4:3 shows. The Sky Stream puck will upscale this to fit your HD or 4K screen, but it won't change the original quality of those 1980s or 90s recordings.

Re: Missing channels

Hunter2660 — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:26:08 GMT

I believe the perceived increase in quality is due to the fact that on Freeview/Freesat/Q the picture is simply so dire that it appears in HD on Stream even though it probably isn't.

Re: Missing channels

LilyL — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 19:27:27 GMT

Phoned sky and after numerous lies by the support agent about the channel being down at them moment to the channel being not included in the package. I got no where.

originally called sales to query if the channel was available if I took out a new contract which I was told it was, another lie. Once I then told them I had a contract I got transferred to India I assume where the quality of the phone line was brutal. A complete disgrace where the agent hadn't a clue.

Re: Missing channels

TimmyBGood — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:14:21 GMT

@LilyL wrote:

A complete disgrace where the agent hadn't a clue.

With respect, it's a somewhat obscure query and extremely unlikely to be documented in the resources available to a call centre agent.