topic Re: HLG UHD in Sky Q

HLG UHD

Slopmeister — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:33:00 GMT

I have set up my preferences to receive 2160p HLG UHD but whilst I can see programmes that are transmitted in that format I must set it up to do it manually ie find the programme a select the HLG UHD format and record - no such issues with streaming platforms btw. Why is this? I have read about a so called handshake between tv and Sky but I don't do this when I record as above so Sky and tv must be talking? As I'm paying for UHD it seems reasonable that I should be able to set this up just once? Help please.

Re: HLG UHD

nigea99 — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:43:02 GMT

@Slopmeister wrote:

I have set up my preferences to receive 2160p HLG UHD but whilst I can see programmes that are transmitted in that format I must set it up to do it manually ie find the programme a select the HLG UHD format and record - no such issues with streaming platforms btw. Why is this? I have read about a so called handshake between tv and Sky but I don't do this when I record as above so Sky and tv must be talking? As I'm paying for UHD it seems reasonable that I should be able to set this up just once? Help please.

hi @Slopmeister

I think you, probably, just need to change your download preference to UHD (from HD)
Main Menu -> Settings -> Setup -> Preferences

(Please note this setting can only be set on the Main box)

Re: HLG UHD

MightyQuinn — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:46:29 GMT

@Slopmeister wrote:
I have set up my preferences to receive 2160p HLG UHD

Hi @Slopmeister There is no such settings, do you mean that you have set it up as 2060p 10 bit? Live programming in UHD like SkySpMe UHD and SkySpF1 UHD will broadcast with HLG HDR if it is available. You don't have to do anything manually. If you are talking about downloads (it is not clear) then change your default download format to UHD.

Home -> Settings-> Setup -> Preferences-> On demand default download format-> UHD.

Re: HLG UHD

Slopmeister — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:58:06 GMT

Thank you so much. However this doesn't seem to entirely resolve the issue. For clarity I have downloaded a film having previously set picture resolution to 2160p 10-bit and on demand default download format to UHD. Again the film downloaded in HD. Then went in manually, selected the film and under all formats selected HLG UHD which worked. Again not sure this should be necessary. Would welcome your views.

Re: HLG UHD

mr.tickle — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:15:58 GMT

How it normally works, once you have set your default download format, is that things you download are in that format if available. Other than a reboot - certainly try that - I'm not sure what else to suggest.

edit to add: Ah, you wrote "whilst I can see programmes that are transmitted in that format".

Not sure what you mean by "transmitted". I know you've said "downloaded". But this is just to clarify, and for others reading.

The only satellite broadcasts in 4K/HDR are Sport, on 3 numbered channels only: Sky Sports Main Event UHD, Sky Sports F1 UHD, and TNT Sports Ultimate. These are swapped into the slots of those 3 HD channels if you pay for UHD, just like the HD channels are swapped with the SD channels when you pay for the HD pack. (There are also 2 other UHD broadcast channels without numbers, and these are hidden behind "red button"/etc streams.)

Absolutely everything else is download-only. Eg all hundreds of movies and drama content.

For instance, if you record a broadcast from Sky Atlantic. it will never be in HDR, and it will only ever be HD, because that's all that is broadcast. The only way to get the 4K version is to download it. If it's available (check "all formats"), the "Watch" button at the top of its page will initiate the download, which then ought to be in the highest format you've set as you said before. But try a reboot 🙂