SD boxes

[HeathHayle]

hi guys I have been reading about how sky have removed SD film channels and its got be thinking I like to used old SD boxes but does this mean sky will be removing SD channels quickly and stoping non HD boxes from working just wondered what you thought

[Annie+UK]

No one here will know the answer to that

There are plenty of secondhand HD boxes available on ebay etc...  or you could upgrade to Sky Q (I'm sure you could get a free upgrade if you bartered with them)

[Mark39]

@HeathHayle I don't know of any strategic aim to get rid of SD channels (though I can think of one or two Community members who would applaud it enthusiastically).

I guess it's inevitable over time as ever more customers switch to HD and the channel owners can't justify the cost of broadcasting both in SD and HD to a dwindling SD audience. 

It won't stop older SD boxes working, but there will be less and less content available to them

[GD1]

@Mark39  @HeathHayle  @Annie+UK  I think it may be related to this https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/sky-starts-standard-definition-switch-off

It does state in the news article they are testing the waters.

Given the amount of SD only channels switch off would be a long term view.

[TimmyBGood]

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@HeathHayle wrote:

I have been reading about how sky have removed SD film channels

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I'd think the percentage of Sky users who subscribe to Cinema but don't have HD-capable hardware must be reasonably small by now.  That Pace 3100 is twenty years old next year...

Although I do rather like the limited edition Cath Kidston one ; )

[HeathHayle]

thanks guys @Annie+UK I dont want to upgrade to a HD box untill I have no choice and even then will think what to do @GD1  ok great @TimmyBGood thats cool I wonder if thats why did have done it with cinema hopefully the other channels will be ages away and thinking about it because signature is the base pack that everyone needs then those channels will probably be ages away and with the kids pack will be even longer so kids could use really old boxes

[TimmyBGood]

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@HeathHayle wrote:

 the other channels will be ages away and thinking about it because signature is the base pack that everyone needs then those channels will probably be ages away

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It's worth remembering that Ofcom won't permit public service broadcasters to close their SD transmission, or let regulated broadcast platforms stop carrying such services*, until they are satisfied this won't have an adverse impact on viewers.  That doesn't apply to channels without a public service remit though.

* Incidentally this doesn't apply to Sky Glass (which has no SD channels) because by definition every Glass subscriber has a bundle that covers HD.

[HeathHayle]

@TimmyBGood thats interesting but I take it that doesnt apply to signature and kids channels though because they are sky channels

[TimmyBGood]

@HeathHayle 

The public service broadcasters are those providing Channel 3 services, Channel 4, Channel 5, S4C and the BBC. While all BBC public service television channels are PSB channels, only the main channels of each of the other public service broadcasters have this status.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/public-service-broadcasting 

[GD1]

@HeathHayle  Not all channels are "Sky" channels,  generally channels with the name Sky are Sky channels (there are a couple of exceptions).  But other channle are operated by other broadcasters such as UKTV, Disney etc.

[HeathHayle]

@GD1 yes using the word sky was the wrong way to say it I meant channels like nickelodeon etc

[HeathHayle]

I think its a shame that there is no way to find out how many SD only subscribers there is

[rscott]

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@HeathHayle wrote:

I think its a shame that there is no way to find out how many SD only subscribers there is

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A few years ago, I saw a figure of about 100,000 Sky+ (not HD) boxes in use.  

Sky may decide to drop the HD charge (unlikely, as it's a drop in revenue) or launch a replacement for Sky Signature which includes HD (in the same way Signature includes Box Sets) and migrate people over to that when they renew any deals.

But third party channels are already shutting down their SD versions (QVC, for example) or even only launching in HD, like TalkTV and GBNews.  They're free to air, so don't require the HD pack, but are only available on HD compatible equipment.

[HeathHayle]

its a shame there isnt a way to get a more update figure

[TimmyBGood]

@HeathHayle 

Sky will know exactly what that figure is, but have no reason to release it publicly.