What is Happening on SKY.. CNN HD is now Encrypted? But Free to View..

[Maniatore2006]

What is Happening on SKY..?

CNN HD is now Encrypted,  but Free to View.. only on newer Cards? (Sky Q)

This is the same i see on the HD Test Channel for SKY News HD...

With my Red Viewing Card from a SKY+ HD i can't watch it, but with my FreeView Card, (Purple/Blue) The Channel works....

Is that the Return of the Encrypted Free to View Channels...?

[nigea99]

hi @Maniatore2006 

It does appear that CNN HD has changed from being FTA - I have just checked  my multisat receiver & also  find it is now  encrypted

This will be the owner's decision  

EDIT : That said we have known the odd quirk when channels accidentally get encrypted for short periods of time (possible human error somewhere in the chain) 

It might be worth asking Viewer Relations : viewerR@Sky.uk if they can establish if it is known to be a change or just a hiccup

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Maniatore2006 wrote:

What is Happening on SKY..?

CNN HD is now Encrypted,  but Free to View.. only on newer Cards? (Sky Q)

This is the same i see on the HD Test Channel for SKY News HD...

With my Red Viewing Card from a SKY+ HD i can't watch it, but with my FreeView Card, (Purple/Blue) The Channel works....

Is that the Return of the Encrypted Free to View Channels...?

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CNN News Central is a programme that is shown on CNN in North America and CNN International (this one is on Sky). Due to rights, CNN may not be allowed to show this programme in the UK and Ireland, hence why it was blocked. You can check the CNN website for listings for "North America" and "CNN News Central" is there. It was just blocked for that programme, just as it says on the screenshots. If it was encrypted for good, you would see an Upgrade message.

Additionally, it was blocked for all Sky customers in the UK and Ireland, regardless of package or subscriptions.

[xenon81]

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@Maniatore2006 wrote:

What is Happening on SKY..?

CNN HD is now Encrypted,  but Free to View.. only on newer Cards? (Sky Q)

This is the same i see on the HD Test Channel for SKY News HD...

With my Red Viewing Card from a SKY+ HD i can't watch it, but with my FreeView Card, (Purple/Blue) The Channel works....

Is that the Return of the Encrypted Free to View Channels...?

---

CNN News Central is a programme that is shown on CNN in North America and CNN International (this one is on Sky). Due to rights, CNN may not be allowed to show this programme in the UK and Ireland, hence why it was blocked. You can check the CNN website for listings for "North America" and "CNN News Central" is there. It was just blocked for that programme, just as it says on the screenshots. If it was encrypted for good, you would see an Upgrade message.

Additionally, it was blocked for all Sky customers in the UK and Ireland, regardless of package or subscriptions.

---

No, non of that is correct. CNN is now encrypted to stop hotels and other commercial venues using the Sky/Astra 2 feed for free rather than paying CNN for distribution. For residential Sky customers there is no change.

It was announced in April that this was happening:

thedesk.net/2026/04/cnn-international-uk-encryption/

[Me134]

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@nigea99 wrote:

hi @Maniatore2006 

It does appear that CNN HD has changed from being FTA - I have just checked  my multisat receiver & also  find it is now  encrypted

This will be the owner's decision  

EDIT : That said we have known the odd quirk when channels accidentally get encrypted for short periods of time (possible human error somewhere in the chain) 

It might be worth asking Viewer Relations : viewerR@Sky.uk if they can establish if it is known to be a change or just a hiccup

---

According to Lyngsat it's encrypted via Videoguard which is what we're talking about here?

[nigea99]

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@Me134 wrote:

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@nigea99 wrote:

hi @Maniatore2006 

It does appear that CNN HD has changed from being FTA - I have just checked  my multisat receiver & also  find it is now  encrypted

---

According to Lyngsat it's encrypted via Videoguard which is what we're talking about here?

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Althiough I probably use Lyngsat the most, I didn't look there today - I used KingofSat which still has it listed as Clear.

I note the Lyngsat  was updated yesterday, 5th

@xenon81 has posted the reason 

Edit: P.S. BTW I think both sites are updated by keen amateurs & may contain slightly out of date or limited info

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@xenon81 wrote:

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@Marlu-Nyu wrote:

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@Maniatore2006 wrote:

What is Happening on SKY..?

CNN HD is now Encrypted,  but Free to View.. only on newer Cards? (Sky Q)

This is the same i see on the HD Test Channel for SKY News HD...

With my Red Viewing Card from a SKY+ HD i can't watch it, but with my FreeView Card, (Purple/Blue) The Channel works....

Is that the Return of the Encrypted Free to View Channels...?

---

CNN News Central is a programme that is shown on CNN in North America and CNN International (this one is on Sky). Due to rights, CNN may not be allowed to show this programme in the UK and Ireland, hence why it was blocked. You can check the CNN website for listings for "North America" and "CNN News Central" is there. It was just blocked for that programme, just as it says on the screenshots. If it was encrypted for good, you would see an Upgrade message.

Additionally, it was blocked for all Sky customers in the UK and Ireland, regardless of package or subscriptions.

---

No, non of that is correct. CNN is now encrypted to stop hotels and other commercial venues using the Sky/Astra 2 feed for free rather than paying CNN for distribution. For residential Sky customers there is no change.

It was announced in April that this was happening:

thedesk.net/2026/04/cnn-international-uk-encryption/

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So, it's free-to-view now? I only said the above as this is what I assumed from the data provided. It did seem odd that the error specifically said "This programme is unavailable" instead of something like "Please insert your card", or the like. Seems like it's the wrong error message.

[GD1]

As a side note CNN across Europe has had it's HD variant encrypted for some time, only the SD  version remained FTA, the UK seemed to be the last territory where it remained FTA.

[Maniatore2006]

At least in the UK is it for Users of an SKY Q a Free to Watch Channel.

It is just interesting that they choose that kind of Encryption.
Unlike the Encrypted Version of STV HD.

For that version of STV HD you can use every Viewing Card, Even a Suspended one. Of like the Previews of a Box Office Fight.

CNN on the other hand needs an Active Free View Card, Like the Encryption version of Channel 4 HD. But no SKY Subscription.

The bad side is, FreeSat Users can't no longer Watch CNN..

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@Maniatore2006 wrote:

At least in the UK is it for Users of an SKY Q a Free to Watch Channel.

It is just interesting that they choose that kind of Encryption.
Unlike the Encrypted Version of STV HD.

For that version of STV HD you can use every Viewing Card, Even a Suspended one. Of like the Previews of a Box Office Fight.

CNN on the other hand needs an Active Free View Card, Like the Encryption version of Channel 4 HD. But no SKY Subscription.

The bad side is, FreeSat Users can't no longer Watch CNN..

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Just to add a note, the free-to-view STV HD channels can only be viewed in the UK, they are not available with a viewing card in Ireland. 

[Maniatore2006]

The Channel is Viewable with Every Card. I have an old White Irish Viewing Card, and even that Opens this Channel.

Even when nothing else 😄 I had hoped to could watch RTÉ with that.

[Chloe-W22 · Accepted solution]

Good afternoon all,

I have spoken to our Viewer Relations team who have confirmed; CNN have recently changed their level of encryption so that an active, valid viewing card and Sky subscription is required to view the channel.  

I hope this clears this up for you 🤞

[Radio59]

You know what? To hell with CNN and every other broadcaster who tries to screw viewers even more.