ITV closing three more SD channels on Sky and Freesat (original) (raw)

ITV confirms closure of additional standard definition (SD) channels next month as wider broadcast industry migrates to HD-only satellite broadcasting.

• ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe will cease to be broadcast in SD on Sky satellite and Freesat from early January.
• This is in addition to the previously announced closures of four ITV1 SD regions in January.
• Viewers with series link recordings on affected channels may need to take action.
• SD box users need to upgrade now.

ITV has confirmed it will begin switching off SD channels via satellite on Tuesday 9th January 2024.

From this date, ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe will cease dual broadcasting in both SD and HD. On Sky Q and Sky+HD, the separate listing of these channels in the 800s on the TV guide will cease.

Ahead of the closure of ITVBe in SD, the channel will launch in HD for the first time on satellite on Tuesday 12th December. For most satellite viewers, ITVBe HD will automatically replace the SD channel on the same channel number.

In addition, ITV is closing four ITV1 SD regions: Border Scotland, Channel, UTV (Northern Ireland) and ITV1 Wales SD. These closures were previously announced at the end of October.

ITV’s latest announcement follows the BBC’s decision to close SD channels the same week. Viewers tuning into BBC SD channels via satellite after 8th January will see a message saying the channel has closed.

The ITV SD channel closures don’t yet apply to timeshifts ITV3+1 and ITV4+1. ITVBe+1 isn’t broadcast on satellite.

Limited impact expected, but check your recordings

Over 98% of satellite viewers use an HD-compatible satellite receiver, a figure that may still be growing since the BBC began informing viewers of SD switch-off. It’s spent most of the year encouraging anyone with an older receiver to upgrade.

Sky is offering its subscribers a free upgrade to Sky Q.

For viewers with HD satellite equipment, scheduled recordings will need to be reset on any of the affected channels and regions mentioned above.

For example, any series links on ITVBe will need resetting to ITVBe HD later this month. And anyone living in the Channel Islands recording from ITV1 SD will need to switch to ITV1 HD.

Further SD changes

From March 2024, Sky plans to make its older non-HD satellite receivers completely redundant when it will be making technical changes to its own channel portfolio. It plans to continue offering SD channels, but these will need to be broadcast using parameters not supported by older boxes.

Meanwhile, older Freesat receivers will continue to lose channels, but Freesat hasn’t yet confirmed when it will discontinue transmission of the SD EPG to older boxes.

The imminent changes are prompting most third-party broadcasters on satellite to make changes to their services. Simply put, if SD receivers are being made obsolete, there’s no reason to continue dual-broadcasting in both formats.

As a result, ITV and others are expected to confirm further SD channel closures in due course.

Why other TV platforms are not affected by ITV SD channel closures

• Virgin Media is not affected because it already offers all ITV channels in HD.
• Freeview is also not affected as it doesn’t have the capacity to offer any more services in HD. ITV will continue to offer services in standard definition through a regular TV aerial. Only ITV1 is offered in HD.
• Internet TV platforms already offer all ITV offshoots in HD, so they’re not affected either. This includes Sky Stream and BT/EE TV in Internet mode.

Marc Thornham