SKY Q customers are set to lose more channels from their TVs very soon in the latest overhaul to hit satellite.
The TV planner is set for a massive shake-up in April that will see a number of channels move places and two disappear.
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It’s another bitter blow for satellite viewers as the two channels in question will remain on Sky Glass and Sky Stream in HD, the company’s newer internet-based services that rely on streaming instead of a dish.
But from April 1, they will only be available in the older SD (standard definition) quality on Sky Q and Sky+HD.
The two HD channels shutting down on satellite are U&W HD and U&Yesterday HD.
This means viewers can still access the same shows, they just won’t be shown live on TV in HD anymore.
The pair are currently sat at channel numbers 132 and 155 respectively.
On April 1, these will switch to the SD broadcast.
The announcement comes just days after The Sun revealed that Sky History 2 HD and Sky History +1 face the chop from Sky Q too.
Sky Q customers pay extra for the privilege of receiving HD.
UKTV, which runs U&W and U&Yesterday, isn’t removing its other HD channels U&Alibi, U&Gold, U&Dave and U&Drama.
But there is some major reshuffling of channel numbers taking place across satellite and Sky Glass / Sky Stream.
Sky satellite channel changes for April
Sky’s latest channel changes for April will affect Sky Q and Sky+HD users.
- April 2: TV Warehouse moves from 676 to 673
- April 2: Cruise1st.tv moves from 681 to 675
- April 2: Sky History 2 SD moves from 840 to 163 (168 in NI and ROI)
- April 3: Sky Gangsters becomes Sky Thriller on 309
- April 3: Sky Cinema Books To Screen becomes Sky Cinema Adventure on 302
- April 4: Sky Cinema Family becomes Sky Cinema Harry Potter on 306 / 805
- April 4: Sky Cinema Hits becomes Sky Cinema The Hobbit on 303
Sky Glass and Sky Stream channel changes for April
There are no channel closures for Sky Glass or Sky Stream coming up but there are plenty of channels moving.
The moves also vary depending on where you live.
- April 1: U&Alibi HD moves from 130 to 120 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&Gold HD moves from 131 to 121 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&Dave HD moves from 132 to 130 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&W HD moves from 133 to 131 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&Drama moves from 134 to 132 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&Yesterday HD moves from 161 to 133 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: U&Eden moves from 162 to 134 (England, NI and Wales only)
- April 1: GINX TV HD moves from 419 to 417 (all of the UK)
- April 1: MUTV HD moves from 420 to 418 (all of the UK)
- April 1: LFCTV HD moves from 421 to 419 (all of the UK)
- April 1: Premier Sports 1 HD moves from 419 to 417 (ROI only)
- April 1: Premier Sports 2 HD moves from 420 to 418 (ROI only)
- April 1: GINX TV HD moves from 421 to 419 (ROI only)
- April 1: MUTV HD moves from 422 to 420 (ROI only)
- April 1: LFCTV HD moves from 423 to 421 (ROI only)
- April 3: Sky Gangsters becomes Sky Thriller on 309
- April 3: Sky Cinema Books To Screen becomes Sky Cinema Adventure on 302
- April 4: Sky Cinema Family becomes Sky Cinema Harry Potter on 306
- April 4: Sky Cinema Hits becomes Sky Cinema The Hobbit on 303
Is the end of satellite in sight?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Satellite TV is expensive business.
Sky doesn’t own the satellites above Earth that beam channels down to us – they have pay a satellite operator for that.
But streaming is seen as the future, not only for Sky but everyone in the TV business.
With Sky Glass and Sky Stream, Sky doesn’t have to pay a hefty fee to a satellite operator.
No more satellite dishes are needed, which means far fewer engineers coming out to houses are required too.
Only recently did Sky and its satellite operator SES announce a new agreement that takes satellite TV up until 2029 – after that, we will have to see.
There are still millions of customers who enjoy watching TV with a satellite box.
Sky says 90 per cent of new customers opt for Sky Glass or Sky Stream.
