SKY Q customers face another blow today as a fourth TV channel closes down in so many days.
Broadcasters have been busy making a number of changes to satellite TV lately.
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On Monday, a positive closure took place with Sky Sports Racing SD (standard definition) switched off leaving the HD version only.
But since yesterday a number of other channels have done the reverse, shutting down their HD channels and opting to keep the inferior SD ones alive instead.
Viewers have slammed the move, writing on Sky’s forum that it “seems a backward step to keep SD and close HD channels on satellite”.
Sky Q was released in 2016 and there hasn’t been a new satellite box since.
Meanwhile, the company’s newer internet based Sky Glass, first released in 2019, was recently updated with a new Gen 2 model.
Sky Glass relies on an internet connection to beam channels to your screen instead of a satellite dish.
At the launch of Sky Glass Gen 2 a senior boss revealed that Sky Q will still “be with us for a while”.
“It’s [Sky Q] still a great product,” Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer for Comcast and Sky said at the event.
“Customer satisfaction is really good still and the reason it’s good is because we’re still invested in it.”
Others believe it’s the start of the end of Sky Q, the firm’s most recent satellite TV product that’s not been replaced for nine years.
But satellite loyalists believe the gradual loss of channels is the start of the end for Sky Q.
“This is the start of Sky Q’s slow lingering death,” one user wrote.
“Q subscribers paying extra for HD channels that are being axed forcing you to Stream.”
The latest channel to disappear from today is Sky History 2 HD.
It once again means satellite viewers will have to rely on the SD broadcast to watch their favourite shows – though many are shown in HD on the main Sky History channel still, as well as on demand.
Sky History 2 HD will continue to be accessible on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
It follows U&W and U&Yesterday which both ceased broadcasting in HD on Sky satellite services yesterday.
Expert predicts the future of Sky Q
A TV expert believes it’s “unlikely” Sky will ever release a new satellite product.
Paolo Pescatore, an expert for PP Foresight, told The Sun it is “highly unlikely” Sky will ever release a new satellite box “given the investment and timescales with the TV switch off that’s around the corner”.
Last year, Sky signed a contract extension with satellite operator SES that takes the service up to 2029.
“Ultimately Sky would prefer to migrate all users onto its IP based products which in turn will lead to the end of Sky Q,” Paolo said.
“It is reliable, robust and serves customers needs.
“They do not want to buy another telly with Sky inside for now.”
