Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Sky wants SD viewers to upgrade to Sky Q at no extra cost to watch Local BBC News from January 2023.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/bbcupgrade

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What to do if you’re affected?

*Sky are telling viewers to upgrade to Sky Q at no extra cost.

*Sky engineers will install Sky Q on a date that suits you.

*There’ll be no change to your Sky TV package or pricing.

I think it blows they are trying to force everyone off SD...

Some people LIKE ME dont give a good crap for HD!!

I have always enjoyed SD and always will..........

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Does SkyQ have a SCART socket?

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Sly will have to supply those with old scart TVs with free Sly Glass sets haha

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

... or an HDMI to SCART convertor lead ;)

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Have you seen one that converts digital to analogue? loads out there that will convert analogue to digital but not bi directionally ;)

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The difference is Analogue to Digital Video costs about £10 but Digital to Analogue is £240 to £500

You could go to VGA if the tv supports it but lose audio then VGA to scart but you would have find a different route for Audio

It looks like HDMI to composite then composite to Scart is doable

Found one that claims to do it https://www.amazon.co.uk/MISOTT-Conv...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Just in case anyone here is in the position which I do doubt hahaha

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

AFAIK, Yes.
This was the one I came across when I did a search.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yizhet-Conv...dp/B0897559WR/

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

I've just sorted this for elderly neighbours.

They have a Sky+ box and a Sky+HD box.

The BBC is closing down all its SD channels between Jan1st and the end of April.

They had lost 2 Scottish BBC channels they watch on the Sky+ box, so I had a chat with customer services and was told their records say they have 2 HD boxes, so she has marked one as dead, and they will exchange it for an HD box, free of charge.

They have no internet, so it was the only option open to them.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

My Niece and her girlfriend are having Sky Q installed tomorrow, they got a deal through a company that they got insurance with it includes BB & Netflix, all for about £40 pm

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

I wonder how long it will be before they try and force Sky+HD customers to convert.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

RUMOUR: Sky Cinema may go HD only from March 2024.

https://www.satandpcguy.com/2023/11/...digibox-users/

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Sky are now forcing Sky+ HD customers to go to SkyQ.

From January - confirmed so far by BBC and ITV:

8th - All BBC TV and Radio axe on SD Boxes.

9th - ITV1 Border Scotland, ITV1 Channel Islands, UTV, ITV1 Wales, ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe SD Channels all closing.

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All BBC & 7 ITV Channels are going HD only in January so anyone with an SD-only receiver now need to contact Sky to get help updating to HD:

-Sky: 0333 759 1018 / http://sky.com/help

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Confirmed where ?
Are you making this up ?

I have Sky+ HD and they have made no mention of forcing me to upgrade.
I know several other people with it, and they have had no such communication.


As it happens, the disk on one of my boxes died, so I'm moving soon anyway, but not becasue of Sky forcing me, I could have bought a replacement box.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work...g/news/hd-2023

ITV - https://www.itv.com/presscentre/pres...der-scotland-0

Sky - https://cleanfeed.thetvroom.com/1970...oming-in-2024/

But Paul your box will/would work fine after the changes listed - it only Sky + (SD) boxes.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

No, they are not.
No one is being forced off the Sky+ HD service.

Those [and you] are referring to Sky SD - My posts all clearly state Sky+ HD

They have killed some of the old interactive services on them, but nothing I ever used.
As I previously noted, I've decided to move to Sky Q by my own choice, later this month.

I certainaly hope not!!

When AT&T bought DIrercTV they tried to force me to get thier HD crap and I treeid saying I didnt want it,I liked my SD box...... Well then they wanted me to goto 1 of thier SD boxs which was crap compared to mine... It was slower and not as nice!!

I just ended up getting rid of it.......

I wass paying about £39 a month and didnt watch anything anyway really....

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

At a guess they can’t force everyone onto Q because it needs a web connection and if they are forcing SD to +HD they will plan to maintain it for a few years yet (or else why not migrate SD to Q).

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Sky are offering viewers with SD only boxes Sky Q.

I have not seen any offer for viewers to have a Sky+ HD box.

By the look of thing from the outside Sky+ HD is not on offer anymore.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

You need to get real and join the modern world SD looks dreadful now. Especially if you had an even remotely modern telly with a HDMI socket, larger than 32"

I know Stevie but I hope you wont get mad at me if I say this...

I love SD and I am grateful not to have one of those flat screen things.... To me they dont look as nice,the video is flat and has no detail.. The sound is horrid compared to analogue...

To me its horrible and its sad people have been so conditioned to think this stuff is so good when it really isnt......

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Well if you watched SD on a 55" or larger it would look terrible. Full HD or UHD HDR looks unreal in its detail and colour depth.

No one is conditioned, to the human eye it's clearly a major improvement of old tech. I still love my DVDs and Laserdiscs but the picture looks terrible in comparison.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Its not been available to order since October 2016, but is maintained for the millions still using it.

HD is better than SD, thats not "conditioning" its simple logic, just like UHD is better than HD.
Higher resolution = better quality / detail, esp on bigger screens. Of course, you do need a decent TV, not some 25 year old 24" CRT ...

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

I did not know that wee bit,

My last Sky box was one of the very first Sky+ box. After it dies on me I join Virgin Media.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Channels listed here will close soon on SD-only receivers. STILL Got a SD Box? You need to contact Sky/Freesat to upgrade:

ATN
Ahlebait
PoliticsPunjab
KICC
Xpanded
Word Net
Ayozat
92 News
iON
ImamHussein3
WRN Euro

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

I'm curious how many people still have an SD only sky box.

I reckon those who dont give a blast about HD (Which is more than ya think)

They cant force people off what they have had all thier lives!!

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

They haven't had it all there lives and yes they can make them upgrade as the SD service dwindles in numbers it costs more to maintain for less customers and if they switch the old service off customers will have to upgrade. Look what happened to analogue TV, cable and satellite services, they are all gone.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Of course they can, they simply stop the service.

Ya its sad isnt it??

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

No it's good. No need to keep old service or legacy systems about.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Anyone with an SD-only or Sky+ receiver will need to contact Sky / Freesat for help to upgrade your box to HD on numbers below:

Freesat: 0345 313 0051 / http://hdsatelliteupgrade.co.uk
Sky: 0333 759 1018 / http://sky.com/help


Update:

Following to close by June:
-The rest of Sky Cinema SD Channels
-Sky Sports SD Channels
-MUTV

Following to close by September:
-All SD Channels will close.

Note all channels will stay on SkyQ boxes.

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https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/sky-up...oxes-blackout/

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

So, atm, Sky charge extra for "HD" (£9 / Month).
https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...chmentid=30935


So are they dropping that charge, or sneaking in a forced price rise.

This is really stupid!!!

Doesnt it cost them MORE to supply wide signals like this? (HD)

You would think they would wanna stay SD!!

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Astra UK are doing updates right now.

SD Boxes will not work anymore from September to get your SD Channels Sky viewers need to get SkyQ, Sky Glass or Sky Stream in.

Yea I hear ya mate!!

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

But the SD channels are duplicates.

By consolidating and presumably shifting everything to DVB-S2 for bandwidth efficiency Sky reduce the number of transponders needed.

Probably SES have wider plans to reduce the utilisation of their fleet, extending the lifespan and reducing the amount of in orbit redundancy across their orbital slots.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

You like to have perfect sound. Some of us are pulled towards better pictures. Why would you want inferior picture quality?

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Why?

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HD is now standard. Sky shouln't be charging more for that.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Regardless of what you think they "should" be doing, that is what they are doing.
Thats taken from my account today, I have Sky Q. (They are offering two months free, then back to £9 a month).

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

AIUI not all SD channels will close. Those without an HD duplicate will remain.

However, they will no longer be accessible to SD boxes, only HD capable boxes as they will be moving across to S2.

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Very few as, when the BBC ceased their SD channels, there were far fewer people contacting the help schemes than was envisaged.

In turn this has encouraged ITV & Sky to start shutting down their SD channels. Other broadcasters are bound to follow suit.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

Less than 2% were still using SD boxes a few months ago according to research carried out by ITV, so it will be even less now.

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

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.

https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/itv-closin...y-and-freesat/

Re: Sky SD viewers told to upgrade
 

:doh:

Well any excuse to charge more they will!!