Some TV channels under standard definition (SD) simulcasts have been removed by BBC on Freesat. The changes will take effect in January 2024.
Delisted BBC Channels on Freesat
In favor of HD, BBC is now eliminating SD channels on satellite. The switch-off plan for the transition will start early next year.
With this, you won't be able to stream BBC channels anymore from your old SD set-top Freesat box. According to RXTV Info, the SD copies of the following channels will be affected.
- BBC Three
- BBC Four
- BBC News
- CBBC
- CBeebies
- BBC Scotland
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What Viewers Need to Know
If you owned a Freesat HD or 4K receiver, you might have noticed SD copies of BBC Three, BBC Four, and BBC Scotland in the 170s on your Freesat channel list. BBC News SD was on channel 212, and CBBC and CBeebies SD were on channels 607 and 608. BBC RB1 SD has now become a hidden channel.
It's important to note that this transition aligns with industry trends. Commercial broadcasters have increasingly moved away from simulcasting in both SD and HD formats. The BBC's practice of listing both SD and HD variants for BBC One and BBC Two HD is no longer applicable.
Impact on Older Freesat Users
For users of older Freesat boxes, the change does not apply immediately. They can continue to access SD channels on different numbers. However, they will lose access to these channels on January 8, 2024.
Interestingly, Sky's satellite channel guide continues to list both SD and HD versions of the BBC's channels, offering a different experience for its users.
The BBC's decision to remove SD channels was expedited due to a low response to its on-screen messaging. This shift reflects the changing landscape of viewer preferences, suggesting that reliance on SD-only receivers is decreasing.
Future-Proofing Technology
In this transition, it's worth noting that Freesat boxes manufactured over the last decade are designed to support HD by default. Similarly, Sky HD, Sky+HD, and Sky Q prioritize BBC HD channels on their primary channel numbers, making the shift seamless for many viewers.
"Demand for these resources, as measured by the activity and take-up of the support offered since our announcement in March this year, has been much lower than expected and we believe the number of homes still using SD-only satellite equipment is now far lower than anticipated," Director for BBC Distribution & Business Development, Kieran Clifton said via The Sun.
Clifton added that BBC is now preparing to entirely migrate the SD-only satellite homes to HD devices.
Earlier last month, BBC revealed that it was exploring AI-powered journalism. The move will highlight blocking web crawlers from accessing its websites.
