BBC issues urgent warning as 10 channels to disappear in the New Year

30 December 2023 , 16:40

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Ten channels will be removed from viewers' boxes in the New Year (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The BBC is urging viewers with older Sky and Freesat boxes to check their model number as channels are set to disappear in the New Year.

Ten popular channels will be removed from some viewers' boxes in less than three weeks time as part of a major operation to switch to high definition. "We are urging impacted homes to act now to avoid disappointment and loss of any BBC channels," said a spokesperson.

"Demand for our help scheme resources that launched 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."

The BBC is offering help to people who need to upgrade to HD (Getty Images)

The full list of channels to cease broadcasting on January 8, 2024 are: BBC One SD, BBC Two SD, BBC Three SD, BBC Four SD, CBBC SD, CBeebies SD, BBC News SD, BBC Scotland SD, BBC ALBA SD and BBC Parliament SD.

Viewers have had alerts about the BBC changes on their TVs for a while now, with a message reading: "From Monday 8th January 2024, all BBC TV and radio services will only be available on HD-enabled satellite equipment."

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"To continue to receive BBC services, you now need to upgrade," the alert adds. These changes are only affecting satellite viewers. So, Freeview and Virgin Media will still be able to access the 10 TV channels, it'll only affect Sky and Freesat customers.

The full list of devices affected are: 4F01 to 4F08 (Amstrad), 4E01 to 4E05 (Grundig), 9F01 to 9F08 and 9F0A (Pace), 0F01 to 0F05 (Panasonic), 4E06 to 4E08 (Thomson). On Sky+ it’s the 4F2001 to 4F2006 (Amstrad), 4F2101 to 4F2118 and 9F2101 to 9F2137 (Amstrad or Pace), 9F2001 to 9F2024, PVR2, 9F2201 to 9F2235, 9F2301 to 9F2339 (Pace), 4E2101 to 4E2141 (Thomson).

Users wanting to check if their box will be affected are urged to visit channel 799 on Freesat. Sky owners should go to channel 105, and if you see "Channel 5 HD" listed then your TV equipment is fine and won't be affected in the BBC loses. If you see no HD, you'll need to upgrade.

The BBC is offering vouchers for viewers towards their upgrade if necessary and Sky is offering customers a free upgrade to SkyQ.

Harry Rutter