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ITV adds missing HD regions ahead of SD channel switch-off


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The latest remaining ITV 1 regions still broadcasting in standard definition on satellite will be upgraded to HD next month.

ITV says the new Border Scotland HD and Channel TV HD services will appear on Sky satellite and Freesat receivers in both regions during the course of November.

But viewers with older SD-only boxes, already affected by the BBC’s decision to close SD services, will need to take action to continue receiving their local ITV via satellite.

ITV will be closing four more SD regions in January 2024. They are:

  • Border Scotland
  • Channel TV
  • Wales
  • UTV

ITV has already closed a number of ITV 1 SD regions on satellite, including Anglia, Border England, Central East, Meridian West, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire.

Following the latest closures, there will only be four SD regions left: London, Central West, Meridian East and Granada.

Viewers using older SD set-top boxes in regions where ITV has closed the local ITV 1 region in SD will instead see an alternative ITV 1 region. But affected viewers are strongly encouraged to upgrade as the number of broadcasters switching off SD continues to grow.

Over 98% of satellite viewers can already receive HD channels and won’t be affected by the changes. That includes anyone using a Sky+ HD or Sky Q box.

ITV currently broadcasts its remaining SD channels across two satellite transponders on the Astra 2E satellite (10891H (transponder 53) and 10906V (transponder 54)).

The closure of four more ITV 1 SD regions will continue the clearance of transponder 53, which already has an empty slot after the closure of CITV.

Transponder 54 contains the three STV regions that are not broadcast free-to-air in HD on satellite and thus can’t be cleared at the moment.

ITV still has some work to do: in addition to completing the upgrade of ITV 1 to HD in all regions, ITVBe is yet to appear in HD. And it currently has three HD channels occupying capacity leased by Sky. One extra transponder for HD will allow ITV to accommodate all of its channels on its own capacity.

Frequencies and tuning parameters of the new ITV 1 HD regions are yet to be confirmed. The exact date of the HD launch in November and the SD switch-off in January is also not confirmed.

Freeview

There’s no changes to Freeview announced by ITV – so the ongoing lack of a fully regionalised ITV 1 HD on the terrestrial platform continues for now.

Contact details for viewers needing assistance with the change

  • Freesat
    • 0345 3130051

Acknowledgements

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