Turned on your Sky+/Sky Q box only to find your favourite channel has been replaced by The Jamie Oliver Channel or some other waste of pixels? That’s because Sky has performed a massive reshuffle of its channel numbers. Below, we’ll explain the changes and where to find the major channels now.
What are the new Sky channel numbers: +1 channels
The most sensible part of the reshuffle is the new system for +1 channels. Sky has moved these into the 200s and the channel numbers now directly mirror their live counterpart. So, for example, ITV is on channel 103, and ITV+1 is channel 203, making it easy to remember the catch-up numbers.
Here’s a list of popular catch-up channels:
ITV+1 – 203
C4+1 – 204
5+1 – 206
Sky One +1 – 206
Sky Atlantic +1 – 208
Gold+1 – 210
Dave ja vu – 211
Comedy Central +1 − 212
Nat Geo +1 − 229
E4 +1 – 235
What are the new Sky channel numbers: documentaries
If you like to sit down of an evening and watch documentaries about Hitler’s choice of underwear, Sky’s documentary section is the very place for you. The documentary channels have been shifted because “the distinction between the programming on Documentaries channels and general entertainment programming has become less defined,” according to Sky, as if the BBC has only just discovered these new-fangled documentary things.
Anyhow, there’s still a dedicated Documentaries section on the electronic programme guide, but many channels have new numbers, including:
Discovery HD − 125
Nat Geo HD − 129
History HD – 130
Yesterday – 155
Lifetime HD – 164
What are the new Sky channel numbers: HD channels
Under the old system, Sky would often list HD versions of channels alongside standard fuzzy definition. Now, Sky will merely show one channel, depending on which subscription package you have. If you pay extra for HD (yes, this is still a thing in 2018) then the programme guide will largely show the HD channels, and if you’re a skinflint like me, the SD channels will get prime position.
There are some exceptions to this. For starters, even if you don’t pay for Sky HD, you still get HD versions of the ‘free-to-air’ channels such as BBC, ITV and Channel 4. That said, BBC1 HD doesn’t move to channel 101, because it still has regional news shows that aren’t broadcast in HD, so you get stuck with fuzzyvision on channel 101, while BBC 1 HD can be found at 115. BBC2 HD is at 102. Confusing, huh?
If you’ve lost a HD/SD channel, it’s now likely loitering somewhere in the 800s.
Now read this: How do I cut my Sky bill?
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