BBC's Bold Move: Enhancing On-Screen Alerts Sparks Intrigue Amid Channel Closures

BBC increases on-screen alerts ahead of channel closures

On the SD version of BBC One on satellite, on-screen messaging has increased to inform viewers about the upcoming closure of all SD channels from the BBC. This move aims to raise awareness among viewers and prompt them to take action by switching to HD services.

• Last year, BBC announced its plan to close all SD channels on satellite and make services available only in HD.
• Prior to this latest increase in on-screen messaging, the broadcaster had already replaced regional programming with on-screen messages and added messaging between programmes.
• Now, viewers will encounter periodic captions covering the lower third of the screen, reminding them to take action.
• Viewers who use the SD copy of BBC One on Sky to record programmes will also be affected.

Viewers will soon need an HD-compatible receiver to continue watching BBC TV programmes on Sky and Freesat. Additionally, this change will impact BBC Radio, as it will be moving to a broadcast standard that older SD-only receivers do not support.

The BBC has been utilizing BBC One SD on satellite to display an increasing number of on-screen messages since February. This started with the removal of all regional versions of BBC One, which were replaced with on-screen captions. Later, messaging was inserted between programmes, and now entire programmes feature on-screen messaging covering the bottom third of the screen.

Minority of viewers affected

Although only a small number of viewers will be affected, this may include older viewers and those with special needs. Some regions provided SD-only Freesat boxes during the digital switchover help scheme, which may need replacement if still in use by affected viewers.

Viewers who do not see the on-screen messaging or already receive BBC One in HD will not need to take any action. Users of Freeview, YouView, Virgin Media, and Sky's online-based Sky Glass/Sky Stream service are also not affected.

According to the latest timetable published by the BBC, standard definition channels on satellite will be switched off in early 2024.

Sky satellite viewers should contact Sky to arrange an upgrade to Sky Q, while Freesat users are advised to visit hdsatelliteupgrade.co.uk for more information on their available options.

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Sky and Freesat users with HD receivers

On Sky, the SD version of BBC One currently appears as channel 801. Some viewers may have been using this version to record programmes on Sky+HD or Sky Q due to the smaller file size of SD recordings. However, with the increased occurrence of on-screen messaging, viewers who still use this method may find their recordings covered by the messages. Affected viewers can instead record from BBC One HD on channel 101 or catch up on BBC programmes through the iPlayer.

On Freesat, the SD version of BBC One has already been delisted from newer HD boxes. It is only available on older Freesat boxes, and viewers still using these will need to upgrade their receivers soon.

March 2024

The BBC is expected to vacate its last remaining satellite transponder solely used for standard definition by March 2024. By this time, BBC Radio services, which currently broadcast alongside TV services, will have fully migrated to new capacity utilizing the DVB-S2 broadcast standard. Currently, BBC Radio is dual-illuminated on both old and new frequencies. The satellite copy of BBC Radio 4 LW will also be deleted, as the BBC is closing its long wave service at the end of March 2024.