BBC viewers warned TV channel ‘switch off’ date is moving FORWARD by three months – prepare now so you don’t miss shows

A MAJOR BBC plan to switch off its older channels will go ahead sooner than expected the broadcaster has announced.

Viewers have been warned to check their boxes now or face losing access to their favourite programmes.

Change will affect favourites including BBC One

The Beeb started moving all its channels available on satellite to HD earlier this year.

With it, the SD (standard definition) channels are being turned off on the platform for good next year.

It means anyone with a dated SD-only Freesat or Sky set-top box will no longer be able to tune into any BBC channels.

The BBC initially said SD channels would disappear in March.

But they’ve now brought the date forward to January 8, 2024.

Affected viewers are able to apply for support, including free vouchers towards a new box.

Kieran Clifton, Director for BBC Distribution & Business Development, said take-up had been “much lower than expected”.

“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,” he said.

“Following the introduction of ‘lower-third-of-screen’ messaging in September, we are now in the final stages of migrating those remaining SD-only satellite homes on to HD-enabled devices.

“Because of this, we are moving the switch-off date of our SD channels on satellite platforms slightly from March 2024 to 8 January 2024.”

From January 8 onwards, SD channels on satellite will show a “channel closed” message.

People will still be able to request support “for a short time afterwards” if they missed out.

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