What is HDTV

Want up to four times more picture detail on your HD ready TV? Get the ultimate viewing experience with Sky+ HD - enjoy pictures so sharp you can see every face in the crowd and colours so rich you can feel its intensity.

HD TV uses either 720 lines or 1080 lines. That multiplies the number of pixels used by up to four times, and gives you much more detail than normal TV.

HD-ready TVs come in two main resolutions: 720 and 1080 line resolutions. If you’re buying a large screen (anything over 37 inches) you’ll need a TV displaying 1080 lines to experience the best quality that Sky+ HD can bring you.

Sky+ HD gives you amazing picture quality - images are sharper, colours more vibrant and, when you hook your HD ready TV up to a home cinema system, sound is rich and resonant. Just imagine how that intensifies the drama and excitement of watching the latest blockbuster movie or live football.

What you will need

To watch HD programmes you will need a Sky+ HD box, which comes with all the familiar Sky+ features and includes high definition capability. If you want to enjoy HD entertainment in one room and your existing Sky TV in another, simply add a Sky+ HD box and a Multiroom subscription.

You can record up to 30 hours of high-definition, or 80 hours of standard-definition programmes The Sky+ HD box has all the benefits of Sky+, like recording whole series at the press of a button, recording two programmes at a time, and even setting your Sky+ HD box to record from your mobile or through Sky.com.

Our Sky+ HD box comes with all the Sky+ functionality. To use the Personal Video Recorder features of the Sky+ HD box a Sky+ subscription is required, which is free to all Sky digital subscribers.

If you're a new customer you'll need to have a minidish fitted, which we'll do for you when you join us. If you currently have a Sky box (but not a Sky+ box), you'll just need to replace this with a Sky+ HD box and have some extra cabling installed, which we'll take care of for you. If you're a Sky+ customer, all we'll need to do is change your Sky+ box to a Sky+ HD box.

What you can watch

Sky offers the biggest HD channel line-up of any broadcaster in Europe, across 18 HD channels: Sky One HD, Sky Sports HD1, Sky Sports HD2, Sky Sports HD3, Sky Movies Premiere HD, Sky Movies Screen 1 HD, Sky Movies Screen 2 HD, Sky Box Office HD (2 screens), Sky Arts HD, National Geographic HD, Discovery HD, The History Channel HD, FXHD, Rush HD, Luxe TV HD, Channel 4 HD and BBC HD. The HD channels you receive depend on the Sky TV channel package taken. (Luxe TV HD, Channel 4 HD and BBC HD are available without any subscriptions. Channel 4 HD requires a valid viewing card.) Access to some channels depends on your Sky TV subscription.

You will be able to watch three HD channels without any subscriptions: BBC HD, Channel 4 HD and Luxe TV HD. To watch these HD channels you will need a Sky+ HD box and a HD ready TV (a valid viewing card is required for Channel 4 HD). You need to subscribe to Sky digital and the Sky HD Mix to view the HD mix channels and a choice of on-demand high definition programmes. You can only receive the Sky Sports HD channels if your Sky digital subscription includes the Sky Sports Mix. You can only receive all the Sky Movies HD channels if your Sky digital subscription includes the Sky Movies Mix.

All channels broadcasting in high definition have 'HD' at the end of their name. Once you've got your Sky+ HD box you'll be able to press 2 in your on-screen TV guide to see all the HD channels together.

Some channels, such as Sky Movies, will be broadcast entirely in HD. Others will offer a selection of programmes in HD. These will be highlighted on your Sky TV Guide.

Existing Customers

Replace your current box with Sky+ HD to get all the Sky+ features you love with stunning high definition images. Or add a Sky+ HD box to create harmony across the house with Sky Multiroom. We will credit £15 to your Sky digital account if you upgrade your existing Sky box online by 30/09/08.