Digital TV Guides

Sky HD: What can I watch with the Sky HD pack?

By Becca Talbot

Friday 12 November, 2010 (Updated: Tuesday 6 March, 2012)

If you’ve got Sky and a HD-ready TV, you could bring all your favourite films, sports and TV programmes to life, simply by subscribing to the Sky HD pack...

With over 50 high-definition (HD) channels now available, Sky (www.sky.com) is the number one choice for HD TV, with more than 3.3 million homes around the UK subscribing to it. Among Sky’s high-definition content there are nine sports channels, 15 movie channels, one news channel and 29 entertainment channels.

Whether you’re already a Sky subscriber or a new customer looking to join Sky, Sky’s HD pack will give you all the HD channels you want - letting you watch everything in super-sharp high-definition for only £10.25 extra a month. Find out more about what’s included in the Sky HD pack below.

Sky HD pack

Sky is the UK’s biggest satellite TV provider, with over 10 million homes around the country taking its TV service. It has over 50 high-definition channels to choose from, which are available to all homes with a Sky+HD set-top box and a subscription to the HD Pack.

Some of the high-definition channels available in the HD Pack include:

• Sky1 HD - The high-definition version of Sky’s flagship entertainment channel, Sky1, brings you long-standing favourites such as The Simpsons and the latest series of hit shows from across the pond like Glee in shiny HD
• ITV2 HD - Get up close and personal with all your favourite ITV2 shows, like The Only Way is Essex and Celebrity Juice, in high-definition
• E4 HD - A simulcast of the Channel 4’s E4 channel, programmes such as Skins, Misfits and Hollyoaks are produced and transmitted in the HD format
• Sky Living HD - Rebranded as Sky Living from Living last year, the channel shows programmes mainly aimed at women, like The Love Machine and America’s Next Top Model, in HD
• Nat Geo Wild HD - From tornadoes to tarantulas, Nat Geo Wild HD brings you the magnificence of nature, wildlife, the weather and our world in amazing high-definition
• Sky News HD - Watch news from around the world with sharper pictures and in a widescreen format

The HD Pack is available for an extra £10.25 a month on top of your normal subscription. If you’re a sports fan or movie buff, you can also add the Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels in high-definition for an extra monthly fee.

Sky Movies HD

The HD Pack will bring you closer to the movies than ever before, with up to five times more picture detail, high-end audio and vibrant colour. All Sky’s film seasons and specials are shown on Sky Movies Showcase HD, which is available if you take both the Movies Pack and HD Pack.

If you have a Sky+HD box and subscribe to the Movies Pack and the HD Pack, you’ll get access to any high-definition versions of the movie channels you currently receive.

Sky Movies channels available in HD include:

• Sky Movies Premiere HD - Enjoy the biggest and best blockbusters from Hollywood and beyond, showing 90 of the top 100 Hollywood box office hits each year, all in glorious HD
• Sky Movies Comedy HD - If you love comedies, you can watch all the latest releases in high-definition on Sky Movies Comedy HD
• Sky Movies Sci Fi & Horror HD - Showing some of Hollywood’s biggest sci-fi and horror films, matching frighteningly realistic picture detail with Dolby Digital sound
• MGM HD - Watch digitally remastered films in high-definition on MGM HD, including a range of titles and genres stretching from renowned movie classics to flicks from recent years
• Disney Cinemagic 3D - Watch some family favourites in HD, including first-run Disney films, animated classics and well-known animated series.

Adding the Movies Pack to your TV subscription will cost £16 extra a month on top of your standard subscription.

Sky Sports HD

Sports fans should definitely consider pairing Sky’s Sports Pack with the HD Pack - a subscription to both packs will get you a seat down the front to all your favourite sporting events, so you can watch all the action in super-sharp detail.

With up to nine sports channels in high-definition, you’ll feel closer to the action. The channels you’ll get include:

• Sky Sports HD1-HD4 - Four channels of live sports from Premier League matches and Premiership Rugby to test, one-day and domestic cricket and all the major golf tournaments in greater detail and brighter colours
• Sky Sports F1 HD - Watch Formula One racing come to life in HD on Sky’s new dedicated F1 channel, which will bring you every race and every qualifying session in amazing detail
• ESPN HD - ESPN HD offers additional live Premier League, FA Cup and Scottish Premier League games, plus 43 live matches from England's top flight rugby union league, the Premiership, as well as more rugby action from France’s Top 14 and international friendlies.

The Sports pack costs £20 extra a month on top of your standard subscription, or £29 with ESPN and it’s US cousin, ESPN America, added on

What is HD TV?

With high-definition TV, watching documentaries, sports and films becomes more lifelike. HD pictures are up to five times clearer and sharper than those in standard definition, and with Dolby Digital sound, you’ll feel like you’re really in the midst of the action.

This video shows the benefits of HD TV:

There are plenty of HD TV channels available in the UK now, spanning a range of genres, so whatever you want to watch, there is something for everyone. Take a look at what’s on offer from the various digital TV providers, compare prices and then make the switch to high-definition online to get the best deal you can.

If you want to find out more about HD television, download the Digitalchoices.co.uk complete guide to high-definition TV.