The Sky Q platform can now play HDR content, here’s how to watch HDR on your Sky Q box.
Related: Sky Q 2020 review
How to watch HDR on your Sky Q box
Sky launched its HDR service on May 27th, although not all of its boxes were compatible. The original Sky Q Silver box shipped with a HDMI 1.4 output, which was before the current HDR standard was established.
First, you’ll need a Ultra HD or Sky Q Experience subscription for 4K content. And before you can start watching HDR content, you need to make sure your set-top box is compatible via the process below.
- Press the Home button
- Select Settings
- Select System info to view the box’s hardware version/number
Only Sky Q boxes with these numbers are compatible with the HDR update:
Sky Q 2TB boxes
Sky Q 1TB boxes
- 32B203
- 32B204
- 32B205
- 32B206
As the Sky Q Mini boxes do not support Ultra HD, you cannot watch any HDR programming on these units. For customers with 2TB boxes, a fee of £50 is required and this includes postage, administration fees and the return of your old Sky box. For those who need a replacement for a 1TB box, this will incur a cost of £25.
Related: How to get Disney Plus on Sky Q
The 1TB replacement program has already commenced, while the 2TB replacement program is still in the process of being set up – you can register your interest in a 2TB box here. If you’re not interested in HDR, Sky will still support older boxes.
Next up is to make sure your TV is HDR compliant (virtually all new 4K TVs are), and then another trip into the Settings to enable HDR:
- Press Home
- Select Settings
- Select Setup, then Audio visual
- Choose 2160p (UHD)
You’ll receive a prompt asking to select 8-bit, 10-bit or ‘Find it for me’. To make it simple, select 10-bit, as that is what’s required for HDR playback.
How to find 4K HDR content on Sky Q
Once that’s over, there’s a limited amount of HDR content available on the service, but more is scheduled to be coming in the lead up to Christmas. Disney Plus is also available in 4K HDR on the Q service, but last we checked we were still waiting for the Netflix app to receive HDR support.
Sky Cinema will be getting movies in HDR by Christmas, while they’ll be live HDR sports in 2021.
Here’s a list of 4K HDR content available and upcoming:
Sky Original TV series
- A Discovery of Witches – September
- Brassic 2 – Late September
- Britannia II
- Bulletproof
- Cobra
- Save Me Too – Late August
Sky Q documentaries
- Gangs of Lemur Island,
- Pridelands: Wilderness Reborn
- Malawi Wildlife Rescue
Sky Cinema
Sky Sports
TV & Audio Editor
Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and …
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