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You’re using Sky WRONG – the real meaning of codes and symbols revealed

KNOW your UHD from your AD?

There are so many codes and symbols on your TV set-top box that it can be hard to keep up with it all.

Sky released its first dish-less service Sky Glass last year

Thankfully, they’re not as confusing as you might think, as Sky explains.

In fact, they’re designed to be helpful.

What do the letter codes on Sky TV mean?

These are used to tell you things like accessibility, as well as picture and sound features.

There are ones most people are pretty familiar with, like HD, for high definition, and UHD, for ultra high definition.

Other more common examples include S, for shows that come with subtitles, and W, to tell if a show is in widescreen.

Among the less obvious is AD. This means audio description, providing a special extra commentary for blind or partially sighted people, describing what is going on in the programme or movie being watched.


Similarly, SL means sign language, which is a special version that uses an on-screen a signer.

Meanwhile, DS is used if a show can provide surround sound, as long as you have the right TV and speaker system of course.

What do the rating codes on Sky TV mean?

The rating codes on Sky are pretty much the same as the standard BBFC classification system.

These include U, PG, 12, 15 and 18.

For those that aren’t already aware, U means any age can watch, while PG (parental guidance) says you should considering whether it is suitable for a young child.

12, 15 and 18 are suitable for the respective age and above.

Letter codes can be seen all across Sky’s set-top boxes

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