Digital radio with Sky

Sky is the most popular pay-TV provider and satellite service in the UK. Although best known for its range of television channels, it’s possible to listen to digital radio with Sky. There are more than 40 digital radio stations on the service.

On 13 December 2023 several radio stations were removed from Sky. These were Absolute Radio, Planet Rock, KISS, Magic, Hits Radio, Absolute 80s, Absolute 90s, Jazz FM, Absolute Classic Rock and Greatest Hits Radio.

Absolute Radio previously listed Sky among TV platforms including Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media on the ‘Ways to listen to Absolute Radio’ page on their website. The references to these platforms are no longer displayed.

Sky users can already access the full range of radio channels through their Sky digibox, regardless of receiver type and subscription. Freesat from Sky users can also access the same line-up of channels.

Listening to radio on Sky

Radio channels on Sky can be accessed through the TV guide or directly with a channel number.

Information about a radio programme on the Sky EPG
Information about a radio programme on the Sky EPG

To listen to radio through TV Guide, press the tv guide button on the top of the remote control. Press select to enter the TV Guide, then the left button twice to see the list of radio channels. Press the down button to scroll through the radio channels, then select to listen to the chosen radio station.

Alternatively from any TV or radio channel you can enter the number of a radio channel, if you know it. We’ve compiled a full list below.

Unlike DAB digital radio there isn’t scrolling text with additional information, such as the name of the currently playing song or the next programme. General information about the current on-air programme or station is shown.

The audio quality of radio channels on Sky is very good. Older Sky receivers have analogue RCA (phono) out connections so that an amplifier or hifi system can be used to listen to radio channels with the television switched off. Newer Sky+HD receivers and Sky Q boxes have an optical audio output.

Freesat from Sky

Freesat from Sky is a digital television platform which uses Sky set-top boxes to receive free television and radio channels. The service can be purchased for £254 including installation, or a viewing card can be purchased for £25 if equipment is already installed.

As all digital radio stations on Sky are ‘free to air’, i.e. available for free without a subscription, the line-up of radio channels is the same as with a Sky subscription.

There are more radio channels on Freesat from Sky than Freesat or Freeview.

Digital radio channels on Sky

More than 40 digital radio stations are available on Sky and Freesat from Sky.

All of the BBC’s national and regional services are available, but not the BBC local radio stations. Popular radio stations including Heart, Capital and Radio X are available in addition to digital only Heart 90s and Virgin Radio.

Some of the newest national radio stations, such as talkRADIO and Mellow Magic, are not currently available via satellite.

NumberEPG NameRadio Station Name
0101BBC R1BBC Radio 1
0102BBC R2BBC Radio 2
0103BBC R3BBC Radio 3
0104BBC R4 FMBBC Radio 4 (FM)
0105BBC R5LBBC Radio 5 live
0106Classic FMClassic FM
0108talkSPORTtalkSPORT
0109CapitalCapital
0111HeartHeart
0112Heart 80sHeart 80s
0113Radio XRadio X
0114Capital XTRACapital XTRA
0115BBC WSBBC World Service
0116BBC R Scot.BBC Radio Scotland
0117BBC R WalesBBC Radio Wales
0118BBC R UlsterBBC Radio Ulster
0119BBC AsianBBC Asian Network
0120BBC 6 MusicBBC Radio 6 Music
0121GoldGold
0122WRN EuropeWRN Europe
0123LBCLBC
0124SmoothSmooth Radio
0125Panjab RadioPanjab Radio
0126BBC R4 ExBBC Radio 4 Extra
0127BBC R1XBBC Radio 1Xtra
0128TWRTrans World Radio
0129BBC R n GaelBBC Radio nan Gàidheal
0130BBC R4 LWBBC Radio 4 (LW)
0131BBC R5SXBBC Radio 5 live sports extra
0132Heart DanceHeart Dance
0133Sukh SagarSukh Sagar Radio
0136BBC R CymruBBC Radio Cymru
0137RTÉ Radio 1RTÉ Radio 1
0138RTÉ 2FMRTÉ 2FM
0139RTE Lyric fmRTÉ lyric fm
0140RTE R na GRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
0147EWTN CatholicEWTN Catholic
0149BFBS RadioBFBS Radio
0150Virgin RadioVirgin Radio
0152Heart 90sHeart 90s
0153BBC Cymru 2BBC Radio Cymru 2
0154BBC R FoyleBBC Radio Foyle
0155LBC NewsLBC News