Sky Deutschland will begin switching a large number of channels carried on Vodafone’s cable platform from traditional cable delivery to an IP-based feed, with the migration starting on 10 February.
The change affects Sky subscribers who take the service via Vodafone cable. Sky confirmed to German trade title Digitalfernsehen.de that impacted channels will no longer be distributed “classically” via the cable network, instead being delivered as IPTV.
Customers will need an internet-connected Sky receiver to keep receiving the affected channels. Sky said it will contact subscribers using older set-top boxes and offer upgrades to Sky Q hardware, which must be connected to the internet for the full line-up. Homes already using a Sky Q receiver online are not expected to notice the transition.
Sky has already been using IP distribution for some carriage, including Nat Geo Wild since 2025. The broader shift is expected to reduce distribution costs by limiting cable feed-in fees, while Sky also points to added capacity and technical features made possible via IPTV, including interactive services such as My Matchday and additional camera angles for events including Formula 1 and MotoGP.
As part of the move, Sky is expected to extend access for Vodafone cable customers to 6 channels previously limited to satellite households: Cartoon Network; Crime+Investigation; Home channel; Jukebox; Motorvision+ and Nicktoons
Sky said not all services will move to IPTV. A number of channels, particularly the Sky Sport suite, will remain available via the cable network, including Sky Sport UHD.
The migration underlines Sky’s wider push towards IP distribution in Germany, where Sky Stream is positioned as the operator’s internet-first platform for both on-demand and linear channel delivery, while Sky Q remains available for cable and satellite households.
