I can only go by what they advertise on the customer service channel. It says something like ' leave the box switched on for 24 hours before inserting the new card, press Back Up, wait a while (?) and then the new card is accepted. Can't imagine that there would be a global 'cut-off' date - logistically that would be a nightmare.

Not sure about everyone but my box I think like many others switches itself to standby after just a few hours if the controller is not being used.
Maybe they will deactivate this procedure when the new cards are to be installed.

makes no difference...your sky box still receives the signals from the last channel it was on even when it is in standby mode!!!

infact the autostandby feature saves very little power...

as soon as your new cards has been activated correctly your old card stops accepting the signals and is effectly deactivated.
accoridng to reports you have about 4 weeks from the time that your start to get your on screen message to when your new newrd will no self activate correctly.
also they can quite happily kill all cards in many ways...
they can either send a signal to all cards via the satellite...just like they do if you have not paid on time.
or they can render the old blue cards useless by swicthing off the version 2 encryption, that he blue cards recognised, and fully transfering to the verion 3 encryption that the new cards recognise.
the 24 hours is just to ensure that the process goes smoothly..as in fact you should always have your card in the correct sky box at all times!

Just waiting for them to incorporate some sat locater device so they can pinpoint the exact location of every single box.

Then we'll all be up sh*t creek without a paddle......

Sky does not provide BBC or ITV, Astra does. The only thing Sky provides is the listing in the EPG.

I didn't mention it, but without a viewing card you will need to add C5 manually in 'add channels' and view it through 'other channels'.

Also, you currently won't be able to receive Fiver or Five US.

but it is on the same frequency as bbc2 so reception will be as per bbc2.

You can easily disable the 'Standby' mode as follows

Press ‘services’ button
Press 5 AUTO STANDBY
To switch between off/on use right arrow on remote,
When it reads on or off as required
Use down arrow to go to save settings,
Press ‘SELECT’

The option is now changed, you can change this option back at any time.