If you have SkyHD and your TV is connected through HDMI then you want to go unplug it before you read any further - trust us.

In the land of High Definition, all is not well. Not if you're a SkyHD customer that is, after all, the majority of the stuff you are watching right now is on an HD channel, but the content isn't likely to ACTUALLY be HD quality - but I digress, the true problem is that great big fancy flat panel you bought, especially if it has a Pioneer badge on the front.

Over the past few weeks there have been more and more reports of the HDMI ports on Pioneer plasma displays frying themselves for no apparent reason. What started out as a fairly isolated problem has become a bit of a headache for Sky.

Now, over two weeks after the reports started coming in on the AVForums.com, Sky have finally made an announcement.

“We’re aware of a number of reports of HDCP compatibility issues with some Pioneer televisions when used in conjunction with a SkyHD box. Sky and Pioneer are working together to investigate the reports as a matter of urgency.

“We’ve designed the SkyHD box so that it is easy to use and compatible with a wide range of TV sets. Specifically, it is intended to work with TVs that carry the HD Ready label and it has successfully passed independent tests for compliance with the HDMI and HDCP protocols.

“While we investigate these reports, the recommendation to customers who experience this situation is that they simply use the component output to connect their SkyHD box to their TV to continue viewing SkyHD content. We will update customers once the cause of the reported issue has been identified.”

So let’s get this straight, we, the consumers, have shelled out big bucks for our HDMI-equipped kit and now you tell us to revert to component? Ah yes, but ONLY after we experience problems, by which time it’s too late, the HDMI port has gone to the land of nod. It's an odd situation though, as this isn't an immediate failure, but one that seems to occur a week or two after the SkyHD box has been happily pumping crisp content to your display.

Sky are looking into the problem and so are Pioneer - but who's going to be responsible when they do figure it out is anyone's guess. So far Pioneer have said the fried kit won't be covered by warranty if it was connected to a SkyHD box and Sky are saying, while they are aware of the problem, it can't possibly be their fault.

In fact, while Pioneer and Sky have each said their piece it turns out that more and more equipment is failing, from Toshiba projectors to Philips LCDs. Clearly, the knowledgeable people on the AVForums have uncovered a problem that is proving elusive to fix.

Sky seem to have only communicated to the educated few over at AVForums. A quick search on Sky.com brings up nothing of note. At the time of writing, no letters have been sent out to customers by Sky warning them of the problem.

With the AVForums community desperate for a solution, it's up to Sky customers themselves to protect their investment for the time being. So, go on, if you have SkyHD do yourself a favour and stick it on component.

More news on the subject as we get it, but in the meantime why not comment in the HEXUS.community?