Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Yes, but only "sort of".
Freeview is the name of the (BBC-backed) digital TV system that uses hilltop transmitters to rooftop aerials. It is run separately from the "Sky" satellite-to-dish service.
free-to-VIEW is a term for satellite channels that need a viewing card to watch, but not to collect a subscription. free-to-AIR channels are ones that can be received without needing a viewing card or subscription.
The free-to-AIR satelite service backed by the BBC and ITV is called Freesat. The free-to-VIEW service operated by Sky is called fSfS or Freesat from Sky.
As long as you have finished your first year, you can leave Sky when you want.
To do this just give Sky a call and tell them you don't want to subscribe any more.
If you stop subscribing you will be able to watch the hundred or so free-to-air channels listed on free channels list. This service is called Freesat from Sky (fSfS).
Some of the channels on the Freeview service are subscription only on satellite, specifically: 4Music, Challenge, Dave, Dave ja vu, Quest, VIVA and Yesterday . See these links to compare the TV channels on Freesat-from-Sky and Freeview, and to compare radio stations on Freeview and fSfS. Many homes have free satellite and Freeview to get the full range of channels.
You will still need to keep your Sky viewing card. If you stop subscribing on a Sky contract, you can keep using that card to watch 5USA, 5* and PICK TV, the so-called "free-to-view" channels. (All ITV channels are free-to-air).
It is not possible to plug an aerial into a Sky Digibox to receive Freeview channels because the boxes have not been designed this way.
You will continue to get the full Sky EPG listings; you just will not be able to watch subscription channels.
If you want to go for High Definition, HD, you can swap out your Sky box for a Freesat one very easily.
A card is not needed to watch BBC services, but it is needed to get the correct BBC ONE and BBC TWO regions on 101 and 102.
Another option is to disconnect your Sky Digibox altogether and Upgrade from Sky to Freesat - ukfree.tv. If you have an HD-Ready TV and a standard Sky box, this is a good option.
1:47 PM
The BBC TV I-PLAYER via Freesat RELAYS MOST PROGRAMMES IN HD THESE DAYS unlike ITV PLAYER & 4OD & DEMAND 5 WHICH DO NOT.
(all you need is a rooter and an Ethernet cable, you don't even need WI-FI, you can get an Ethernet switching box available from CABLING4LESS or other online retailers). This ill let you use your computer and box at the same time.
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1:53 PM
SKY'S cheaper PHONE NUMBER IS 03442 411653 (free on some mobile and landline packages along with other 01; 02 and 03 numbers - check with your provider).
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8:39 PM
Nedbod/Mary
Mary will need not only a router/modem but also a broadband service that is fast enough to download programmes live without excessive biffering. That generally means something faster than 5 Mbps, which is almost always available on a fibre/cable service but not always (especially in rural areas) on ADSL (via the copper telephone wires).
I presume Mary has an internet service, but is it fast enough?
WiFi is easily fast enough for distributing the services in the home (802.11G is rated at 54 Mbps and 802.11N is at least 150 Mbps) and it usually faster than the external internet connection. Fast Ethernet is rated at 100 Mbps, so is ideal but needs wuitable wires laid from router/modem to the computer or smart TV.
But none of that actually answers Mary's query. I sorry I can't help more as my rural broadband is far too slow for any such services.
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10:33 PM
Mary: MikeP is quite right that you'll need a decent speed broadband to stream from the net, but for many thats perfectly fine. As for the actual services (Discovery, Disney & National Geographic), you can download, but it will cost you, and you will still have to pay Rupert Murdoch some money.. The Now TV service is an ondemand service from Sky (although strangely the Disney Channel seems to be live streaming only, rather than on demand), and can be accessed in a variety of ways. If you have an LG TV or Bluray which is smart and connected to the web, then the app is included for the past year or two. If not, then you can buy a Now TV box Now TV review . Basically its a streamer box, just like AppleTV or Roku (its actually a cut-down Roku). Its sold as a loss leader for the Now TV service, and can be had in stores from £14.99 (Sky will do it directly for a tenner, apparently). You tend to have to buy one as part of a package - £14.99 for a one day Sports Pass, etc. The Entertainment package is £34.99 for six months NOW TV Bundles | NOW TV and then £4.99 a month, depending on what deal you get. You can get them from all sorts of places, including supermarkets, at the same price. I had to get the box, since it was the cheapest and pretty much the only way of making my old CRT smartish. You now get all four channels on demand, and you get an HDMI cable as part of it. You need wifi, and you must give Now TV your card details so they can charge you for any extra services you want to use (frankly, I have no intention of using the one day pass, but thats life). It works pretty well, although there is not that much free content apart from the four channels. For you, it might be a useful solution. Your not paying a large amount of money, you just add it to your existing TV (and if your TV isn't smart, its very handy) and its pretty easy to use. The downside? If you've got an Ipad, then Apple TV would possibly make more sense, but it wouldn't have these apps. Its a cutdown Roku, so its relatively limited. You have to give the Murdoch empire your card details, and its the Murdoch empire (although you could argue that the £14.99 box is costing them money). And its temptation for Sky. Hope this helps.
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7:56 PM
Hi - I was given to understand that I could cancel my Sky subscription and use my existing Sky +box to receive any channels from the Sky Free Channel List for free. When I called Sky to cancel my subscription I was told that this was not possible, and that you had to have at least one of their packages to receive these so called "free to view" channels. The cheapest package being £21.50.
I am now somewhat confused! Was the article misleading or was the person I spoke to at Sky giving me incorrect information? As a result however, I have now taken out a new !2 monthly contract with Sky (at a reduced rate) so can do nothing at the moment, but I would like to know what the situation is for future reference. Thank you.
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11:02 PM
Ian Cartwright: This page gives you whats available on Freeview, Freesat and Sky 'No Card'. All free TV channels (page 18) | ukfree.tv - 12 years of independent, free digital TV advice Sky giving you incorrect or misleading information? Shocked, just shocked!
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12:04 AM
Ian Cartwright: Although that its obviously a bit late in the day to say this because of you having taken out another contract with Sky, but the best way for anyone to check what they will, or will not, be able to receive if they cancel their subscription is simply by removing the card from the box then running though the EPG channel list, as about the only channel I can think of that requires the card to be inserted in order to view it is Sony TV on 157, as although this "is" a free channel its transmission is encrypted for legal reasons.
The card is also required in order for you to be able to view the news services applicable to your area, but thats not really by a subscription as such, because when Sky cancels the card it automatically reverts to being a free to view card.
The only aspect that will change is that your Sky+ box will revert to being a normal box, as the recording / playback side of it will cease to function.
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11:13 PM
I cancel my sky now am getting nothing at all where i thought i could watch the free channels
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7:55 AM
denise rodgers : If you have been viewing Sky programme channels via a normal Sky box connected into your own dish? then cancelling Sky "only" results in you being unable to view subscription based programmes and not anything other than those, if though you are unable to view anything then its purely coincidental.
Carry out a signal test on your box by pressing "Services - 4 - 6" (on standard box) and check that both strength and quality are indicated above 50%, if zero levels are seen then there is a problem with the dish.
Further advice dependant on feedback.
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10:58 PM
can I view BT sport channel via my sky box if I cancel my subscription?
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