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.
9:03 PM
Hi
I am a Sky subscriber, I have Sky downstairs and have just cancelled Multiroom for upstairs (I have a second Sky Plus box upstairs).
I want to convert the second box to Freeview/FreeSat. MR has been cancelled, but cannot see any Freeview/Sat channels.
Not sure if having the MR/second box option has throws a spanner in the works. Can I have Sky downstairs and Freeview/Sat upstairs.
If so how do I do this?
Many thanks in advance.
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10:11 PM
Ferom Jan 1st next year SKY will be obliged to pay vat collected from ROI suscribers to Irish Revenue.This is in response to a new EU directive that vat must be paid where a ompany has a presence in billing area.Vat is 23% in ROI .Sky will probably absorb the increase to remain competitive with UPC cable and Eircom.
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11:19 AM
If I cancel my Sky subscription I get to keep all the equipment, including the Sky+ box, but will I be able to continue to record and play back programmes from the free-to-air channels or does the record/play function cease along with my subscription?
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1:33 PM
Catherine Minahan: Your latter statement is correct. If though you wish to retain the facilities mentioned you should indicate this fact to Sky at the time of cancelling your subscription, as they have (or did anyway) a system in operation whereby for a charge of £10.25 per month you can retain this facility, although they will fully explain this to you as my info might be out of date.
Of course, needless to say, most Sky viewers decline to take up this offer and purchase a twin tuner Freesat recorder, the dish and two leads from being 100% compatible with Freesat devices..
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3:42 PM
Hi I cancelled Sky over a month ago and was going to stop on 8th October, it is now November 2nd and it is still working on all channels. Am I breaking the law by still using it?
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4:48 PM
Nick: It depends on what you mean by "its still working on all channels", because a Sky box does not stop working when a subscription has been cancelled, as all that happens is that the channels associated with the subscription, i.e: sky package channels come up with a "please insert viewing card" message when you try to view them.
The other aspect being, that if the box is of the Sky+ type the recording and playback facilities will cease to operate.
However, should those mentioned still be operational and you have definitely cancelled your subscription, then Sky has slipped up by not killing your access to view them, this done via an over air download directly into your viewing card.
You are not breaking any laws though, so just leave things as they are.
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5:18 PM
Thanks for that,let's see how long I can watch movies etc for.
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9:05 AM
Hi, my first year with Sky is up in January. If I leave them can I just disconnect my box and connect my scary cables back for the free view digital channels please.
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11:24 AM
i phone sky to get freesat from them but they offered me the sky package with a 40% discount which I took. I will cancel after a year as it is not worth the full price even though they will probably make me an offer to stay with them.
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10:35 PM
Help!!! I have a sky dish and sky digital box but with no viewing card. All of a sudden on my TV it says no signal being received. I've tried switching it on and off but still nothing I can't afford a sky package and I'm desperate for help.
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