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Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?

Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?

Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Free
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.



All questions
BBC Three Linear channel re-opens1
Removing all barriers to communication between diverse cultures2
How do I get a test card with Freeview3
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau4
Can I receive UK TV in Ghana?5
In this section
Can I use my ex-contract sky digital satellite receiver to get Freeview channels1
What can I do when my Sky Digibox says 'No Signal' or 'Technical fau2
I have a Panasonic TV with integrated Freeview how can I record Freeview channel3
My Sky box has a "no signal message" - what do I do?4
How do I change the RF output channel on a Sky Digibox?5
I have split the signal from my satellite dish and now nothing works.6

Comments
Thursday, 20 January 2011
S
Steve Hine
4:52 PM

We have just finished with Sky and purchased a Sony TV that receives freeview etc using the satellite dish.However cant get any live broadcasts on the red button.Tried channel 301 during the tennis, came up with not available. Do I need to replace the dish with an aerial.

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Steve Hine's 1 post GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

5:16 PM

john mills: True enough.

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

5:18 PM

Steve Hine: Freeview doesn't use a dish, it uses an aerial. If you are using then that is Freesat. At the moment, some Red Button content is scrambled by Sky and not available to Freesat viewers.

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
S
siraj ulhaq
6:35 PM

hi i have sky digibox freeview some channels are free but i am looking for somthing like HD box or somthing comes with all uk and asian channals please tell me where can i get it. thank you

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siraj ulhaq's 1 post GB flag
A
ant
9:04 PM

I have just changed my normal sky box to a hd+ 1 and non of the hd channels will work. Any1 no why

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ant's 1 post GB flag
B
billy
10:39 PM

if my sky hd box is cut off.will i still be able to watch programmes i recorded and saved to my planner

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billy's 1 post GB flag
Friday, 21 January 2011
M
Mike Dimmick
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

12:01 AM
Reading

billy: no, I'm afraid that Sky require you to keep paying to get access to anything you have previously recorded. For the SD Sky+ box you have to pay the minimum £10.25 to keep recording and playback functionality, I'm not sure if the Sky+HD box requires you to keep paying the extra £10 HD fee.

You also lose the ability to pause live TV, as I understand it.

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Mike Dimmick's 2,486 posts GB flag
Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:18 AM

ant: You need to pay for an HD subscription to watch the HD channels, aside from BBC One HD, BBC HD and ITV1 HD.

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:19 AM

siraj ulhaq: You will need to contact Sky to subscribe to the Asian channels.

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Briantist's 38,914 posts GB flag
E
ET
7:59 AM

Briantist: thank you for your response yesterday. If I do go ahead and cancel my Sky subscription (as I don't see the point of continuing as I only watch 1,2,3,4), will I still be able to record programmes and pause live TV?

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ET's 2 posts GB flag
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