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.
10:46 PM
Sidcup
Hi, this evening I re tuned the tv as it said to do on the tv but since re tuning ITV3 has disappeared.
The aerial for that specific tv is in the loft.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Kelli's: mapK's Freeview map terrainK's terrain plot wavesK's frequency data K's Freeview Detailed Coverage
1:48 PM
I have been with Sky for some years and have had various upgradings and everything seems tro be working OK now - except for an inability to record sky progammes, I can record all the basic channel programmes such as BBC, ITV, Channel4, and Channel5. I am puzzled as why I can't rectify this on any of sky controls.Also annoyed because I have extreme difficulty trying to contact them!
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1:04 PM
Hi, I currently have a Sky + HD box which I have had for nearly 2 years. To save cash, I now want to cancel the HD part of my package but will continue my Sky subscription - does anyone know whether I will still be able to access the "free" HD channels - BBC HD etc. Thanks in advance.
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6:11 PM
Hi, I cancelled the HD part of my Sky subscription and still get the free to air channels in HD.
i.e. BBC one HD, BBC HD, ITV HD, CH4 HD.
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7:52 AM
Hi,
I've just moved into my new house. The previous owner left behind their old Sky+ box and dish.
I've connected it up to my TV (the Aerial socket in the Living room doesn't work but the dish does) and I can only get the BBC and ITV/CH4 channels. What do I need to do to be able to get all the freeview channels?
Is there any way I can connect the Sky dish straight to the TV?
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2:03 PM
Cheers John, appreciated. Any idea if that means I will still be able to access the programmes I have previously recorded on these channels then?
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9:27 PM
Smethwick
My aerial at b67 5hh is locatedin the loft
and i have no problems ( so far )
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J's: ...
6:37 PM
I have just replaced an old Sky+HD box with a brand new Sky+HD box on a multi-room extension. I have dismantled the old Sky+HD box to get at the harddisk (300GB Western Digital)and then transferred the recorded programmes from the old box/hard disk to my PC using Copy+.
Is there any method by which I can watch those old recorded programmes either on my PC or transfer them to DVDs, please?
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11:48 AM
I notice people on here are too scared to say what they think about Sky TV over charging. This is the problem with the British Public. That is why you all get walked over.
In answer to Pete - You have as much chance of seeing those programs as i have of winning Euro Millions.
No you have to pay Sky around £10-00 per month to watch recorded programs.
It annoys me.
If you went into a shop to buy EXAMPLE: A video Recorder and the shop keeper said "You also have to pay me £10-00 per month to record programs on it - most of you would tell him what to do with his video recorder.
Yet Sky TV do this - They charge you around £10 per month to record programs of the TV.
We have UK Government, OFCOM etc that are all on big salaries that have for years allowed BskyB to get away with all this.
OFCOM are useless
The UK Government were going to get rid of these regulatory bodies - yet they are still in office doing nothing about it
The pub licencing trade took their case to Europe over Sky Subscriptions and got nowhere.
Pub landlords have been fined by FACT acting on behalf of BskyB for finding ways around these subscriptions.
People are having to pay for Sky TV in the pubs when they buy meals or drinks so the landlords can afford to pay BskyB.
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