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.
7:10 PM
Newport
NP20 4HF
sorry i forgot to give you my postcode. I think I have a dish of some sort onthe roof.
Emma b
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emma's: mapE's Freeview map terrainE's terrain plot wavesE's frequency data E's Freeview Detailed Coverage
12:40 PM
Hi Emma,
Everyone is sick and tired of these prices set by BskyB.
OFCOM are useless.
I have ben writing to them for about 3 years and they will not do anything about these prices.
I contacted UKTV who run Gold to ask them "Why do we have to pay Sky TV around £300 per year to watch your channels" They wrote back to say "It was not their fault, it was the fault of Sky TV"
It is rediculous that these channels are being encrypted by Sky TV whilst being financed with advertising revenue. This has gone on for years, people have complained, the Pub Licencing Trade have had to take their case to Europe, and even have to get Sky via other countries because BskyB are charging far too much and OFCOM will do nothing about it. It is all wrong
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emma bowen: I suspect you mean "ITV3", rather than "ITV Gold". You can watch ITV3 on Freeview, Freesat and Sky for free.
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5:38 PM
Michael:
Briantist: Why do you say she is talking about ITV3. I would have thought she was talking about Gold. If she purchased a Freesat box expecting to get Gold then she was given the incorrect advise by the Comet salesman and there is nothing strange about that. He is only interested in selling a box.
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3:43 PM
hi geoff here,i have both bt vision and bbc freesat both are a bit limited,i have also an old pace sky box i wondered if i could use the box with the dish and how can you tune it to give more channels
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10:47 AM
Hi. Does anyone know if you can still use the pause, record etc facilities if you cancel sky subscription but kerp using the box for the free to air channels.
Thanks
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10:56 AM
Victoria: Sorry, Sky will disable those features unless you keep paying at least £10 per month. They will also stop you playing back anything you have already recorded.
If you want recording and timeshifting features, you will have to buy a Freesat+ PVR. There is a slight difference in the channel line-up between the Freesat and Sky's free service - see Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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8:42 PM
Milton Keynes
Hello Briantist, I have just bought a freesat box t oreplace my sky subscription when it runs out in 2 weeks. I imagine I just plug in the leads from my dish and away I go. I have multiroom with a sky+ box connected in another room. When I remove that box and just run the dish cabling straight into the tv I don't get any signal. Does it have to be a freesat-enabled tv, or do I need another freesat box? I'd welcome your comments.
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Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Colin Brown: Please see Upgrading from Sky+HD to Freesat+HD | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for details of what to do.
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9:50 AM
Doncaster
Since the changover yesterday the 7th we are getting some picrure break up and for a better word stuttering. Arial pointing to Holmefirth. Receiving 80% signal strength.
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Pearce's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage