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.
1:16 PM
Hi.i used to have sky but canceled it. I use the sky dish to use 2 tvs.as I have no outside Aerial.If I get a second sky dish fitted can I get another tv signal instead of getting an outside aerial fitted as I want to use another 2 tvs in the bedrooms .thanks
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3:32 PM
Alan Hutchinson:
It would require planning permission to have a second dish installed on your property! That would attract a significant fee for the planners to consider the application! And no guarantee that they will grant such permission.
Better and cheaper is to have a quad or octal LNB fitted in place of your existing one, assuming it isn't already a quad or octal. The advantage being that such LNBs are less than 20 usually (cables are extra) and each outlet can feed a receiver separately. Note that most satellite receivers that can record as well will need two cables fed from the LNB on the dish. Note also that a dish is no use to receive Freeview and cannot be fed into the conventional coaxial aerial socket on the back of a TV set, it has to be fed into a satellite receiving input (usually an 'F' connector). Some TV sets have that capability, otherwise you can use a set top box(es) for Freesat.
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2:08 PM
i currently have sky multiroom. If i cancel and get freesat would i be able to watch different channels in different rooms or would they be the same.
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3:58 PM
john: You will need a freesat box for each room (or just use the Sky box on 'no card') which attaches to your dish. Some TV will have freesat or at least a generic sat. tuner built into the TV, or you can buy a receiver for less than fifty quid. A humax PVR can easily replace the main Sky box.
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2:52 PM
i just bought a LG 49UH620v smart 4k ultra hd hdr led tv. i have sky which is working fine but i cant get access to any of the freeview channels that are built in, it says there is no signal. is it possible to get both on the one tv?
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3:33 PM
Heather: The TV has freeview HD built in - read the manual on how to connect it to an actual aerial.
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7:11 PM
Heather:
Further to that said by MikeB, you *have* to use an aerial to get Freeview of any sort. Do you have an aerial fitted to your home? If not you need to have one fitted. If you do have one, find where the cable from the aerial comes into you room and hopefully find either a coaxial cable that you must plug into the TV aerial socket or else there may be a wall plate with a coaxial socket. In that case, get a coaxial TV flylead and connect it between the socket on the wall and the socket on the TV set. Then try a retune of terrestrial services only.
It always helps us to help you if you provide a full post code for your location.
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5:55 PM
I am going to buy a sky+ box from sky. I intend to use free sat from this. Is it possible to access some sky programmes as well ie Sky 1 and Sky arts.
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6:51 PM
Phil: Sky 1 and Sky Arts are subscription channels and can only be received by subscribing to Sky, Virgin, NowTV, BT TV, etc. There is little point buying a Sky+HD box without a Sky subscription as you won't be able to use any of the recording or on demand functions as Sky require an active subscription to enable those features. If you don't wish to subscribe to Sky, you'd be better off with a Freesat box such as one of the ones listed at the link below (all will work with any existing dish and cabling previously used for Sky).
Get Freesat - buy a Freesat box or Freesat HDTV online
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