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.
3:30 PM
If i have a sky HD box but dont have a sky HD package, can i still watch BBC HD channels for free?
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6:26 PM
Can anyone answer me this, a friend of my mothers has FSFS on an old sky box, she used to record her programs from the box to a CD recorder. This has now packed up. My question is this, if we get a seconhand sky + box will we be able to record using the sky+ using only the FSFS?
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6:40 PM
Daz - SKY will only make active the recording capability if you subscribe to them. i am afraid not available on FSFS.
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7:58 PM
why is my in built freeview only picking up cetain channels not itv and then breaking up constantly
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3:16 AM
how does sky render the recording facilities useless if you stop subscribing?
This practice of rendering the recording facilities useless should be dealt with by OFCOM?
If you went into a shop and bought a DVD Recorder or anything else that records and r=the retailer said "You have to pay me £10 per month to use the recording facilities" Most of you would think he was taking the P--s
Is there some way of bypassing whatever method they use to stop you recording just because you don't subscribe because it is wrong!
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1:24 AM
Michael,
Sky controls your box via signals from the satellite, and use your address to give you regional differences for BBC and ITV via the viewing card.
I don't know where OFFCOM come into this, as Sky invest a lot of money in sending you hundreds of TV channels, you don't NEED record facilities to view TV, so record is an extra, so you pay. Simple!
If you could by-pass this system, you would become very rich!!!!
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9:57 AM
meddling old pensioner. In part I agree with you in that in the past it was generally recognised that SKY equipent was subsidised. However in recent times SKY promotional advertsing in the likes of Tesco and advertising media generally have been pushing subcription sales on the basis that the recivers wre being supplied "Free"! What does them seem rather dubious is that if you stop subscriptions outside the contract period but opt for the FSFS from SKY option where you can receive The public service broadcasters with a smatering of free to air channels that SKY effectvely disables equipent which they purport to supply you as "Free".
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11:06 AM
P>S Perhaps not an Ofcom issue but might be a Trading Standards issue in that it isn't made clear at the point of signing up to SKY that the recording facility will be disabled should one seek to cancel subscription packages at the end of the initial contract period. Also even where taking up the FSFS service that channels viewable via this service will not be recordable.
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11:49 AM
Hi,
Currently I have Sky HD and would like to cancel my subscription - my television has a built in free-to-view receiver. However, I would like to use a freesat + box that needs a dish and two inputs from the dish. Could I simply use the old sky dish installed for HD/Sky + and the two cables that run from that to the freesat + box?
Thanks,
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