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.
9:08 PM
hey viv,
no you cannot use your virgin box to get the freeview channels on your new tv.
your will need to connect an aerial to the tv to veiw the freeview channels.
sorry
ian 123aerials oxford
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11:51 AM
Firstly what a great site to get information from, hopfully you will be able to answer my question? I am thinking of cancelling my sky subscription, at the moment I have a Sky HD box, if I cancel the sky how much functionalty will I have with the box ie recording, pause ect or will I have to go out a buy a freesat recorder box to have these functions again. Thanks for reading
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Richard: The box Sky+HD will not pause/play/record without a subscription, but yes, you can just swap it out for a Freesat+HD box that requires no subscription.
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1:59 PM
Just thought of another question, I take it that if i buy a freesat hd recorder box it will have two connecting parts on the back to take the two leads that come from the sky dish(well it one lead split into two at the back of the sky box) .
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Richard: It certainly will have the former, and not the latter. If you join the connections together it won't work. That's why there are two.
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9:54 PM
Hi,
I currently have a SKY HD box I am thinking of cancelling my subscription. Can any of you advise whether I will still get the free to air HD channels please?
Thanks in advance
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Bhoppy: You will get the free-to-air HD channels, ie BBC One HD, BBC HD and ITV1 HD.
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8:13 PM
I have just changed to Sky Freesat from subscription. Can I get Sky Sports 1 2 3 package ?
Cheers
Malcolm
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