Sky Tv

[Jaimsieboy]

I'm thinking of moving from Sky TV to another company.
Does anybody know any other companies who could furnish me with a viewing box for a one off price and so I would not need to pay a monthly fee ?

I don't watch sport but I would like to be able to watch the odd film or two.

Anybody got and ideas ?

TIA...

Jaimsieboy

[Tuvok]

Freesat

[Hopkirk]

Just cancel Sky, but keep the box and viewing card as long as you have been with them more than 12 months.

You carry on with Sky, but only on the free channels.

Just set up as favourites all the channels you like, so you don't have to wade through all the channels you don't get. You will soon wonder why you ever paid Sky, as there is plenty to watch.

For films, you still get Film4 and Sony Movies and some other minor channels.

The hardest part is getting them to let you go. They have a whole department whose job is to offer you discounts to stay.

[Buenchico]

Your options are fairly limited but getting TV programmes via the internet can add to what's available to you.

Here's a list of what's available for free on the group of satellites that your Sky dish points at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E
You can get all of those channels by simply using your old Sky box (without a subscription or new viewing card).

You should note that you'd lose Sky's EPG (= electronic programme guide) and their 'red button' interactive services if you simply used your old equipment on its own. However you can get them back through a one-off payment of £25 to purchase a 'Freesat from Sky' viewing card. (Phone [phone] if you want to take up that option).

'Freesat' is, confusingly, different to 'Freesat from Sky' but it basically gives you the same channels (or, more accurately, a subset of them) but with Freesat's own EPG.

There are no other free satellite services available from the group of satellites that your Sky dish points at. (You could get a few extra channels by accessing different satellites but there's unlikely to be anything that would interest you anyway).

Cable services aren't available everywhere and always require a subscription anyway.

Terrestrial services are limited to Freeview.

That just leaves internet-based services:
NOW TV offers a set-top box (for just £9.99, including P&P) that gives you access to BBC's iPlayer and Channel 5's Demand 5 catch-up services (via the internet but streamed to your TV). But you can also pay £8.99 for a month's access to Sky Movies. (NB: That's on a 'pay as you go' basis; you don't have to commit to a subscription):
https://shop.nowtv.com/?DCMP=KNC-Brand-

Other 'Smart boxes' can be used though. They each give access to a different range of catch-up or internet services (such as Youtube) but many can also access 'pay-per-view' films, such as those offered by Tesco's Blinkbox service. See 'set-top boxes' here:
http://www.blinkbox.com/Devices

[Hopkirk]

Chris, Jaimsie would not have to pay £25 for a Sky card.

The old cancelled Sky card does the job - this was told to me by Sky when I cancelled and asked if I had to buy a card.

It may possibly be different for Sky+ boxes, as I have no experience of them.

[Mattk]

As Hopkirk says keep your box and watch a decent amount of channels for free.
Alternatively for a small one-off fee buy a 'freesat from sky' card from Sky to get a few extra channels.

Actually you do keep your guide with Sky box only (I know as this is exactly what I do). The only minor feature within the guide that you will retain is the ability to select progs for reminders in your planner with series link.

[Buenchico]

>>>for a small one-off fee buy a 'freesat from sky' card from Sky to get a few extra channels

Are you sure that a Freesat From Sky card still gets you any extra channels, Matt?

At one time most of the free channels carried by the group of satellites at 28 degrees East were 'Free to Air' (meaning that they were unencrypted, so you didn't require a viewing card) but a few were 'Free to View' (meaning that they were encrypted, so you required a 'Freesat From Sky' card to view them). The latter group included Channel 5 and its associated channels, such as 5* and 5USA.

However now, to the best of my knowledge, all free broadcasts from those satellites use the 'Free to Air' (unencrypted) format, so that a Freesat From Sky card doesn't give you any more channels than viewing without one. i.e. there seems to be nothing listed here
http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/what-can-i-watch/
which isn't listed in my FTA link, above.

[Mattk]

"Are you sure that a Freesat From Sky card still gets you any extra channels, Matt?"

Short answer....no!
It has always been my understanding that you get more and looking at the link below it does state 100 more channels. That said, nothing on the list stands out as one that I do not currently receive.

http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/why-choose-freesat/

[Hopkirk]

I pulled out my Sky card and went through my favourites.

The only channels I lost were Sony TV, Sony Movies and a couple of the many free music channels.