For the same reason as Sarah has used this site rather than attempt customer services (awful isn't it?!): Can anyone tell me whether if I cancel my contract with Sky, the box will leave me with a service similar to 'Freeview', or will I just be left with the terrestrial channels?
A Sky box won't work without a valid card in it. You can buy a FreeSat card from Sky, for a one-off payment of �20. (See "I already have digital satellite equipment", here: http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/?pID=6 )