skyHD vs.freesatHD vs.freeviewHD + otherHD??

tempsc

Hi all.

I've come to rely on this site so much. The advice is so spot on and friendly too. Thanks a lot.:p

In any case, I've been a sky subsciriber for years, have never upgraded and to be honest, have a fairly limited viewing choice of programmes on sky....no sport or films etc. So, the children are asking if we can upgrade to sky+hd and when I called, the advisor was amazed that in 15+ years, I'd never caled in before. She said that she could put some interesting deals together for me (free box, no installation charges etc) and I told her I would consider what I'd do and get back to her. Since then however, I've also seen some info on freesat and freeview, both in HD and wonder if I should re-subscribe to sky at all as of course the dish is all set up already. Could I get decent channels with the other providers? Are there others I haven't referred to? I'm a bit confused and would very much value some clear guidance on it all.

Thanks.:D

Paul

daveyjp

Freeview HD listings are available on line.
http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main

You can also set up some boxes to receive other non subscription channels which aren't part of the freesat listings.

The latest cable price increases have lead us down the freesat HD route, but this was also coupled with the fact that we hardly watched cable only channels.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Depends on why you want HD? What current packages you watch on sky now?

I have freesat HD and to be honest hardly use it. BBC HD is great and so is ITV HD. That sums it up. BBC one HD will be out soon.

Freeview HD has the added benefit of CH4 HD.

Sky HD has nearly everything for a cost.

almillar

Daveyjp meant to say FreeSAT HD in the 1st line of his post there!
If you want the most channels, it costs most, Sky. Simple enough.
FreesatHD and FreeviewHD have similar lineups, each misses a few that the other has, you've seen the freesat lineup, google freeview hd to see that lineup and compare, for your viewing tastes. Freesat has more channels than freeview though.
Take it a step further though. Can you actually receive Freeview HD yet? Also, my opinion is that Freeview is restricted as a platform. Some interactive services have had to be removed in a big shuffle to squeeze a few HD channels into the bandwidth available on the platform. What does the future hold for getting more HD channels? Freesat has far more bandwidth available and more potential for more HD channels to be added in my opinion. Also be aware that you can connect a Freesat box to your router and get BBC iPlayer (and soon other channels' catchup services too) through the red button.

macman

If you can get the channels you want on Freesat then why on earth pay for Sky?
if you want PVR facilities (i.e. record/playback/pause -same as Sky+) then you can get all that on Freesat just for the one-offcost of the box (a Humax Foxsat HDR will be the one), and of course HD at no extra cost.
All you will need is a box swap, and possibly a change of LNB and additoinal cabling if you currently only have one feed from your existing dish.
Or similarly on Freeview with a Humax PVR 9300T or similar.

lucylucky

"If you can get the channels you want on Freesat then why on earth pay for Sky?"

That is the only reason I don't have Freesat, doesn't do the channels I want to watch.

And I don't have Sport or Films either.

macman

But it may offer exactly the channels that the OP wants-we don't know, since they didn't specify. Since we do know they don't want sport or films, the odds are that it will.
Since the OP will save several hundred a year by going the Freesat route, wouldn't you say it's worth them investigating?

lucylucky

macman wrote: »

But it may offer exactly the channels that the OP wants-we don't know, since they didn't specify. Since we do know they don't want sport or films, the odds are that it will.
Since the OP will save several hundred a year by going the Freesat route, wouldn't you say it's worth them investigating?

Agreed.

Just pointing out that Sky still have the widest selection of channels, however as you say if the ones on Freesat suit the OP then it is a "no brainer"

daniel.thomas4

got to be sky HD for me.... Living HD itv 2,3, and 4 all going live later this year and with all the rest they have already.

Sorry i use pay £144 a year for a licence to watch less for 4 or channels before freeview, Im happy to pay £200 a year for 300+

lucylucky

daniel.thomas4 wrote: »

got to be sky HD for me.... Living HD itv 2,3, and 4 all going live later this year and with all the rest they have already.

Sorry i use pay £144 a year for a licence to watch less for 4 or channels before freeview, Im happy to pay £200 a year for 300+

I assume that will be an extra £200 on top of the £145.50 for your TV licence?

(Unless you are not in the UK of course)

macman

daniel.thomas4 wrote: »

got to be sky HD for me.... Living HD itv 2,3, and 4 all going live later this year and with all the rest they have already.

Sorry i use pay £144 a year for a licence to watch less for 4 or channels before freeview, Im happy to pay £200 a year for 300+

Minimum Sky sub is £19 a month, so that's £228 per year just for the basic channels. I assume you are getting a discounted rate.