BT Vision - NO digital TV, already switched over, help!

Melliethered

Hi,
I have just moved house and after researching available deals, we opted for a BT Vision TV, broadband and phone package. HOWEVER we have absolutely no TV channels - not one! Absolutely no channels!

We can only get on demand content (streamed through broadband). We have a standard YAGI aerial, facing in a different direction from the aerials on all the other houses. The previous tenant had Sky and this area had its digital 'switchover' in May 2010. I have a few questions:

1. Are we still liable to pay BT £4 per month for digital TV (I have a feeling we are as we can still access on demand content through the box, but we could do this on laptops so it seems a bit unreasonable)?

2. Will we have to pay to have a replacement aerial? I have read all the threads saying there is no such things as a 'digital aerial' but the aerial faces the 'wrong' way and is on the roof of a three storey house, so I don't really fancy having a twiddle myself! The area has its own freeview transmitter as we are in a valley.

3. We rent the house, is the landlord or letting agent liable for paying for any of this or is this our responsibility as tenants?

Any help would be gratefully received! Thank you!

poppasmurf_bewdley

Sounds like you need to have the aerial turned round to point the same way as everybody elses. You can't expect BT to accept the blame for you not being able to receive freeview.

I'm assuming you have scanned for the TV channels?

macman

Yes, you are in contract now for 12 or 18m, whatever then contract specifies. It's up to you to ensure that you have Freeview reception (and minimum line speed of at least 2MBps) in order to use the BTV service. The aerial issue is between you and the landlord. Did you not think of plugging the TV in before ordering BTV in order to see if Freeview could be received?
Sounds to me as if the aerial possibly predates the local relay and so is not aligned on it, if Sky has been used for the past few years.
By far your cheapest option would just have been to get an old Sky box for free and plug it into the existing dish feed-no cost at all to do that.

Melliethered

Thanks for the advice

Yes we have scanned for channels, we needed to have broadband etc set up the day we moved in, which is why we signed up before we actually moved... we checked the area for freeview coverage and unfortunately we assumed that there would be an adequate aerial already in place - it didn't even cross our minds that an aerial upgrade would be required! The broadband speed is great and we have no problems with that at all.

I can understand why it's not BT's responsibility, I asked the landlord about it but received a blank look...

RE the sky: I brought my old Sky Plus box with me but surely we'll need a subscription??

macman

No, you can get all the Freesat from Sky channels free to air, no subscription is required. But the Sky+ function will not work unless you pay £10 per month. Just plug it in. If you want PVR functions without paying, swap it for a Freesat box (though you will need a twin feed for this of course).

Melliethered

incredible! Just watched the news for the first time in three weeks! Bliss! Everyone should know about this! Thank you so much!

macman

I think most of them do...but glad it's working for you.