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going to buy a freeview ready tv, how does freeview work?

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i want to get rid of sky, i want freeview. is it free? are there any charges? how do i get it? do i need to have anything? i have a sly aerial outside? thanks
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  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Are you talking freeview or freesat or freesat from sky?

    You mention a Sky aerial but Sky dont use aerials they use satellite dishes.

    If you are talking about freeview then you simply plug the TV into the normal terrestrial TV aerial (not a sky dish). In most areas a standard aerial is fine for the digital signal. In some areas with weak reception you may need to upgrade the aerial to a more sensitive one/ one designed for freeview.

    Freeview is free, as per its name. There used to be an option for "top up TV" for a few pay per view channels but I think those all stopped and I've never seen a freeview ready TV with the card slot for the old top up card.
  • penrhyn
    penrhyn Posts: 15,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 7 June 2012 at 11:47AM
    No you don't need Freeview, which is a terrestrial service via an aerial.
    When you stop subscribing to Sky the viewing card becomes a Freesat from Sky card.
    If you have a Sky+ box you won't be able to use the recording/playback facility.
    The channels available to you will in the most part be the same as those available from Freeview.

    FYI. All Televisions on sale now have digital terrestrial tuners, some also have digital satellite tuners. Some will have High Definition tuners. Regarding subscriptions the clue is in the name Free!
    That gum you like is coming back in style.
  • But you will still need a TV licence:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.
  • almillar
    almillar Posts: 8,621 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Freeview - Digital terrestrial TV (terrestrial = aerial NOT satellite dish).
    Sky = subscription satellite service
    freesatfromsky = NON subscription service from Sky. THIS is what you'll get if you cancel your subscription to Sky, and leave your card in the box, DO NOT buy a new one.
    FreeSat = subscription free satellite service using the same dish as sky, pointing in the same direction, but different, Freesat branded boxes.
    free satellite = pointing your dish at any satellite, with a normal box and viewing whatever you get - this is what you'll have if you take the card out of your box.
    Note that the channel line-ups are slightly different for all of the above.
    http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

    http://www.freeview.co.uk/

    http://www.freesat.co.uk/
  • VoucherMan
    VoucherMan Posts: 2,794 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Jadex91 wrote: »
    i have a sly aerial outside?

    Aerial that disguises itself as a satellite dish when no-ones looking?
  • I have just carried out the second reset to receive more Freeview channels but no HD channels have been installed on my HD television. Can I presume that these will be available at a later date?
  • Hugh Spencer, have you got a 'box' such as a Humax? I had Freeview on my TV for 5 years, but needed a box to get the 4 HD Freeview channels.
    Who having known the diamond will concern himself with glass?

    Rudyard Kipling


  • penrhyn
    penrhyn Posts: 15,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I have just carried out the second reset to receive more Freeview channels but no HD channels have been installed on my HD television. Can I presume that these will be available at a later date?

    You'll only get them if you have a built in freeview HD tuner, which may not be the case. HD and HD ready only refer to screen resolution.
    That gum you like is coming back in style.
  • almillar
    almillar Posts: 8,621 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    As above, you need to have a Freeview HD tuner, but you also need to have FreeviewHD beign broadcast in your area.
    Stick your details in here to find out when this happens/happened:
    http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability
  • HughSpencer
    HughSpencer Posts: 61 Forumite
    My television is a Panasonic TX-L32S10B Full HD DVB digital Freeview included. Doesn't this mean that where HD channels are broadcast on Freeview, it should be ready available?
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