Replacement for Sky TV 6 March 2019 at 11:49AM in TV MoneySaving 8 replies 1.5K views

simply_me

Hello! Sorry in advance if this has already been asked, but I’ve been with Sky for over 10 years and after this recent price increase, I’ve had enough so was wondering what the best and most cost effective option in?
I need to have some kind of digital box (as my aerial doesn’t work!) and I like being able to record and pause live Tv. Is there an option out there that’s more cost effective that I can own outright and will plug into my current setup? TIA!

Inner_Zone

Assuming you don't have Sky Q a straight swap is Freesat, if you do have a two port Sky Q LNB it will need changing.

simply_me

Great, thanks for your reply. I’ll go and have a look! I didn’t realise you could get Freeview if your TV didn’t have it installed. Thanks again!

Inner_Zone

simply_me wrote: »

Great, thanks for your reply. I’ll go and have a look! I didn’t realise you could get Freeview if your TV didn’t have it installed. Thanks again!

Not Freeview, Freesat, there are some differences. You can buy Freeview STB's to add Freeview to a TV but you would need a working terrestrial aerial.


Your Sky box will also receive Freesat from Sky if you leave the Sky card in it but won't record without a subscription which was about £10 per month so not worth it over a period of time (less than two years) as Freesat recorder will pay for it self. Freesat from Sky has about five extra channels which are not on Freesat.

simply_me

Ah I see, sorry, I (wrongly!!) assumed they were the same thing! Thanks for clarifying though.

[Deleted User]

A lot will depend on what you watch, but one other thing to consider if you have decent broadband is getting a NowTV streaming box or stick. You won't have the ability to record TV (though live pause is apparently possible for up to 30 mins) and you will lose some channels, but you may find that doesn't matter; catch-up covers many programs these days, and if one of the monthly passes covers what you want to watch you'll still be saving a load of cash over a regular Sky subscription.

For example just over a year ago I ditched Sky, got a set top box to record freeview (we did have an aerial), and got a NowTV streamer box and entertainment pass so that I wouldn't miss out on Sky One, Discovery, Fox and so on. Very early on I discovered that we weren't using the set top box or watching any live channels any more; we were watching everything on catch-up (often advert-free - what bliss!) or on-demand through the little streamer box.What's more, other possibilities opened up e.g. NowTV devices can now deliver Netflix as well.

If you find that you don't watch any live TV and don't use the BBC iPlayer then you could even ditch your TV license for further savings.

Just something to consider.

Herbyme

Hi,
Piggy backing on this thread, I'm also considering ditching Sky (£33 for the basic sub!!) and replacing it with Freesat but I need to be able to get BT Sport in one room. I don't have a working TV aerial, but have an ordinary sky dish (not SkyQ).

I already pay BT £16.50pm for BT Sport HD and I have a BT Broadband contract.

I'm told by BT that I can pay an extra £6pm on top of those contracts, they'll give me a free Youview+ box and I'll pay a £20 activation fee. That gets me BT Sport on one TV, I can use the Sky box to get the Freeview channels on that TV (which is all I watch) so that room is sorted.

In the other room I want to use Freesat, so I can get the 7 day catch up service and live pause, but I don't need to record or watch BT sport. So I just need a Freesat receiver.

Can anyone tell me if all that is correct, or if any of it won't work, or if there's a better option?!

TIA

Inner_Zone

carolinerunner wrote: »

Hi,
Piggy backing on this thread, I'm also considering ditching Sky (£33 for the basic sub!!) and replacing it with Freesat but I need to be able to get BT Sport in one room. I don't have a working TV aerial, but have an ordinary sky dish (not SkyQ).

I already pay BT £16.50pm for BT Sport HD and I have a BT Broadband contract.

I'm told by BT that I can pay an extra £6pm on top of those contracts, they'll give me a free Youview+ box and I'll pay a £20 activation fee. That gets me BT Sport on one TV, I can use the Sky box to get the Freeview channels on that TV (which is all I watch) so that room is sorted.

In the other room I want to use Freesat, so I can get the 7 day catch up service and live pause, but I don't need to record or watch BT sport. So I just need a Freesat receiver.

Can anyone tell me if all that is correct, or if any of it won't work, or if there's a better option?!

TIA

Please ask a mod to move this to an new thread, it different to the OP's


BT Youview box requires a terrestrial aerial which you say you have not got. So ignore BT's advice regarding their Youview box



Look at the Sky LNB is it has four or more outputs, get a Freesat box connected to two and the existing Sky box to the other one or two. Or get the LNB changed and cables added as required.


Assuming you are out of contract for Sky, cancel Sky and use your existing Sky card to get BT Sport over Sky as currently. BT Sport in not available via a Freesat receiver, nor is Freeview on any satellite receiver, see post#4 above.

Herbyme

Thanks Inner Zone, I don't know how to ask a mod to move it so I've started a new thread. tbh I find all this very confusing, I'll go back to BT about the BT sport not working with a Youview box. They did offer to fit a new TV aerial for £80. Beginning to wish I'd left well alone!!