Sky - Basic TV and recordings

DE_612183

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

oldernonethewiser

If you stop subscribing to Sky then, no you can't

Sea_Shell

DE_612183 said:

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

If you have the older Sky+ box (not Q), then it still works as a receiver for free channels, but you can no longer record or access your recordings.

This is what we've done.

I'd happily pay them a small subscription to be able to still use the record function, but I don't think they offer this. ☹️

I miss skipping the ads on Channel 5, as My5 is choc full of them 😡

JSmithy45AD

Sea_Shell said:

DE_612183 said:

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

If you have the older Sky+ box (not Q), then it still works as a receiver for free channels, but you can no longer record or access your recordings.

This is what we've done.

I'd happily pay them a small subscription to be able to still use the record function, but I don't think they offer this. ☹️

I miss skipping the ads on Channel 5, as My5 is choc full of them 😡

They certainly used to do that (for a very minor fee from memory) but you'd have to contact them to check if it's still possible.

JSmithy45AD

DE_612183 said:

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

You can buy yourself a recordable Freesat box or a Freeview box that uses an aerial rather than the dish.

Detail_Merchant

DE_612183 said:

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

Sky apparently offer "TV essentials" - https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-essentials to Sky Q customers, but I think I've heard of them offering the equivalent to Sky+ customers in the past. No price shown on that page, but I've heard as high as £15/month but also some people getting it for £5 or £10 per month.

propertyhunter

Detail_Merchant said:

DE_612183 said:

Hi, if you have a Sky Dish - can you leave remove the entertainment package so you just get the free channels and still watch recordings on your box ( I have a sky+ box )?
Thanks

Sky apparently offer "TV essentials" - https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-essentials to Sky Q customers, but I think I've heard of them offering the equivalent to Sky+ customers in the past. No price shown on that page, but I've heard as high as £15/month but also some people getting it for £5 or £10 per month.

Does anyone know how to get it down to £5-10 per month? I've cancelled with them, but still in the period where I have 2 months to return the equipment. At no point did anyone offer a reduction on the £15, but I'm keen to get one and use the box to record programmes and access my apps (iPlayer and Apple TV). I really like the user interface of Sky+, hence I want to keep it.

Detail_Merchant

propertyhunter said:

Does anyone know how to get it down to £5-10 per month? I've cancelled with them, but still in the period where I have 2 months to return the equipment. At no point did anyone offer a reduction on the £15, but I'm keen to get one and use the box to record programmes and access my apps (iPlayer and Apple TV). I really like the user interface of Sky+, hence I want to keep it.

Not sure why you say "in the period where I have 2 months to return the equipment" but also  "I really like the user interface of Sky+". If you have Sky+ you don't have to return the equipment.

propertyhunter

Sorry I mean Sky Q. I have the Sky Q box, which does need returning. 

Detail_Merchant

propertyhunter said:

Sorry I mean Sky Q. I have the Sky Q box, which does need returning. 

Ah, that makes sense. Have they sent the packaging for you to send the Sky Q back in yet? Apparently sometimes that has a leaflet with it with a number to call, where you might be able to negotiate TV essentials for less than £15/month.
Alternatively maybe try and fight through the Sky Virtual assistant to see if you can message with a person about getting TV essentials for a better price. But you might have to click 'No' to lots of unhelpful suggestions before you can message with a person, and I guess you need to do it during working hours, ideally in the morning.