Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?
Yes, but only "sort of".
Freeview is the name of the (BBC-backed) digital TV system that uses hilltop transmitters to rooftop aerials. It is run separately from the "Sky" satellite-to-dish service.
free-to-VIEW is a term for satellite channels that need a viewing card to watch, but not to collect a subscription. free-to-AIR channels are ones that can be received without needing a viewing card or subscription.
The free-to-AIR satelite service backed by the BBC and ITV is called Freesat. The free-to-VIEW service operated by Sky is called fSfS or Freesat from Sky.
As long as you have finished your first year, you can leave Sky when you want.
To do this just give Sky a call and tell them you don't want to subscribe any more.
If you stop subscribing you will be able to watch the hundred or so free-to-air channels listed on free channels list. This service is called Freesat from Sky (fSfS).
Some of the channels on the Freeview service are subscription only on satellite, specifically: 4Music, Challenge, Dave, Dave ja vu, Quest, VIVA and Yesterday . See these links to compare the TV channels on Freesat-from-Sky and Freeview, and to compare radio stations on Freeview and fSfS. Many homes have free satellite and Freeview to get the full range of channels.
You will still need to keep your Sky viewing card. If you stop subscribing on a Sky contract, you can keep using that card to watch 5USA, 5* and PICK TV, the so-called "free-to-view" channels. (All ITV channels are free-to-air).
It is not possible to plug an aerial into a Sky Digibox to receive Freeview channels because the boxes have not been designed this way.
You will continue to get the full Sky EPG listings; you just will not be able to watch subscription channels.
If you want to go for High Definition, HD, you can swap out your Sky box for a Freesat one very easily.
A card is not needed to watch BBC services, but it is needed to get the correct BBC ONE and BBC TWO regions on 101 and 102.
Another option is to disconnect your Sky Digibox altogether and Upgrade from Sky to Freesat - ukfree.tv. If you have an HD-Ready TV and a standard Sky box, this is a good option.
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Les NicolTuesday 10 May 2011 9:22PM
Jonny5 - If you log onto the Satcure online site, if you browse you will see an illustration of how to properly fit these screw on Shotgun cable terminations to the cable for a secure connection. I would have advised a local reputable rigger rather than SKY particularly as you plan on getting a "Freesat" receiver. Good luck with your installation- Pleased to help and hope you manage OK. RichardWednesday 11 May 2011 8:12PM
Every time Canal + is advertised on French and Spanish tv channels I realise the big ripoff and overpricing of tv packages offered by Sky.Modern films,documentaries,sport and family entertainment offered for the price of a Sky basaic package.Also factor in the added cost of dubbing or subtitling some programmes.What a great product at a reasonable price on offer in these tv markets.It must be the overpaid and underperforming football players that suscribers are asked to support their blifestyle. GsoyuFriday 13 May 2011 1:52PM
Hi,
I moved into a new house in Ireland. This house has a rooftop aerial as well as a SKY dish. Is there a way that I can buy a box and connect the wires from aerial and SKY dish and avoid SKY subscription? Please let me know.Gsoyu: Yes, you can use a Freesat box with the dish and pay nothing at all. See above. GSoyuFriday 13 May 2011 4:12PM
Thanks for the prompt reply Briantist. Which freesat box would you recommend? WOuld the setup be just plugging the cables from the sky dish?
finSunday 15 May 2011 10:07AM
If i cancel my sky can i record and watch the FTA channels?bryan buftonSunday 15 May 2011 12:53PM
Horsham when we I get the same no. of channels they get in Crawley west sussex, please.
i work there and see they get much more from treir transmiter. my post code is RH13 9SPbryan bufton: 25th April 2012 using the Midhurst transmitter.
SteveSunday 15 May 2011 5:19PM
I have a sky hd box and also a sky plus box installed if i cancel sky can I still receive all free channels and also recordNorrieThursday 19 May 2011 9:22AM
St. Andrews I get a lot of pixellation on some freeview channels. My aerial is tuned to Highland region, but I live in North East Fife. Could it be that I am not being served by the bset transmitter ????pete wyattThursday 19 May 2011 10:26AM
Durham I get interference on my radio and the tv freezes. often the picture sticks but the sound continues and this then results in several channels not recieving a signal at all.
I have had my freeview box and arial checked and been told that my equipment is fine.
I know that other people in the area have the same problem including Consett which is 6 miles from me and I presume uses pontop pike.
I have retuned my box on several occassions and there is no improvement.
Is it the strength of the signal from the transmitter ?
RichardThursday 19 May 2011 9:19PM
Canal+ tv in France have reduced their monthly subscription for their premium tv package from 25 to 20 Euro/month.French Match of the day is transmitted free to air on Canal+.They are in touch with the reality of hard economic times.Sky tv urges us to beleive in better, I beleive in Canal+.What a huge ripoff Sky tv is by comparasion.Richard: Well, yes, they have better competition laws in France, they don't allow a single "mogul" to capture their media and business interests. gavinThursday 26 May 2011 11:28AM
hi i have sky dish. now i can connect straight away to freesat box in one room (excellent picture), yet in my other room where there is a sky plus box with two connectors i get no signal when i connect the freesat box, any help would be gratefully recieved, thanks in advancegavin: Do the connections work on the Sky+ box? c wilsonThursday 26 May 2011 3:37PM
ive just moved to a new flat. it has a sky dish. my contract with sky has expired. is there any way i can conect a freeview box up to the sky dish to get more freeview channelsgavinThursday 26 May 2011 6:06PM
yes, it works perfect on the sky plus box, can not understand it, thanks for your speedy replyAnnieThursday 26 May 2011 6:18PM
I have an LG flatscreen hd-ready tv with built-in freeview. I would like freeview+hd but have visited currys, comet etc and they don't need to know what i should buy and with what cables - i end up leaving the shop with nothing! I would also like to record. It seems easy enough but the guys in the shops don't know whether the stuff they are selling will do the job and, once i open the box, they say, i can't return it. How can i be sure i'm getting the right stuff?Annie: You shouldn't need anything other than the Freeview+HD box, it will come with an HDMI cable. All you do is unplug the aerial from your TV and put it into the Freeview+HD box and connect the Freeview+HD box to the TV with the HDMI cable. gavin: That seems very strange, you should have no problems using the connections to the dish if they work on the Sky+ box. SheenaSaturday 28 May 2011 11:09PM
I have freeview but have lost all my channels except BBC. My flats have just installed a communal sky dish. Could I connect to this with a freesat box and would this be expensive to install as, presumably, I would have to buy the new freesat box and have wiring installed to connect to the dish to my flat. RichardSunday 29 May 2011 10:39PM
I noticed ads on German tv channels for pay tv owned by sky Deutchland (same logo as sky UK).Monthly subscription for HD,basic and 3 premium packages is 60 euro,(£50. Price of all packages in ROI including HD is 91 euro monthly.50% more and no dubbing or subtitling required.Anoher example of the huge rip off that sky is getting away with.Richard: Sky Deutchland isn't doing that well by all accounts, because there is quite a lot of competition in the German TV market. RichardTuesday 31 May 2011 8:55PM
I remember Premiere,the pay tv German group went bust in the 90s after losing millions.BSKYB must have bought it for a song.Its obvious that charges are geared towards what the markets will bear.Britain and Irelaqnd must be regarded as a soft touch by BSKYB,hence the extortionate charges for their product.I watched the Champions league final on German channel Sat Eins, the commentator stated that it was squeaky bum time for Man Utd as their overpaid underperforming stars played like a Blue Square team.leeWednesday 1 June 2011 2:25AM
Hi, im thinking of not using my Sky+HD anymore. how can i connect the (LNB using two core cable for Sky), (to a single core cable for freesat) at the back of the tv..?? RichardSunday 5 June 2011 7:59PM
I have niticed that another sky operation is doing business in Italy using the sky uk logo.I intend to get information re prices and packages on offer.I will have to turn dish to pick up hotbird signals as most free to air Italian satellite channels use Hotbird 13 east.I doubt if it is as expensive as SKY UK.liamMonday 6 June 2011 11:27AM
i need some chanells on this websiteliamMonday 6 June 2011 11:29AM
and make a freeveew canell called liam news and do itAnelleTuesday 7 June 2011 8:34AM
I am an agent, a skybox and card was present in the property when the tenant moved in. The landlord deactivated the account and the tenant informed us that the skybox and card was removed by Sky.
Does Sky remove the box and card when the account is deactivated?Anelle: No. Sky never, ever does that. The dish and box are provided for "free" when a subscription starts and is 100% the property of the subscriber. SteveTuesday 7 June 2011 10:31AM
After 30 mins on the phone, I finally managed to get sky customer services to cancel my account. I was subcribed with them for just under 2 years but on leaving, I was told I still have to give them 31 days notice before I am finally freesat (hopefully). Sky told me I would lose the packages I was paying for, recording features and signal. Does losing the signal from sky mean that I will not be able to get freesat?Les NicolTuesday 7 June 2011 11:58AM
Steve - You will still be able to obtain digital Satellite TV either from from "Freest" the service supported by the BBC and ITV - you will need to purchase your own receiver for this service - various models are available on the high Street from independents and multiples rg:- Currys Comet John Lewis Argos etc. Alternatively by obtaining a FSFS - freesat from SKY card £25+ but with limited FTA (free to air) channels.
A receiver purchased by yourself will simply mean connecting to your existing dish - a straight swop over of the SKY box. Mike DimmickTuesday 7 June 2011 12:27PM
Steve: No, it does not mean you will not be able to get Freesat. You will not lose any signal - Sky have no ability to turn off the transmissions for just one viewer. You should continue to receive all free-to-air services listed on the 'Freesat-from-Sky' comparison page at 
Compare Freesat and Freesat-from-Sky TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
You can continue with your Sky box if you want. The encryption card remains necessary for some channels - again, see the comparison page for the services that are 'free-to-view' (requiring the card) rather than 'free-to-air'.
However, Sky can and do disable recording, timeshifting, and even playback of previously-recorded programmes on Sky+ and Sky+ HD boxes.
If you want to continue with recording you can replace your Sky+ box with a Freesat+ recorder, but you will then lose the channels listed on that comparison page. HelenTuesday 7 June 2011 12:42PM
I recently cancelled sky and was expecting to still be able to view any freeview/ free to air channels via my sky box... but I am only able to watch channels 1 to 5. My phone line is no longer connected.. is this why ?SteveTuesday 7 June 2011 12:58PM
Les Nicol: Thank you for your help
Mike Dimmick: Thank you for your help
Cancelling sky was the best thing I done. There are so many freesat/fSfS channels that I'm still able to watch, providing I keep the encryption card in the Sky+ HD receiver. Also the disabling of the Sky recording feature is not a big loss as I can catch up on missed programmes, movies with iPlayer and also thinking of running an extended VGA cables from PC to other rooms to watch free movies, sports etc from free streaming sites!
Thank you for comments which are very much appreciated! K BromelowTuesday 7 June 2011 6:08PM
I cancelled my sky package last month. I still use the sky box for the free channels
but find I cant record or watch programes previously recorded,as I paid £300 for the box when I joined sky 6 years ago why cant I use the box to record. SteveTuesday 7 June 2011 6:24PM
K Bromelow- As Mike Dimmick has said above:
Sky disable features such as recording, timeshifting, playback of previously-recorded programmes when you stop subscribing.
If you want to continue with recording you can replace your Sky+ box with a Freesat+ recorder, but you will then lose the channels listed on that comparison page. RichardTuesday 7 June 2011 10:00PM
SKY Italia offers 3 basic,3 premium packs, HD included for 60 euro/month.One cinema pack consisting of 12 film channels,sports pack 8 channels and one other sports pack dedicated to Serie A football.Basic packs also consist of several channels,news, doumentaries,family entertainment.Cost in sterling at present exchange rate is £50. RichardThursday 9 June 2011 10:15PM
SKY are promising a price freeze until 2013. Does this mean that they will continue to ripoff their customers until then.Sky has the most expensive pay tv when compared to prices in France,Germany,Spain and Italy.SKY has the most suscribers in the British market boosted by Irish suscribers.It rewards those who show loyalty by charging £20-£25/monthly extra for similar packages offered cheaper in other markets.I suppose those over indulged,over paid footballers cost more t65han they are worth.Richard: Yes, that sounds about right to me. AlanSaturday 11 June 2011 12:07PM
We have a standard sky tv box and what we need to know is can we cancel our sky subscription and then use our existing equipment to watch free channels or does sky require the equipment back? Do we need a freeview box and will this work with the sky sat dish?
Thanks!
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