Sky "Pay Once,Watch Forever" and "FreeSat" - Page 2

**Chris** · 26-01-2009, 17:44

That looks like it. Seems that Sky's own web FAQs are out of date. However it's worth bearing this in mind:

Quote:

You will still be able to watch over 200 free digital channels including BBC HD and Channel4 HD which are available without subscription. You will need a Sky+ subscription to continue enjoying Sky+ recording features. Sky+ features free if you continue to receive Sky TV. Sky+HD needs to be connected to an active telephone for 12 months.

So you can't use it as a PVR any longer if you choose not to maintain the subscription after 2 months, and you will only get BBC-HD and C4-HD. And it seems you need to have the box connected to your phone line for a whole year even if you don't want to take the subscription after your two 'free' months is up.

With a Freesat+HD box, you will get BBC-HD and ITV-HD (and inevitably C4-HD will follow at some point), plus the PVR functionality will work without any subscription, ever.

If you have no interest in subscription-based TV, I think Freesat is a far superior proposition to an unsubscribed Sky box.

Matth · 26-01-2009, 17:53

So, BBC HD and C4 HD are free on POWF HD, but keeping the recording functions is Â£10 per month, so it's closer to a freesat HD without recording unless you stump up Â£10 per month for ever more. Not very attractive unless they introduce an option to buy recording capablities forever, otherwise it could work out cheaper to buy the freesatHD PVR for Â£299-ish and pay for fitting (Â£110-ish). Current total price for Freesat HD recorder & install at Argos is Â£401.28

I'd say Sky need to sell the recording option for Â£200 or less, as they still have you as a possible Premium orderer or returning subcriber. Alternatively, if they made it free after 2 years of subscription.

TheOne · 27-01-2009, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

So, BBC HD and C4 HD are free on POWF HD, but keeping the recording functions is Â£10 per month, so it's closer to a freesat HD without recording unless you stump up Â£10 per month for ever more. Not very attractive unless they introduce an option to buy recording capablities forever, otherwise it could work out cheaper to buy the freesatHD PVR for Â£299-ish and pay for fitting (Â£110-ish). Current total price for Freesat HD recorder & install at Argos is Â£401.28

I'd say Sky need to sell the recording option for Â£200 or less, as they still have you as a possible Premium orderer or returning subcriber. Alternatively, if they made it free after 2 years of subscription.

Yeah, its an interesting option. At the moment i'm inclined to go with this Sky HD offer for 2 months and then just go down to the free-to-air channels as they offer me FREE channels that i actually want to watch, which Freesat do not provide.

LondonRoad · 27-01-2009, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOne

Yeah, its an interesting option. At the moment i'm inclined to go with this Sky HD offer for 2 months and then just go down to the free-to-air channels as they offer me FREE channels that i actually want to watch, which Freesat do not provide.

Free SD channels do you mean? There's not a lot of free HD

It's not an option I'd consider but I can see why Sky are doing it.

If you do go down that route you won't be able to use a pvr unless it's theirs (at Â£10 a month) and you'll still have the pain of scrolling through the epg all the meaningless channels you haven't got.

TheOne · 27-01-2009, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmitage

Free SD channels do you mean? There's not a lot of free HD

It's not an option I'd consider but I can see why Sky are doing it.

If you do go down that route you won't be able to use a pvr unless it's theirs (at Â£10 a month) and you'll still have the pain of scrolling through the epg all the meaningless channels you haven't got.

Yeah, im more inclined to go for Sky's version because of they have a good few SD free-to-air channels that im after, which Freesat doesnt offer.
PVR - im not really to concerned about the PVR feature, as i intend to keep my VM box/package
EPG - wouldnt i just be able to save the channels i watch in a favourite list

**Chris** · 27-01-2009, 10:32

You can make a favourites list with a Sky box, but you can't channel surf with your favourites list. Blue-button allows you to scroll down your favourites' now-and-next view but only in one direction, and if you use ch+ or ch- it will go through the whole EPG, not just your favourites.

Which channels do you want that are in the FreeSatFromSky line up that are missing from Freesat? Did you know that the only reason most of the missing channels aren't on Freesat yet is because of delays in processing them for addition to the Freesat EPG, and that they will all be there within the next few months?

TheOne · 27-01-2009, 19:58

According to their Sky website http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skyco...nels/freetoair
the free-to-air SD channels that im after are pretty much the "international" channels:
9X
9XM
Zee Music
AAP TV
ARY Oneworld
ARY QTV
B4U Music
Brit Asia TV
Channel 'S'
Channel S NTV'
CinÃ©moi movies
DM Digital
Islam Channel
mta-muslim tv
MATV National
Music India
NTV
Noor TV
PTV Global
PTV Prime

Other than the first 3, do you happen to know how many of these will be appearing on Freesat in the next few months as the website doesnt provide much information www.freesat.co.uk ?

Matth · 27-01-2009, 23:14

Some channels that are not on the Freesat EPG, might be possible to import (add channels / non-Freesat channels), ought to be possible for any unencrypted FTA channel.

If they are on here
http://en.kingofsat.net/freqs.php?&p...q&filtre=Clear
or here
http://en.kingofsat.net/pos-28.5E-fta.php
Then it should be possible to add - that includes B4U Music, 9X, 9XM etc.

**Chris** · 28-01-2009, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOne

According to their Sky website http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skyco...nels/freetoair
the free-to-air SD channels that im after are pretty much the "international" channels:
9X
9XM
Zee Music
AAP TV
ARY Oneworld
ARY QTV
B4U Music
Brit Asia TV
Channel 'S'
Channel S NTV'
CinÃ©moi movies
DM Digital
Islam Channel
mta-muslim tv
MATV National
Music India
NTV
Noor TV
PTV Global
PTV Prime

Other than the first 3, do you happen to know how many of these will be appearing on Freesat in the next few months as the website doesnt provide much information www.freesat.co.uk ?

My understanding is that Freesat intends for all Free-to-Air channels to eventually be available in their EPG. You can actually receive any Free-to-Air channel on a Freesat box already, even if it isn't officially included in the Freesat EPG, because all Freesat boxes allow you to scan for non-Freesat channels.

Believe it or not, it is Sky that is causing the delay in adding channels to the Freesat EPG. Sky actually owns part of the satellite uplink infrastructure in the UK and are dictating the pace of new channel additions because they want proof that each new channel's addition to the Freesat EPG doesn't damage their own EPG.

This site is a useful source of unofficial Freesat news: www.joinfreesat.co.uk

TheOne · 30-01-2009, 12:14

I'll contact Freesat and see what they say regards to the above channels i'm after

**Chris** · 30-01-2009, 12:37

In my experience they're quite good at responding to questions sent in via their website, but it is also a good idea to keep an eye on the unofficial rumours websites as well. The best are ukfree.tv and joinfreesat.co.uk.

And no, I don't have any connection with either of them.

NO ONE · 07-02-2009, 00:48

Can you Run Sky World pakage and A Sky Free From the Same Dish i e Sky World on say A Sky puls in the Longe and A Sky Free on Standerd Box The Bedroom?

**Chris** · 07-02-2009, 11:33

Yes, provided you have an LNB with sufficient connections at your dish, you can run as many satellite receivers as you like in your house. To run a Sky+ box in one room and a FreesatFromSky box in another, you would need a quad-LNB (has four connections, so you would still have a spare to add another box in future if you wanted).

ntluser · 09-02-2009, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Yes, provided you have an LNB with sufficient connections at your dish, you can run as many satellite receivers as you like in your house. To run a Sky+ box in one room and a FreesatFromSky box in another, you would need a quad-LNB (has four connections, so you would still have a spare to add another box in future if you wanted).

Having a quad-LNB is something I have been thinking of but if you have a Sky system who fits the quad-LNB please? And what sort of costs are involved?

**Graham M** · 09-02-2009, 09:14

A Sky Installer. Cost depends on who you go through to get it done, if you think you can do it yourself, you can normally pick them up off of ebay