Is Freeview the only option?

From what I've been told, it's a listed building so the council will have my knees broken if I put a dish on the side of the house, but I think I'll be ok with one on the chimney stack where the current regular TV aerials are.

I'm going to speak to the Council then get the ball rolling with Sky if they're happy with it.
 
Arses. The Town Council say I have to apply for planning permission to put the dish up as it's a conservation area. That's £150, and it won't guarantee that I'll be able to do it :(

So, back to the original question - is Freeview the only option of the free TV services I should be looking at?
 
In all honesty your more likely gonna get permission for a dish discretely on a side or rear wall rather than a chimney stack as for some reason local authorities like them not up there.
Have done installs on listed buildings (Mostly grade 2 but not sure if one was actually Grade 1) and surveyed the locations prior to going ahead on these installs to get permission and every time the Chimney stack has been refused but been allowed a discrete install somewhere on a wall.
We have tons of brackets to get around these problems such as swan poles (much more discrete than a T+K) to put the install on the rear of the house over the roof etc, if you get a patient installer its usually pretty easy to hide a dish without too much fuss.
Just read your other reply about being in a conservation area requiring planning permission? Didnt think that was the case at all (Just have to be careful with the placement and they can be classed as a permitted development, unless this varies place by place but I thought it was a nationwide thing). Is it a listed building or in a conservation area or both?
As different rules apply in all 3 cases.
 
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It's a listed building in a conservation area. I may well get the permission to do it, but I don't really want to shell out £150 for the application (which may still be refused) then potentially move out in 6 months!
 
Looks like I'll get pretty much the lot on Freeview once the digital switchover happens (the day I move in!)

I'm not gonna bother with HD since I only have a 720p TV and don't really want to spend too much on the box. Is there any particular standard def box that I should be looking at? Or do they all do pretty much the same thing? Not fussed about recording etc, just watching.
 
cheaper boxes can be frustrating...slow to change channel etc. Humax always do decent boxes but you will pay for the privilege. I wouldn't be without recording and live pause though these days!
 
I've got a fairly old Toshiba 32" 720p TV so no built-in Freeview tuner sadly.

I'll have a look out for a Humax then. Not fussed about recording etc. There's nothing on the Freeview channels that I'll be that fussed about missing really, and with iPlayer, ITV player and 4OD I can catch up on anything exciting.
 
Just to add some information to this thread.

There is no legal entitlement to put a satellite dish up.

There are three seperate people who will have to agree to this dish being put up.

1. Your immediate landlord.
2. The freeholder who ultimately owns the building. Even if your landlord is willing the freeholder may block it.
3. The council. I also live in a conservation area and have to have permission to put a dish up. It has to be done in such a way that it does not affect the look of the area. You need planning permission and it has to be in such a location that it doesn't (a) affect the structural integrity of the property and (b) be visable from the street.

Where I live lots of people have stuck dishes up and been reported to the council. The council can order the dish to be taken down at your expense and also with you still tied into a contract with Sky.

I live in Hove and my FTTC availability has been delayed by people complaining about the look of the new cabinets.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2010/07/06/brightons-broadband-battle-nimbyism-or-just-common-sense/

If you live in conservation area you will have lots of people like that who are likely to complain about a dish.
 
Yeah I've given up on the idea Spud, no point going to all the hassle for 6 months. I might even try reading a book or two instead of staring idly at the 400 channels I'd have if I did get Sky!
 
Cheers Rob, I'll take a look at that link although I don't know if I can be bothered with the hassle if I'm only there 6 months.

Regarding Freeview, once the digital switchover happens in my region, I'm assuming the standard aerial on the roof will be sufficient, I'll just need a digi-box? And the standard analogue tuner in my TV (no built-in Freeview) will no longer pick up anything?
 
as long as you can get a decent digital signal all will be well...you should already receive some freeview channels btw
 
Yeah the website said I'd get some channels with a Freeview box before the switchover, then all of them once they flick with switch.

Just hoping the aerial on the roof of the building is up to the job...
 
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