Sky Tv Alternatives

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:06

Folks,

I've just found out that Sky is going up yet again in September, so i've decided enoughs - enough.

Anyone used a Satalite alternative (More Channels) or the dreaded Freeview.

Anyone with any advise would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Unromantic__Me · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:09

Avoid the ol NTL (if you get it in your area) All they have ever caused us in problems, over and over again....not to mention, if you ever have a problem on a Sunday, they wont ever be able to help you...as there is never anyone around to answer the phones...

They messed up our broadband numerous times, or digital...and they even overcharged us a few times last year...Accused me of watching dirty ppv things too (when I was on holiday

)

Goose · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:11

I've got Telewest's digital cable and its fairly crap to be honest. It's extremely slow a cumbersome to use and channels randomly fail for minutes at a time.

ElRazur · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:12

Get a satelite dish installed - More channels, free porn, more movies, free premiership matches.

Just google for satelite installers.

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:12

No cable in our area, so its either another Sat provider, or freeview.

Sirrel Squirrel · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:13

Freeviews the only way to go really if you want to ditch Sky, NTL are rubbish from what I've seen and they also own Telewest so I'd imagine they'd be just as bad.

I've heard of a company called HomeChoice, which I think deliver TV over a BT phone line, no idea what they're like though

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:17

Done a google for satellite installers, but all I get is a load of companys.

ste_bla · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:18

What channels to you watch?

As you can use the sky box and buy a card (£20) and you can recieve all the free channels and there will be more than on freeview have a look at http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

Sirrel Squirrel · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:18

The only main satellite provider in this country is Sky, the only other way to get satellite tv is to buy your own satellite dish and box, then point the dish at a satellite and get lovely european channels and porn

Al Vallario · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:19

You might want to have a look at the following thread just a few posts down:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17594066

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:20

Thats what I'm thinking.

We generally watch the free stuff anyway, plus Sky One and Bravo, which I guess you only get a on a pay service.

I would buy my own dish, and point at a Sat, but I dunno where to look, or what Sat or what Channels I would get.

ElRazur · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:21

Goumet said:
Done a google for satellite installers, but all I get is a load of companys.

Give them a ring, check out the av forum and digital forum...Seriously, you are better off getting a satelite. Email Dmpoole, i believe he's got one.

When you ring them, let them know what you want an improved box....that way you will get more channels that are supposed to be under your radar (hope you get my drift?), they might need to come to your house and do a survey first.... and before you know it bob is your uncle.

secretspy · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:27

sky is going up??

i havent had anything about this?! :confused:

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:28

Yeah sorry, seen it on a forum, its going up by between £1-£2 in September.

Anyone use Hotbird?

secretspy · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:32

is that on normal sky or sky+??

i know on sky+ they have packages stating £18 but they actually charge £10 recording fee on top of that

sky is the only decent thing I have used

top up tv is rubbish and ntl is, as others have said, rubbish also.
they completely stuffed up the account when we tried closing it !

other things I dont have in my area so i'm a bit limited.

LoadsaMoney · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:37

secretspy said:
sky is going up??

i havent had anything about this?!

Yup got the letter here to, its only by about 17p though.

Says August it will be £53.33, then September and thereafter its going to be £53.50.

Thats for me anyway Sky digital and the multiroom.

secretspy · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:39

LoadsaMoney said:
Yup got the letter here to, its only by about 17p though.

phew I had a major panic then!

edit: I only pay £34 for sky+ ???

Goumet · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:42

Still a rip-off for TV though.

Going to look for an alternative.

Al Vallario · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:55

Goumet said:
Still a rip-off for TV though.

Going to look for an alternative.

When you look at the alternatives, it's not a rip-off at all. Cable television in the UK is rubbish, usually costs more than the equivalent package from Sky and is usually just a compilation of channels scraped together from Sky anyway. You can get FTA satellite or buy viewing cards for other services, but you're likely to end up with a load of foreign channels and no customer services to call when your dish gets blown out of place and you can't access any channels. Freeview is a waste of money - the only decent programming coming in the form of E4 - and Top Up TV is little in the way of an improvement.

Are there any other options? I'd rather go with Sky and get "ripped off" thank you very much!

secretspy · 29 Jun 2006 at 21:01

Al Vallario said:
snip

agreed

when I was with ntl they were charging £30 and that was for standard channels and the only ones extra were sky one and the kids channels. all other channels were boring ones that we never watched

for £34 a month I get nearly all channels, 2 big packages (i.e movies) and recording fee included in that.