Thinking of ditching Sky for freeview

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 11:50

After about 7 years of having Sky, the digi-box is on it's way out so am contemplating what to do.

I'd love to upgrade to Sky+, but the cost of this to a loyal existing customer is tat compared to what is offered to a johnny come lately. (I know you can negotiate if you threaten to cancel, but it's not a certainty)

I'm currently paying £37pm which is the standard pack plus the sports package.

The missus has indicated that £37x12 = £444 is a lot of cash to pay each year for watching a bit of footy on the box, and I have to agree, especially as I have a season ticket too.

We don't really watch anything else, so was thinking about getting a freeview box instead?

Anyone got one of these, and are they any good?

Do you have to have a special aerial to get it? We don't actually have any aerial at the mo.

And more importantly, is the world cup footy on Sky or terrestrial?

cheers
pie

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 11:56

basmic said:
If you like the footy, then it might be worth your while getting a Top-up TV box.

Can buy the starter packs for £27.99, which includes your initial £20 connection fee and first months rental.

oooh, never heard of this before. what is it? is it part of sky or freeview?

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 12:00

basmic said:
It's basically a freeview box, with a slot where you put the TUTV card in, call TUTV up and away you go.

Link to Top Up TV here.

ta for the link.

no footy on there though. has eurosport, but that rarely has footy on it

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 12:38

an HDD freeview box sounds great.

does freeview have that planner like sky does where you can see things a week in advance and set things to record away automatically?

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 12:52

brill. do you need a massive outdoor aerial?

i don't actually have any aerial at the mo.

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 13:06

great, thanks for the info everyone.

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 14:30

Desmo said:
I dumped Sky when I moved house and can't say I miss it one bit. When I watch it back at my parents house I realise how full of crap it is.

yeah that's one of the reasons why I am thinking of ditching it.

i do a flick through the channels and 99% of the time I can't find anything decent to watch.

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 21:20

ste_bla said:
Take a look at http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

A LOT more channels than freeview and if you already have sky equipment then only £20 (iirc) one off payment for the card and then free..

i like the sound of that. no need to ditch the old Sky equipment or get a new aerial put in.

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 21:49

hehe, guilty of that one.

so if i cancel sky, does my current sky card work ok for the freeview stuff, or will i need one of these £20 ones that was mentioned a few posts ago?

Hawkpie · 13 Feb 2006 at 22:00

fantastic.

ok then, now that I am saving £400 per year and £260 for not upgrading the Sky+, looks like I might be buying my own PVR box instead.

Anyone got any suggestions or recommendations for ones that will work with Sky, but not buying the Sky+ one.

Also will it work ok with just freeview?

Coz Sky pedal multiroom with their Sky+ box, so not sure if they have to do something at their end.

Hawkpie · 14 Feb 2006 at 10:01

Hawkpie said:
fantastic.

ok then, now that I am saving £400 per year and £260 for not upgrading the Sky+, looks like I might be buying my own PVR box instead.

Anyone got any suggestions or recommendations for ones that will work with Sky, but not buying the Sky+ one.

Also will it work ok with just freeview?

Coz Sky pedal multiroom with their Sky+ box, so not sure if they have to do something at their end.

found this answer out myself this morning by ringing a sky digital supplier.

if you cancel sky and just have the freeview channels then buy your own PVR, then you still have to pay Sky £10pm

pah. looks like the video recorder is staying around a bit longer