What should I replace Sky with?

TDevlin · 5 Feb 2012 at 13:17

After years of having Sky tv bought and paid for, I'm about move out and be in a position where I have to pay for it myself :eek:

So as much as I do love it, I'm thinking it's a luxury I don't really need and don't think I can justify the cost either.

So my question is, what would you recommend I have as a new set up? I don't really watch that much tv anyway so paying a monthly subscription for the bt or virgin alternatives is not something I'd want to look into. I'm more thinking along the lines of a free tv service and supplementing this by streaming movies from my pc.

What happens when you cancel sky, will I still be able to use my sky+HD box and receive a basic selection of channels or do I need to fork out for a separate freeview box?

TDevlin · 5 Feb 2012 at 13:35

MissChief said:
You will be able to watch a selection of freesat from sky channels but not record or even watch anything you've already recorded. I'm assuming you have a dish at your new place?

Not sure about that to be honest as not decided where I'm going to move to yet although I'm assuming I'll need a dish wherever I move to?

Do you mean the the recording feature of the Sky+box will disappear? That would be a major downside.

TDevlin · 5 Feb 2012 at 13:50

TheVoice said:
Netflix perhaps? The selection isn't massive just yet but it'll grow for sure.

Don't think that's really for me, I've had a browse of what's on it and don't think I'd get much out of it.

TDevlin · 5 Feb 2012 at 14:15

Shame you can't record with with the Sky+ box as I'm never in when something I want to watch is on. Might just see how I get on with it to begin with though and then look into getting a Freeview+ box if necessary.

That's my tv viewing sorted then, but I hardly watch any tv, it's mainly just movies. What would you recommend for that side of things? Currently I've got the sky movies package but most of the movies I watch are streamed to my ps3 from my pc.

Is it worth getting a dedicated media streamer for this and possibly a NAS box? Or is it worth just sticking to the ps3 and maybe buying an external hard drive?

TDevlin · 6 Feb 2012 at 21:19

enkoda said:
I've just done the same; cancelled Sky and getting a Freesat+ box next week (our Freeview channels can be a bit hit & miss sometimes).
For films I use a portable USB hdd connected to a Cyclone Micro +2, brilliant little piece of kit!

seems like a good idea to me, should save loads by cancelling sky. I'm going to stick with my ps3 for now as it's doing a fine job, but still not sure if I should go for a portable hdd like yourself or invest in a NAS box

TDevlin · 9 Feb 2012 at 20:24

Rossi~ said:
I'm not entirely sure, to be honest i don't see Sky as a luxury. £52 a month for unlimited internet (15mb down for me), line rental, phone calls (rarely use), Sky+ HD normal entertainment package, access to Sky Anytime+. I think that's pretty damn good for the price.

I wouldn't say sky was bad value for money either, but it just depends what your disposable income is. That's over £600 a year for the package you've got and it doesn't even include movies. That prices it a bit too high for my budget anyway.

TDevlin · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:17

yeah freeview will do fine for me, and I can't say I've ever watched Sky Atlantic, but I'm sure there is good stuff on it. Only channel I'll really miss though is FX.

I'm the same as you mame, I can quite easily not turn my tv on for a good few days in a row and won't feel like I've missed anything, and if I do have any free time I'd rather play a game instead.