Has anyone got Freesat yet?

[mitchja]

I've been following the launch of FreeSat in the UK with interest over the last few months.

For those that dont know it's a new satellite TV system (jointly owned by the BBC and ITV I think) offering HD programming for a one-off payment and also more importantly without a monthly subscription (unlike Sky or Virgin Media). It's also available to virtually everyone in the UK as well unlike cable TV.

So far there's about 80 channels including several HD channels though this number is set to increase later this year.

More info here

There's a choice of boxes, from cheaper non-HD ones to more expensive HD with DTR (HDD recorders) although the DTR boxes dont look to be out yet. So far the non hard drive HD boxes are ~150 and then theres an installation fee of about 80 (although oddly a DTR box installation is going to be cost a bit more to install for some reason [?])

I'm going to hold off buying it until the HD DTR boxes start to appear.

Most of the electrical shops do seem to have very limited stocks of the HD boxes so far and a few articals advise waiting until better boxes come out.

Has anyone got it yet and if so is it any good or is everyone waiting like me?

Regards

[RichardMannion]

I'm thinking about it as we already have a Sky dish, so don't need to worry about installation or any more wires.

There is a good forum here:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/foru ... .php?f=142

I could always do a feed directly into my Vista Media Centre instead.... [:)]

[RichardMannion]

I'm thinking about it as we already have a Sky dish, so don't need to worry about installation or any more wires.

There is a good forum here:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/foru ... .php?f=142

I could always do a feed directly into my Vista Media Centre instead.... [:)]

I'm just waiting for the Humax PVR box to be released, then I'll probably get it.

I'm just waiting for the Humax PVR box to be released, then I'll probably get it.

[mitchja]

I didn't realise you could use an existing Sky dish, which is good as I have one.

Regards

[mitchja]

I didn't realise you could use an existing Sky dish, which is good as I have one.

Regards

I have to say, the offering by Freesat makes it a serious alternative to Sky if you want to switch from Virgin Media/Tiscali TV...or if you can't get Virgin Media at all. Also worth considering if you want a good selection of channels which you can't get on Freeview/Freesat from Sky.

Once I get a place of my own I will definitely be giving serious consideration to Freesat. I don't think we will be switching from Virgin right now after the compensation package we got last year, which I must add was thanks to reading it on this forum! [:)]

I have to say, the offering by Freesat makes it a serious alternative to Sky if you want to switch from Virgin Media/Tiscali TV...or if you can't get Virgin Media at all. Also worth considering if you want a good selection of channels which you can't get on Freeview/Freesat from Sky.

Once I get a place of my own I will definitely be giving serious consideration to Freesat. I don't think we will be switching from Virgin right now after the compensation package we got last year, which I must add was thanks to reading it on this forum! [:)]

IMHO it is still not as good as the offering from Sky, which is to be expected as they have about a 20 year head start.

Personally I wont be looking at it until it offers a couple of decent movie channels, sky sports /movies and some news channels. Are SKy going to give them the rights to any channels (Sky sports/news/movies)?

IMHO it is still not as good as the offering from Sky, which is to be expected as they have about a 20 year head start.

Personally I wont be looking at it until it offers a couple of decent movie channels, sky sports /movies and some news channels. Are SKy going to give them the rights to any channels (Sky sports/news/movies)?

[Neil]

We are quite interested in this for upstairs rather than having to pay the extra £10 per month sub that Sky currently charge and is most handy that you can use the existing dish. I can't imagine Sky giving up any of their main movie/sports channels though, I imagine these are 2 of the main reasons people still subscribe to Sky.

A good touch is that ITV HD is going to be exclusive on Freesat when it launches fully, a nice exclusivity offering for it.

[Neil]

We are quite interested in this for upstairs rather than having to pay the extra 10 per month sub that Sky currently charge and is most handy that you can use the existing dish. I can't imagine Sky giving up any of their main movie/sports channels though, I imagine these are 2 of the main reasons people still subscribe to Sky.

A good touch is that ITV HD is going to be exclusive on Freesat when it launches fully, a nice exclusivity offering for it.

[mitchja]

I really dont think you will see any Sky channels on Freesat. Arn't they supposed to be pulling the few channels off Freeview at some stage?

What Freesat might do though is force Sky to reduce the price of their HD boxes and HD subscription.

Regards

[mitchja]

I really dont think you will see any Sky channels on Freesat. Arn't they supposed to be pulling the few channels off Freeview at some stage?

What Freesat might do though is force Sky to reduce the price of their HD boxes and HD subscription.

Regards

[Neil]

Originally posted by mitchja
What Freesat might do though is force Sky to reduce the price of their HD boxes and HD subscription.

HD boxes are becoming much cheaper. When we got ours they were wanting £299 + £60 installation (although we paid less due to some serious cock ups on our account and their nice goodwill gestures) but a friend at work has just ordered it and they are paying £99 + £30 installation.

Reducing/getting rid of the £10 HD subs would be nice however, I can see this happening fairly soon like they did with the Sky + subs when that got more popular.

[Neil]

Originally posted by mitchja
What Freesat might do though is force Sky to reduce the price of their HD boxes and HD subscription.

HD boxes are becoming much cheaper. When we got ours they were wanting 299 + 60 installation (although we paid less due to some serious cock ups on our account and their nice goodwill gestures) but a friend at work has just ordered it and they are paying 99 + 30 installation.

Reducing/getting rid of the 10 HD subs would be nice however, I can see this happening fairly soon like they did with the Sky + subs when that got more popular.

[mitchja]

I *think* the Sky HD box price is on a sliding scale based on the level of subscription you choose i.e. the more you subscribe to and pay for (including phone and broadband), the cheaper the box is.

It will only be a matter of time before Sky start giving HD boxes away for nothing. I was one of the sad-saps that paid £200 for the very first digital Sky box before they starting giving those away for nothing.

Regards

[mitchja]

I *think* the Sky HD box price is on a sliding scale based on the level of subscription you choose i.e. the more you subscribe to and pay for (including phone and broadband), the cheaper the box is.

It will only be a matter of time before Sky start giving HD boxes away for nothing. I was one of the sad-saps that paid 200 for the very first digital Sky box before they starting giving those away for nothing.

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja


It will only be a matter of time before Sky start giving HD boxes away for nothing. I was one of the sad-saps that paid £200 for the very first digital Sky box before they starting giving those away for nothing.

I would agree. Most new TV's today are HD ready meaning that SKy will work out it is lossing out on customers as they arent willing to pay for the box. I am in that boat, have an HD tv but using regular sky as I am holding out for it becoming free.

Originally posted by mitchja


It will only be a matter of time before Sky start giving HD boxes away for nothing. I was one of the sad-saps that paid 200 for the very first digital Sky box before they starting giving those away for nothing.

I would agree. Most new TV's today are HD ready meaning that SKy will work out it is lossing out on customers as they arent willing to pay for the box. I am in that boat, have an HD tv but using regular sky as I am holding out for it becoming free.

[RichardMannion]

I've not watched a movie on any of the Sky Movie channels for years as they are so behind the times. More efficient to get a Lovefilm DVD subscription and have them mail the movies out to you.

There are so few channels we watch on Sky, so Freesat is a strong contender.

[RichardMannion]

I've not watched a movie on any of the Sky Movie channels for years as they are so behind the times. More efficient to get a Lovefilm DVD subscription and have them mail the movies out to you.

There are so few channels we watch on Sky, so Freesat is a strong contender.

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I've not watched a movie on any of the Sky Movie channels for years as they are so behind the times. More efficient to get a Lovefilm DVD subscription and have them mail the movies out to you.

There are so few channels we watch on Sky, so Freesat is a strong contender.

I guess the only thing that is keeping me with Sky is the sport. O and numerous episodes of Air Crash Investigation [:I]. If your not into sport or MTV then I can see its a good contender.

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I've not watched a movie on any of the Sky Movie channels for years as they are so behind the times. More efficient to get a Lovefilm DVD subscription and have them mail the movies out to you.

There are so few channels we watch on Sky, so Freesat is a strong contender.

I guess the only thing that is keeping me with Sky is the sport. O and numerous episodes of Air Crash Investigation [:I]. If your not into sport or MTV then I can see its a good contender.