I think Freesat currently has 80 channels, including BBC HD and ITV HD - and now all or most of the Channel 4 family. It will eventually have over 200 channels (like Freesat from Sky).
If you already have Sky, then Freesat from Sky is currently the cheapest option, because all you need to do is cancel your Sky subscription to get it (which has been the case for several years now).
However, if you want the HD bits, you'll need a new box. My plan is to get Sky's version for the time being, and then either when my Sky box gives up the ghost, or Humax produce an HD ready PVR, or my TV blows up and I get an HD TV with built-in sat-box, I'll then switch to Freesat.
No - of course freeview doesn't offer any channels that Sky doesn't!
However, there are loads of people out there who are clammering to get their hands on Freesat boxes - I was just asking if anyone had got it yet and what they thought.
No - of course freeview doesn't offer any channels that Sky doesn't!
oh Ok.
So then I assume that freesat won`t have any channels that are not available to Sky?
What channels will you lose when moving from Sky to freesat? I`m guessing that Sky 1 & 2 are the most obvious channels you will lose, what are the others? (obviously you won`t be getting the sky movie channels or the Sky sports channels)
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
As I said before - I think ITV HD will be exclusively on Freesat. Also, BBC HD will be on Freesat, but not on SkyFreesat. Not sure about whether I will get E4 and More4 when I downgrade to SkyFreesat - but they are going to be on Freesat.
In answer to your other question, it depends whether you are talking about SkyFreesat or BBC/ITV Freesat.
I don't get the Sky movie channels or sport on my current Sky package anyway - and they are definitely not on any colour of Freesat or Freeview.
Originally posted by Lucibee: As I said before - I think ITV HD will be exclusively on Freesat. Also, BBC HD will be on Freesat, but not on SkyFreesat.
With regard to what the difference is, Freesat from Sky is run by Sky, and Freesat is run by a consortium from BBC and ITV.
Yes, I agree that Freesat have left it a little late to get in on the action, but they are supposed to be purely public service broadcasting venture.
Probably in your Sky-centric world, you would rather that Sky just taxed us all £40 a month and gave us Sky TV whether we wanted it or not!!!
But I would REALLY like to hear from those who have Freesat already and can say what it is like...
Originally posted by Lucibee: With regard to what the difference is, Freesat from Sky is run by Sky, and Freesat is run by a consortium from BBC and ITV.
Yes, I agree that Freesat have left it a little late to get in on the action, but they are supposed to be purely public service broadcasting venture.
Probably in your Sky-centric world, you would rather that Sky just taxed us all £40 a month and gave us Sky TV whether we wanted it or not!!!
But I would REALLY like to hear from those who have Freesat already and can say what it is like...
It doesn`t really matter WHO own which freesat system.
The winner will be the one who shows more programmes that viewers want to watch.
And if people want to drop their sky subscriptions in favour of a freeview system, they will choose the one that has the channels with the most interesting content.
Wouldn`t you say?
Me, I thought I was being really good, and asking questions that would help me decide if I want to give up my sky subscription. But of course, it was too much to assume that you would keep on subject and not bring up previous disagreements between us.
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
Why does it always have to be about winning and losing anyway?
This is a free service. Sky probably only offer their freesat service because they also include 4 months free subscription, knowing that at least 80% of people (or so they say) will want to continue with all 580 channels when the time's up. They don't make any money if the service is free, and did their best to convince me that I wanted to upgrade when I cancelled my subscription with them to downgrade to FSfS.
Also it does matter who owns our public broadcasting facilities. I don't think we really realise the full effect that the various forms of media have on our lives, our outlook, and more importantly on our politics, ethics, and even morality. It is unhealthy and potentially dangerous if one corporation gets its hands on the mass media - which is why I get slightly nervous about Sky and the monopoly they currently have over satellite broadcasting.
Apologies if I unknowingly provoked you, but maybe we should both sit back and wait for responses from those who actually have Freesat and can comment on what it's like?
>>Why does it always have to be about winning and losing anyway? <<
It may be FREE satelite to us users, but no-one is going to provide the service at a loss. Someone, somewhere is going to have to fund it.
I know for a fact that as a Sky subscriber, I (and the other subscribers) will be subsidising the sky freesat viewers. But just WHO will be subsidising the BBC/ITV freesat viewers?
If it happens that the BBc/ITV freesat is the one that loses out, will they still be able to provide a free service, or will they have to introduce a subscription? If they don`t introduce a subscription will that mean that EVERYONE`s license fee will increase to pay for it?
But otherwise you`re right, we should wait for a real ITV/BBC freesat viewer to answer.
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
>>Freesat is run as a separate not-for profit company, with ITV and the BBC as its joint shareholders. Each will contribute £3m a year and put their onscreen marketing muscle behind the project.<<
Thanks, lucibee, it is a very informative article.
Where will ITV and BBC get their respective £3m a year from?
Are ITV going to withold it from their current shareholders? Are they going to demand higher fees from advertisers?
Is the BBC going to take it from our current licence money fees? or are they going to put up the licence fee to cover both their yearly monetry input AND making HD content?
And after reading that article, another question is raised. After the Freesat is up and running, are both ITV and BBC going to take all their channels off Sky?
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
For a start £3m a year is not a lot in the scheme of things - probably from business and advertising revenue - maybe some from the licence fee - but remember that there are some of us who can only get TV via satellite, so I'm quite happy for my licence fee to be paying for it if it means I don't have to pay a subscription.
I don't think BBC and ITV can prevent Sky from having access to free-to-air channels, particularly as Sky own most of the satellites!!!
