[Question] Sky+ SD subscribers - can we watch Freesat?

[lochwinnoch]

Hi forum,

sorry - I realise this has been raised on the forum, but I'm not clear on the answers. I'm hoping my question below is clear enough to help you, um, help me :)

We’d like to buy a new TV & are deliberating if should get with/without freesat built in. We are and will continue to be Sky (SD) customers and wonder if we bought a Sony BRAVIA with built in freesat whether we could also watch HD channels through it (without cancelling sky SD package or paying extra £10/m for HD channels).

Is it as simple as switching out the input so that the satellite cable provides either Sky or Fresat HD channels? Are sky ok with this? Our objective is to keep sky+ as our PVR but to get free HD content from freesat rather than pay sky for it. Is this possible? We realise that freesat doesn't have all the channels and are not worried about that. What's really confusing it Sky's freesat offering - I don't know if that means they prevent you watching freesat.

Thanks!

[lochwinnoch]

The guys at Freesat have been speedy and sent us this answer, if anyone is interested:

With freesat you will receive HD content from the BBC and ITV at no extra cost. You can run freesat and Sky together, but it is important to point out that each service will need its own, separate cable from the dish. This means that you may need to upgrade the LNB (the protruding part of the dish) to allow the two cables you require. We recommend you check your satellite contract and if your dish is still under warranty (typically 12 months), we advise that you check that using it to receive freesat, as well as Sky, will not affect your warranty terms before you install any other equipment.

[Rabbi of Caerbannog]

We've recently done this. Cancelled the Sky subs a whil back and have recently got a Humax Freesat HDR box. This is in the living room but upstairs we are still running sky boxes.

[lochwinnoch]

Thanks for responding Rabbi - good to know. It's confusing as hell :)

[nmayling]

Is the Sony BRAVIA freesat or freesat HD ?