When you cancel your subscription your Sky+ box will still work and using your now deactivated viewing card you will still be able to receive a handful of unencrypted free-to-view (FTV) channels, including BBC1, 2, ITV1, C4 and C5.
You need to return your equipment within 60 days of your service(s) ending, or within 30 days if we've cancelled your services because you've fallen into debt - although sometimes we might ask you to return it sooner.
When you cancel your subscription your Sky+ box will still work and using your now deactivated viewing card you will still be able to receive a handful of unencrypted free-to-view (FTV) channels, including BBC1, 2, ITV1, C4 and C5.
16 top Sky haggling tips
- Do a channel audit.
- Timing is crucial.
- Benchmark the best deal.
- Tell 'em you're happy with Freeview.
- Use Sky's price promises against it.
- Get through to the retentions department.
- Use charm, chutzpah, cheek and a smile.
- Use the phrases that pay.
Showing the free channels on Sky (no card) only
| Channel name | Freeview | Freesat |
|---|
| ITV (SD) | 3 | 103 |
| STV (SD) | 3 | 103 |
| UTV (SD) | 3 | 103 |
| Channel 4 (SD) | 4 | 104 |
No, you actually own your Sky box and dish from day one. Another myth that a lot of Sky subscribers believe is that Sky and Sky+HD boxes can only be purchased directly from Sky, this is in fact simply not true. Your completely free to purchase a box from wherever you choose and install it yourself.
You don't need a Now TV Smart Box if you've already got a TV with apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Now TV. All you need to do is create a Now TV account (or using an existing or previous Sky account), and this little box gives you Freeview channels and a plethora of apps.
you got, say, Sky Movies or Sky Sports in HD, then Sky Q wasn't actually a lot more money. This gets you the cheaper Sky Q 1TB box and the basic Sky TV channels. The cheaper box means you don't get access to Sky 4K content. There are also Box Set and Kids bundles, which are another £5 per month extra each.
Now Sky has announced that, from today, Sky+ HD will no longer be available to new customers. Instead, anyone wishing to join Sky will be given a state-of-the-art Sky Q box for the same price as the ageing Sky+ HD service.
Cheaper Alternatives to Sky TV: Ditch That Expensive Subscription
- Freeview. Freeview TVs.
- Freesat. Freesat Box Bestsellers.
- Netflix.
- Amazon Prime.
- NOW TV.
- TVPlayer.
- Disney+ (Previously DisneyLife)
- Google Chromecast.
Sky Signature is our new TV base pack which includes over 300 channels (+100 additional to Freeview), over 40 catch up channels and 500 box sets. You'll also get access to the Sky Go app – which lets you stream live and catch up TV from your Sky package on your phone, tablet or laptop.
The new 2TB box allows you to record six channels at the same time while watching a seventh. The older Sky+ HD box only allows two channels to be recorded with the users able to watch content at the same time as long as it's already on the set-top box hard drive.
The two different storage-sized Sky Q boxes give you different Multiroom perks. With the 1TB Sky Q box, you can connect up to four Mini boxes and watch Sky on two TVs at the same time. Additionally, you'll be able to stream Sky TV, including anything you've recorded, on one device at home.
Worth noting is that the Sky Q 1TB box doesn't support 4K and doesn't come with the radio-frequency Bluetooth remote, just the standard infrared one. It is, at its heart, a multi-room TV system and to enable you to watch in other rooms, you need to add one or more Sky Q Mini boxes to your package.
However, you can also buy a replacement Sky+, Sky+ HD & Sky+HD 1 or 2TB for yourself from eBay, Amazon or specialised retailers that offer refurbished Sky boxes. But remember If you do buy a replacement box yourself, make sure you remove your Sky viewing card from your old box.
About your Sky±HD box
The 250GB personal storage capacity of the Sky±HD box means you can store 180 hours of SD content and 60 hours of HD content. If you have a Sky±HD 2TB the 1.5TB personal storage capacity means you can store 1180 hours of SD content and 350 hours of HD content.Until now, Sky subscribers have been required to connect their box to their router via Ethernet, or buy a separate Wi-Fi adapter to access Sky On Demand through their TV. The new Sky+HD and Sky+HD 2TB boxes connect wirelessly to a home Wi-Fi network with the touch of a couple of buttons.
2 Within one minute press the WPS button on the front panel of your Sky±HD box. Your Sky±HD box should connect to your broadband router automatically. want to connect by WPS, then you can connect by entering the Wi-Fi password: 1 Press services, 0, 5 on your remote control and this will take you to the Network tab.
Your old Sky box will still work as a Freesat from Sky box to receive free channels on it, but you won't be able to pause, record or watch any old recordings on the box anymore. Alternately you can give it to friends or family who want a Freesat box, or sell it on eBay (don't expect to get much for it).
Screw the cable into 'Input 1' on the back of your Sky box until it's finger tight. HDMI cable (Preferred): If you have an HD-ready TV, plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI socket on the back of your box and the other end into an availble HDMI port (take note of the port name) on the back of your TV.
From 1 October, all Sky Sports channels will be broadcast in HD as standard, and as a result, the cost of the full Sky Sports package will increase by £2/month. You'll still be able to watch in standard definition if you've only got a standard definition TV, but you'll have to pay for HD regardless.
To enter installer mode, turn on the Sky box and press "Services" on the handset. Then press the following keys on the handset one after the other in quick succession: "4" to enter "System Setup" then "0" then "1" then "Select". This will enter the "Installer Setup".
Freeview channels
Sky's basic offering – Sky Entertainment – includes 250 free-to-air channels including all the familiar terrestrial TV favourites; BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 (including HD) are all available, as you'd expect.0800 and 0808 (Freephone) – Free from both landlines and mobile phones.
Call Sky to find out how long is left on your contract
If you would prefer to speak to Sky's broadband customer service team to find out when your contract is up, you can call them on 0800 151 2747.If you're out of contract: cancelling Sky for free
This won't cost you anything. If you cancel during your cooling off period, you will have any fees refunded, but you will not get payments back for any one-off fees you provide after the service is activated.Sky customers can cancel by calling 03442 41 44 14 or using the chat function on the website. They can also write to Sky Subscribers Services Ltd, PO Box 43, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 7DD. Those writing will need to provide their name, address, postcode and telephone number.
It is not possible to plug an aerial into a Sky Digibox to receive Freeview channels because the boxes have not been designed this way. You will continue to get the full Sky EPG listings; you just will not be able to watch subscription channels.
