Freesat from Sky is a British satellite television service from Sky UK. It offers over 240 free-to-air channels in its EPG. This is a greater number than its competitors, Freesat, which has 200+, and Freeview, which has 70+. It also has up to six HD channels and Sky Active interactive data service. The service is less-promoted than the subscription-based Sky satellite service.
Service reach
, the number of households with free-to-view satellite television is estimated by Ofcom to be 2.045 million, or 8.0% of households with television.
Reception equipment
This service requires use of the proprietary SkyHD or SDset-top box, to receive the FTA channels. Sky's boxes use the proprietary OpenTV EPG for interactive television services. The boxes are limited in some regards when compared to other satellite receivers, such as digital audio, video outputs, and the lack of the ability to use a dish motor and scan for channels not carried on the EPG. They also feature an EPG that contains all Sky channels, including pay-TV services which are not available to non-subscription viewers. Sky currently include a SkyHD Digibox with new FsfS installations. These boxes receive a selection of standard definition and HD channels, but do not record. Those who wish to have Sky+ functionality must buy their own box, requiring Sky to 'pair' their existing viewing card to the new box. In addition, use of the recording facilities of these PVRs also requires an ongoing monthly fee.
Viewing card
Freesat from Sky differentiates itself from Freesat not just by its use of Sky equipment but by offering both free-to-air and free-to-view channels. A card is included with installation or can be purchased direct from Sky. For security reasons the viewing cards are deactivated from time to time and reception of the encrypted free-to-view channels disabled. This requires the user to purchase a new viewing card at the current standard charge. Sky viewing cards used to access subscription services revert to acting as FsfS viewing cards upon cancellation of the subscription. The viewing card also ensures the correct region for regionalised services for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and Channel 4.
Extra channels
The following is a list of free-to-view channels on the FsfS platform. A viewing card is required to watch them. None of these channels are available on Freesat. BT broadband subscribers can also receive BT Sport using a FsfS viewing card.
Freesat from Sky is a competitor to the BBC and ITV's Freesat service which also broadcasts from 28.2°E and 28.5°E and the DTT service Freeview. FsfS has five free-to-view channels which are not available on Freesat and a large number of free-to-air channels which are not directly listed in the Freesat EPG and need manual tuning to receive them. FsfS has over 240 free-to-air channels on its EPG,, including Bloomberg Television and the Travel Channel, compared to 198 free-to-air channels on Freesat EPG. with the remaining free-to-air channels not available through the main EPG, and needing manual tuning by the user. Freeview digital terrestrial television has over 50 free-to-air channels but cannot be manually tuned into the free-to-air channels available. FsfS also pre-tunes the boxes to the correct regional services of broadcasters who offer regional services such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. which on Freesat requires the user manually to enter their postcode during set-up for these correct regional services. Conversely, there are some TV channels that are on Freeview but are not on the Sky EPG, including many adult-category services. Most programming is simulcast on adult-category channels on Sky, but with different channel names and broadcast times.
