Probably ditching Sky - options?

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So after many, many years, I will probably be ditching Sky in next month or two! Shame as i do like it but money could be better used. In the past I have been able to get half price deals so £45 a month to get multroom, movies and sports was ok, but last deal was only 9 months half price and thinking of the options.

My idea is to get Apple TV for the lounge & subscribe to Netflix, but would also need a freeview box I assume as you can't get a number of freeview channels on Apple TV I believe. Then I would get NOW TV for kitchen for the kids pack. However I would also need a freeview box for there too. I get broadband with BT and happy to pay the fiver of so for Sports, so I guess I would use the freeview box for that or would I need to keep my existing Sky box in the lounge which means 3 boxes?? Or is there a simpler way to do this?
 
You could probably get a Freesat box that has Netflix built in plus all the available Free Satellite stuff. Don't bother with Apple TV they are expensive for what they are, I have two that I no longer use because I use an Amazon Firestick in my bedroom TV and a Amazon 4k Firebox on my downstairs TV.

For the kids you could just get a cheap Android box that will have Netflix built in or can be added.
 
You could probably get a Freesat box that has Netflix built in plus all the available Free Satellite stuff. Don't bother with Apple TV they are expensive for what they are, I have two that I no longer use because I use an Amazon Firestick in my bedroom TV and a Amazon 4k Firebox on my downstairs TV.

For the kids you could just get a cheap Android box that will have Netflix built in or can be added.

I assume that all Freest boxes have the same channels, so if I get one that has Netflix and Now! built in then thats only 1 for downstairs. The reason for Apple TV is that I would want a recorder, which are around the same price as Apple TV and kids would probably enjoy playing games on it
 
The kids would be better with an android box as they can go to play store and download games. Freesat or Freeview can be bought as standard or recording like a Tivo box. Human used to do them and I know Panasonic do because I have one thats a recorder / dvd player.

I have a box like this one in my office

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Docooler-R39-8GB-Android-6-0-Quad-Core-HD-Smart-TV-Box-4K-WIFI-H-265-8GB-NEW/332390213922?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=2&asc=47510&meid=e3c913d759544724b03cb98dee7b4ede&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=302470234587&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

You can get them all over eBay and probably from a UK seller
 
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The kids would be better with an android box as they can go to play store and download games. Freesat or Freeview can be bought as standard or recording like a Tivo box. Human used to do them and I know Panasonic do because I have one thats a recorder / dvd player.

I have a box like this one in my office

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Docooler-R39-8GB-Android-6-0-Quad-Core-HD-Smart-TV-Box-4K-WIFI-H-265-8GB-NEW/332390213922?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=2&asc=47510&meid=e3c913d759544724b03cb98dee7b4ede&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=302470234587&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

You can get them all over eBay and probably from a UK seller

Not keen on the android option, Dad has one and was not impressed with it (I tend to favour the Apple approach of plug in and it works), plus we already have loads of games on iPad and iPhone so no cost to play those.
 
Which version of the Sky box do you have now? Presumably it will still receive the free channels when you no longer subscribe? (our old one does).

I also have a couple of versions of the Now TV box. The standard one has a wifi connection and includes apps for various free internet TV catch up services (BBC iPlayer and the ITV, C4, & C5 equivalents) which all work without a subscription, as well as Sky's Now TV app, which requires subscriptions for Entertainment, Sport or Movies. Look out for deals that bundle passes for one of these services with the box - sometimes they can make the box itself almost free.

My other Now TV box is the more expensive 'smart' box that also includes a Freeview HD tuner to give you live TV when connected to an aerial. This feature is redundant if your TV already has a Freeview tuner, as most current models do, so the standard box is fine for most people. Neither box records, though with catchup services included you might not need this.

The Now TV boxes are actually based on the Roku - if you buy the (more expensive) Roku itself, you get access to a wider range of apps, including things like Netflix that compete with Sky.

I haven't used an Apple TV since my ATV2 was bricked by a firmware update. If you go for this, check carefully that it supports any catchup services you need - I believe it does iPlayer but maybe not the ITV, C4 and C5 catchup services at the moment.
 
Which version of the Sky box do you have now? Presumably it will still receive the free channels when you no longer subscribe? (our old one does).

I also have a couple of versions of the Now TV box. The standard one has a wifi connection and includes apps for various free internet TV catch up services (BBC iPlayer and the ITV, C4, & C5 equivalents) which all work without a subscription, as well as Sky's Now TV app, which requires subscriptions for Entertainment, Sport or Movies. Look out for deals that bundle passes for one of these services with the box - sometimes they can make the box itself almost free.

My other Now TV box is the more expensive 'smart' box that also includes a Freeview HD tuner to give you live TV when connected to an aerial. This feature is redundant if your TV already has a Freeview tuner, as most current models do, so the standard box is fine for most people. Neither box records, though with catchup services included you might not need this.

The Now TV boxes are actually based on the Roku - if you buy the (more expensive) Roku itself, you get access to a wider range of apps, including things like Netflix that compete with Sky.

I haven't used an Apple TV since my ATV2 was bricked by a firmware update. If you go for this, check carefully that it supports any catchup services you need - I believe it does iPlayer but maybe not the ITV, C4 and C5 catchup services at the moment.

Good point, one in lounge is 2, maybe 3 years old, one in kitchen is 3 to 4 at a guess. So aside from the obvious, will it basically be the same as a freeview box and come through the dish?
 
Not quite the same - they'll have different selections of free channels, though the major channels will be on both Freeview and Sky. I don't know if recording will still work, either (ours is an older box that doesn't record anyway).
 
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Don’t bother with Apple TV. You can get a card from sky for a few quid which will allow you to view all the free channels through your existing setup. Although recordind and rewind will not work. If you want those features I’d get a free sat box.

For Netflix and amazon video I recommend the Roku. Silimlar to an Apple TV. Cheaper and not weighted to Apple products.
 
I use freesat which is okay, you can use your sky dish. and the box records for about £200.
Then netflix is great and nowTV is a small £15 box which you can get sky channels on for about £8-9 a month.
the kids package is separate as are the movies.
If you have a smart TV with NowTV options (or an android box is a good option too, dedicated nowTV box or a chrome cast) then you can put 3-4 devices on the same subscription.
It's not as good as netflix for functionality but it's okay if you watch a lot of sky one or sky atlantic.
Personally I'm thinking of dumping my nowTV subscription as I watch more things on netflix now and amazon prime video.
 
Ok, so in summary:

  • I can use Sky box for some or all freeview but cant record, for that I need a £150 or so box
  • I can use a new freesat box to get Netflix on
  • I can get Apple TV which will allow me to record as well as view Netflix
 
I don't think Apple TV has a record function.
 
If you have an aerial connection you might also want to consider the various Freeview boxes that record, some of which also have access to catchup services via the internet - e.g. YouView boxes combine a Treeview tuner, recorder, and internet TV in one package. I think they are also compatible with Netflix and Movies (but not other services) from NowTV. Since you mention BT broadband, you might want to look at getting a package from them that includes a YouView box. You can also just buy the boxes from BT and other companies like Humax.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/tv-packages/new-default-tv-entsta.html
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43928/~/different-types-of-youview-boxes-from-bt
 
Thanks all, Bit of a pain needing what looks like multiple boxes!
 
What would you need to record nowadays? They'll have on demand catchup apps. My TV in my bedroom has no Ariel or or free view etc.. Just a amazon stick and all the apps iplayer, 4od etc..
 
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What would you need to record nowadays? They'll have on demand catchup apps. My TV in my bedroom has no Ariel or or free view etc.. Just a amazon stick and all the apps iplayer, 4od etc..

I guess just habit having had Sky for years. Box has lots of films on it, quite a few kids ones but also old films that are typically shown on C4 or BBC2 during the week.
 
I have to say about once a year I almost decide to ditch Sky and then end up keeping it.
Curse you Murdock the bloody thing is just too convenient:mad::confused::mad:
 
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I'm in a similar boat I want to ditch virgin. No one in the house watches live TV and we're paying for a phone line no one uses either.
 
What would you need to record nowadays? They'll have on demand catchup apps. My TV in my bedroom has no Ariel or or free view etc.. Just a amazon stick and all the apps iplayer, 4od etc..

Well for a start F1 don't last long at all on catch up, sometimes they are not there at all!

I would recommend Netflix to the OP.
 
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I'm in a similar boat I want to ditch virgin. No one in the house watches live TV and we're paying for a phone line no one uses either.

I'm at this stage again now with Virgin. A year of really poor connectivity, days without service and they've now upped the prices again. Only this time they've said if you don't like it you can change your package.
I'm probably going to try to ditch the phone, drop the sports and movies, minimal tv package and internet down to 100Mb, see what they come up with as price.
Only issue with where I live is I haven't a BT line anymore and they'll only deliver somewhere between 6-16mb (my neighbour was on Sky/BT, moved to virgin for the 200-300mb broadband)
 
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In an ideal world i would quite like to ditch sky and go over to virgin as i think combining the tv and broadband would drop my monthly price enough to make it worth my while, the issue is that virgin aren't in my road yet so that is a no go. One option could be to setup a dvr recorder as part of an htpc as that would give access to on demand services, streaming services and home server based stuff using something like plex, but also to record freeview channels all in one box.
 
Freesat / freeview combo. Just switch between the two. Its ok, you get used to not having Sky
 
We have a freesat recoder (Humax) which is very good. However the commercial channels are now marking the programs at the start and end of the adverts making it difficult to record 3 programs close together as the adverts overlap.
I.e if you record bbc and ITV say at 9:00pm the ITV program will start recording at 08:56 and end at 10:04, the bbc will start at 9:00 and end at 10:00 while the channel 4 program you want to recorded for 10:00 will try and start at 09:56 and fail. Its a nightmere finding alternative times on +1 or repeats.

Pete
 
Update, cancellation in with Sky (the full price of package would be £92 but they did offer it for £66 as a VIP customer). Option of multiroom less HD, sports and movies for £31 which is more appealing, although BT come in at £22 (although less channels) but need to buy one box for £99 so pretty much negates any savings. Trouble with going freeview is the £150 cost for a recorder box and additional box (£50 or another £150), plus say a Netflix sub. So looks like BT or Sky at this rate.
 
Update - stuck with Sky in the end!!!

Took a call from them and they said that as I was a VIP customer (been with them for years) they had a deal for me, keep everything (sports, HD, multi, box, films) for £52 a month for 12 months BUT it is on a 31 day notice period (as opposed to the £66 on 18 months above).
 
We pay £35pm for the full package (including sports but minus movies) which is a half price deal that I seem to be permanently on as its been 17 months since I last called them to haggle and the price has stayed the same.

I just can't see how I am going to get anything near what I get with sky for that sort of price.

I get virtually every channel, including sports in HD.
Box Sets
The ability to download and record.
Sky Go so I can watch on 4 devices when out of the hours, plus I can download stuff to watch on the train etc.

Netflix is not a substitute for Sky as most of the content is different, its something you might have instead of sky but you certainly wouldn't be getting the same TV shows for the most part.

If I ever had to pay full price (£70) then I might re-evaluate things but for £35 a month, I think its a bargain personally for what you get.

Each to their own I suppose as it entirely depends on what you watch and how you watch it.
 
I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of Sky, I pay £61 pm for TV no premium channels no multi room, old type box not the very latest one, Sky fibre unlimited broadband and phone line I'm not sure if it's a good deal or not, looking at others probably not,
 
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I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of Sky, I pay £61 pm for TV no premium channels no multi room, old type box not the very latest one, Sky fibre unlimited broadband and phone line I'm not sure if it's a good deal or not, looking at others probably not,

Is that £61 including the fibre broadband and line rental?

If I include my fibre and line rental line is £73 a month, just TV is £35.
 
I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of Sky, I pay £61 pm for TV no premium channels no multi room, old type box not the very latest one, Sky fibre unlimited broadband and phone line I'm not sure if it's a good deal or not, looking at others probably not,


We've just gone for that package after ditching Virgin and we're paying about £35 for all that. And we have the Sky Q box too.

Phone them and threaten to leave.
 
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We've just gone for that package after ditching Virgin and we're paying about £35 for all that. And we have the Sky Q box too.

Phone them and threaten to leave.

I will definitely have to look into it, as everyone I know pays a different price for similar packages
 
I have a code for Box sets,sports,cinema £40 a month sky Q nothing iffy i fit it.
 
I was tempted with a new sky contract for the UHD content, but the sky q box for that is £199 setup! I'll stick with my UHD content on Netflix and Amazon
 
Ditched Sky a couple of months ago (could be longer) and miss it... not at all. Plenty of cr@p on Freeview (alongside the gems such as Blue Planet 2) so we're enjoying the cash saved.
 
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