As Sky announces a price hike for TV and broadband services set for 2025, joining other major providers like Virgin Media, an increasing number of viewers are seeking ways to trim their viewing expenses.
It’s only now that many are discovering the possibility of accessing hundreds of channels, including some offered on Sky, absolutely free of charge through a simple hack.
Many UK households have a satellite dish attached to their property, even if they don’t currently subscribe to Sky TV. This is often due to previous owners having installed a dish for Sky and then leaving it behind when moving out.
Meanwhile, others who already have a Sky subscription and a dish may be contemplating cancelling their service to save money. According to Sky’s website, the most affordable Sky TV and broadband package begins at £37 per month (£444 annually).
However, you could pocket all that cash by opting for Freesat using your existing Sky dish instead -by simply connecting a cable to their TV.
Many are just now realising that they can access Freesat for free. A number of smart TVs come equipped with both a Freesat and Freeview tuner, eliminating the need to purchase a separate box for Freesat, reports the Express.
All you need to do is connect a satellite cable from your Sky point in the wall directly into the back of your TV, provided it has a SAT connection (which resembles a hexagonal bolt shape with a tiny hole in the centre).
Delve into your TV’s settings and run a scan for satellite channels. In no time, you’ll find a plethora of channels at your fingertips, including some that are typically exclusive to Sky and aren’t found on Freeview.
As highlighted by the Freesat website: “To use Freesat you need a satellite dish, but it doesn’t need to be new!
“Even if it’s a Sky satellite dish or an older model, all you need to do is plug the satellite cables into the back of your Freesat 4K TV Box [or some smart TVs] and you’re good to go.”
And if you’re pondering a switch from Sky TV to Freesat, your existing dish can still come in handy.
The dish influences how many channels you can simultaneously record on your 4K TV Box.
With over 100 channels currently listed on Freesat, subscribers have access to offerings not available on Freeview, like ITV2 HD, ITV3 HD, ITV Be HD, PBS America, Quest HD, Court TV, plus a variety of others such as W, Drama, Yesterday, Sky Mix HD, Challenge, Sky Arts, and E4 Extra.
Reddit users have recently stumbled upon this hack, which also applies to Sky Q dishes with the purchase of a new box.
@vamprybyte wrote: “A fair chunk of TVs include a satellite tuner, known as DVB-S2, just like they have a free view tuner (DVB-T). So you can probably get the open Freesat channels without buying anything if you are already on Sky and getting away from it.”
@antde5 added: “The new Sky Q setup works 100% fine with the 4K Freest box available on the market now. It’s literally what I ran for the past 12 months after I dumped sky.
“I’ve just switched back to sky, and we just plugged the Q box into the cables and it was fine.”
In this modern era of streaming, many are foregoing traditional aerial or dish setups, but the merits of Freesat include the ability to record and rewind without limits, and it operates independently of internet bandwidth – meaning no buffering during streams when you’re busy downloading elsewhere.
The news comes as Sky recently revealed an impending price increase for their TV packages and broadband services, set to come into effect from 1 April.
Sky’s Chief Operating Officer, Devesh Raj, elaborated on the forthcoming changes: “This April, we will be introducing some changes to prices of Sky’s TV and broadband products. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain to our customers why this decision is necessary and why we’re always committed to offering you excellent value.
“At Sky, everything we do is focused on bringing people the joy of a better experience. Whether it’s award-winning content, world-class sports coverage, or reliable broadband, we strive to provide an offering that sets us apart. I’m proud to say we’ve invested heavily over the last twelve months, so our customers now have access to more than ever before.
“This continued investment to deliver the best and most reliable products, along with increased supplier costs, means most of our TV and broadband customers will see a change in their price this year. But we’ve made every effort to minimise the financial impact to you.”