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21/10/2008
Freesat v Free Sky Digital

It may surprise some of you to know that Freesat is not the only free-to-view satellite service in the UK. Sky allows access to many of its digital channels (including some in HD) for a one-off payment.

Both platforms offer High Definition (HD) content, with Freesat currently broadcasting two channels (BBC HD & ITV HD) while Sky can offer three channels (BBC HD, C4 HD & Luxe HD).

So where's the catch? Well, not surprisingly,  both services require the installation of a satellite dish. Existing Sky users will probably be able to access 'Freesat' through their existing dish.

You will also need to purchase a receiving box. Sky currently charge £150 for a Standard Definition (SD) receiver or a whopping £399 for a HD receiver if you choose not to bundle in any of their subscription packages. With SD Freesat boxes going for around £50 and HD equivalents for around £150, Freesat has a price advantage.

If you are an existing Sky customer or you own a Sky Digibox and minidish, you can purchase a £20 Sky Freesat card. If you do not subscribe, or stop subscribing to a Sky TV package however, your Sky box will loose its recording functionality unless you pay a £10 a month fee (there are no Fressat HDD recorders at the moment). You also have the option of buying a second hand Sky box on Ebay and installing it yourself using a satellite alignment meter and just buying the £20 Sky Freesat card.

By Christmas, Freesat is likeley to have around 200 SD channels (up from 80) which is the same number as Sky are currently offering. Both services offer most of the channels you would expect such as BBC3, BBC4, ITV3, ITV4 etc. The number of Freesat channels is likely to expand beyond Sky's current offerings.

Sky's free service seems like a good choice if you have their existing kit or can pick it up cheap second hand. If not, Freesat may be the option to choose, with an expanding SD and HD service, with recording functionality arriving on future receiving boxes. It is worth noting that Freeview will be offering HD content shortly, but depending on where in the UK you live, some of us could have a longer wait than others.