Channel five and sky

[Consumer dude]

Have just lost channel five and want to know how to get it back. I had a sky subscription (but not now) and a box on the telly shows up advising to go online to get a replacement card. I don't understand, am I not entilted to certain tv channels, eg channel five without losing them and why should I apply for a relacement card from sky when I don't have any subscription from them ? Could any one please advise ?

[dx100uk]

you need to get a freeview card from sky.

they are free.

wont go into the silliness of it all but its a franchise issue of how ch.5. is distributed on sat.

 

dx

[Consumer dude]

you need to get a freeview card from sky.

they are free.

wont go into the silliness of it all but its a franchise issue of how ch.5. is distributed on sat.

 

dx

 

 

Thank you. Am I thinking that the freeview card from sky is not the same as the card that they are asking me to replace and where would I apply for one of these freeview cards..

[dx100uk]

just phone and ask.

 

dx

[banker_rhymes_with]

Hello dx100uk!

 

I think there's more to it than just Channel 5 and a franchise issue.

 

In our case, Sky have also deleted many other Channels, such as Channel 4 +1, and E4 and E4 +1, and a few others. At least 6-10 Channels.

 

It comes across as just a Sky money making idea, to make people who enjoy Free Channels pay something to get a new Card they do not otherwise need.

 

They seem to be restricting Channels based on the age of the Card, because others I know of are only just starting to get these messages, some have only lost Channel 5 and have yet to lose the rest, some have lost Channel 5 and are already getting warnings that they will lose other Channels, and we have lost both Channel 5 and maybe 8+ other Channels.

 

I smell a rat, and it lives in the Sky!

 

Cheers,

BRW

[Consumer dude]

just phone and ask.

 

dx

 

 

 

 

Well there is that, I was just wondering if I could order this freeview card on line as no doubt if I'm on the phone I shall be kept waiting than get disconected, Also is there any way I can get channel five without asking sky for it ?

[loopinlouie]

I was told the card would cost 20.00 so be prepared, I didnt bother in the end. I also have no subscription now and lost chanels.

 

Dont know if your box also started to keep going to standby at the same time as not reknewing. It happened to me before and when I reknewed it stopped. HHmm. No reknewed again and low and behold it keeps warning going to standby.

[banker_rhymes_with]

I was told the card would cost 20.00 so be prepared

 

Ah, ha!

 

There's the catch.

 

Likewise, in 12 months time, they will try this on again, and again, and again.

 

It's just Sky trying to making Sky Free into Sky Pay.

 

Cheers,

BRW

[Consumer dude]

So am I understanding this correctly, do sky own channel five in any shape or form ?

[buzby]

No - But 5 uses Sky's encryption. Yes, the card costs £20. If you don;t wish to pay this, get a freesat reciever - no further fee required. At you'll get HD if you get the HD reciever on new channels as they launch. (Not to be confuesd with Sky's Freesat offering).

[banker_rhymes_with]

Hello buzby!

 

No - But 5 uses Sky's encryption.

 

I'm sure Sky have an excuse for that, although quite why they needed to pull this Channel when it was working fine, is not clear. I suspect Sky could've left this up and running for existing Card Holders, but have instead used it as an excuse to try and get money out of people.

 

My main reason for saying this, is because they are phasing this in, possibly based on the date of your Card.

 

If you see my point, if they are so worried about the encryption, then you'd expect them to warn every Free Card Holder at the same time, and not mess about doing it to different people, at different times.

 

Add that to the other disappearing Channels, such as Channel 4 +1, it looks more like a crafty plan to make people buy a fresh round of Free (view) Sky Cards.

 

Yes, the card costs £20. If you don;t wish to pay this, get a FreeSat receiver - no further fee required. At you'll get HD if you get the HD receiver on new channels as they launch. (Not to be confused with Sky's FreeSat offering).

 

Absolutely! To me, this is a big message from Sky to remind me to dump them and get FreeSat instead (i.e. not from Sky).

 

My problem, and the reason I'm moaning away here, is because I cannot afford £20, let alone a new FreeSat Box.

 

One of the few things I get to do to relax these days is to watch some TV when I am too tired to work. But thanks to Sky, even that is being curtailed for no genuine reason that I can see.

 

Cheers,

BRW

[buzby]

I believe (memory loss) it was Five that went to Sky and asked for it. It would have cost them too much to implement their own system, so the arrangement with Sky gave them the required permission, at a cost they preferred.

 

My Sky Freeview card was updated by Sky last year at no cost - so you could call them (Sky) and say your card, which was working happily as FreeSat after you downgraded) they may send one on to you.

 

Hopefully Ida (a CAGger) will spot this and give a definitive response).

[IdaInFife]

They hold details of all freesat card issue dates so that won't work buzby.

 

I can't rmember the date but if you bought a freesat card the last 4 years then it was automatically replaced.

 

2 options: Buy a freesat card for £20 that will last for 5 years min.

 

or resubscribe to sky for 31 days for £18 or less if you can get an offer. You need to resub and then ask for cancellation in 31 days time.

 

As Buzby says a lot of channels have sky encryption at their request for cost effectiveness and have now started to de encrypt on the old period card - these channels are the ones that normally work on freesat now asking you to contact your provider.

[banker_rhymes_with]

Not that I watched it, but I noted that Sky3 has also been deleted too!

 

Indeed, the Channels I can watch are pretty few and far between now, although another box we have is behind the main one in terms of deletions, and most Channels work, although many are now getting irritating renew your Card now messages...one was flashing up a message every 5 mins or so...

 

...except during the Corporate Brainwashing that happens every 10 mins, otherwise called the Really Annoying Adverts.

 

Looks like I will have to save up for a FreeSat box, because I won't pay Sky another bean on principle.

 

What I really want is a way to zap all Adverts. Such a box would be well worth having.

 

Cheers,

BRW

[IdaInFife]

feesat box still needs the card if you are using an old sky box with old card there is no difference, you would still need to buy a new card every 5 years.

 

Freesat is Sky

 

Ida x

[banker_rhymes_with]

Hello Ida!

 

feesat box still needs the card

Now I'm even more confused!

 

I thought there was a box you can buy called Free-something-Sat, or Free-something-View-that-uses-a-Sat that was not Sky.

 

Obviously, I haven't got one, or I'd come a little closer to knowing what I was talking about!

 

Buzby seemed to mention the thing I had in mind...

 

If you don;t wish to pay this, get a freesat reciever - no further fee required. At you'll get HD if you get the HD reciever on new channels as they launch. (Not to be confuesd with Sky's Freesat offering).

Sorry for any confusion, what I want to do is dump Sky, and get the above box. I had assumed that was nothing to do with Sky. Are you saying it needs a Sky Card to work it?

 

If so...!

 

Cheers,

BRW

[IdaInFife]

thanks you have confused me too !

 

i just checked and there is freesat or freesat lol

 

Ida x

[IdaInFife]

ok difference is freesat or freesat from sky

 

makes it easy lol

[banker_rhymes_with]

Hello Ida!

 

i just checked and there is freesat or freesat lol

 

That's cleared that up then!

 

I shall save up for it anyway, and confuse the hell out of the man in the shop with my astute grasp of what I think I want!

 

Cheers,

BRW