Sky Digital Explored
Considering getting Sky Digital? We explore this satellite TV service in more detail.
The Basics:
Sky Digital currently offers the widest number of digital TV channels in the UK
98% of the UK's able to receive Sky's satellite signal. You'll need to have a satellite dish installed on the outside your home to get satellite TV.
Once Sky Digital has been installed, you'll get access to hundreds of digital TV and radio channels, including the largest selection of HD channels in the UK.
With Sky Digital, you'll get some top TV channels, such as:
Sky has a range of different packages, with prices starting from £16 per month.
For more on Sky, plus the full channel list, see www.sky.com/skycom
How do I get Sky Digital?
To get Sky Digital, you'll need to have a satellite dish and a Sky digibox installed at your home, and you'll need to pick one or more of Sky's channel packages to subscribe to.
You can order Sky online - when you book, you arrange an installation appointment (including Saturday and Sunday installation).
One of Sky's engineers will turn up and install the Sky dish and digibox, connect it all to your telly, and set everything up for you.
Order Sky online, to save time and money.
To take advantage of these offers, go to www.sky.com/skycom (Also Sky Ireland) |
What does Sky offer?
Here's our summary of Sky's features:
- Hundreds of digital TV
and radio channels - Far more channels than you'll find on cable TV or Freeview. See Sky's packages.
- Digital Switchover-ready - By 2012, the UK's going Digital. Sky is fully digital-ready
- Onscreen TV
guide - Sky's Electronic Programme Guide, with 7 day planner (pictured)
- Sport - Unrivalled sports coverage with 3 Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports Extra
, Sky Sports News, plus Setanta Sports , Eurosport , Racing UK and attheraces. Sky's a must for football, rugby and cricket fans. More.
- Movies - Sky has 10 main movie channels, and two Sky Cinema channels, as well as a whole range of Sky Box Office pay-per-view films
- Extras: Sky offers the widest choice of High-definition content in the UK, as well as their revolutionary Sky+ digital video recorder.
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Sky's channel lineup
When you sign up to Sky, you need to select a number of channel packages you want to subscribe to - this will typically include some standard "Sky Mix packs", with optional "premium packs" (such as Movie or Sports channels). You'll also get a number of free-to-view channels as well.
The mix packages are:
- Variety Mix: Including Sky One, Bravo, UKTV Gold, E4 and Living TV
- Knowledge Mix: Including Discovery, National Geographic, History Channel, UKTV History
- Style & Culture Mix: Including Sky Arts, UKTV Style, Discovery Home & Health, UKTV Food
- Music Mix: Including MTV, TMF, Bliss, Kerrang!, Q and VH1
- News & Events Mix: Including Sky News, Fox News, CNBC, At The Races, British Eurosport
- Kids Mix: Including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Disney, Trouble
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Full details of Sky's Mix packages at packages.sky.com.
Got a question? Thinking of getting Sky Digital, and have a question? Contact us |
What is Sky+?
The Sky+ PVR combines a satellite receiver with a hard-disk recorder that lets you record 40 hours of programmes and movies.
The Sky+ box allows you to watch one satellite
channel while recording another , and pause/rewind live TV. Sky+ supports Series Link, so you don't miss an episode of a series you're following.
The hype is actually true... Sky+ will change the way you watch TV. You can even use your mobile phone to set programmes to record.
Sky+ is available directly from www.sky.com.
More in our dedicated Sky+ section.
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 We featured Sky Digital in Show 16 of our online radio show. Listen to the show online, or download it to your MP3 player. Listen to Show 16 | Latest Show | More Info |
Free-to-view Sky
If you like the idea of the extra channels, but don't fancy paying the Sky subscription, there are some other options:
- Pay-Once, Watch-Forever. Sky channels for a one-off payment of £75, with the option to subscribe to premium channels later.
- Freesat - This service launched in May 2008.
You need a satellite dish (£80 typical installation), and to pay a one-off cost for the box (from £50), and then you'll be able to receive around 80 TV and radio channels without a subscription.
Free to air - A number of digital TV and radio channels can be viewed on
a satellite receiver without a subscription or a card. For a
list of the free channels that can be viewed with a Sky dish and
decoder without subscription, see Sky's list.
Details on our Free to view satellite TV page.
Can't get Sky? 98% of the UK can get satellite TV, but if you can't get a Sky satellite dish where you live, or don't want to pay for Sky, see our page of digital TV alternatives.
Got a question on Sky Digital? Need help setting up Sky? Take a look in our Sky FAQ, or ask in our Sky TV forum |
Useful Sky Links
- Order Sky TV - Deals of the Sky TV packages, and the special installation offers
- Sky for Dummies - Want Sky? Here's our beginner's guide
- Sky F.A.Q - Help and advice on general Sky issues
- Sky HD - High definition satellite TV from Sky Digital
- Sky+ - Sky's powerful, and hugely popular digital recorder
- FrequencyCast Podcast - Discussion of what's new with Sky and Sky+ in our regular free online radio show
- Sky Digital forum - Talk about Sky's Digital TV service and ask other users for advice on getting more from Sky
Is this page correct? Something wrong or missing on this page? Report a site problem If you're looking for help, please don't use this option - instead ask in our forum |
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