Digital TV Guides

Satellite TV

Updated: Tuesday 29 March, 2011

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Satellite TV is a great choice if you want a huge variety of channels and increasing functionality with your TV service. But should you get the free service from Freesat or a subscription with Sky?

Satellite TV is available in 98% of the country so it’s a good choice for households who are unable to receive Freeview. Both Freesat and Sky, the two biggest satellite providers in the UK, offer over 120 channels, but which service should you choose?

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What is satellite TV?

Satellite television is a digital TV service that is delivered via a satellite signal. The signal is received by a satellite dish and set-top box, which may be provided by your satellite provider or may have to be bought separately.

The two main satellite TV providers in the UK are:

• Sky - Sky (www.sky.com) has over 10 million customers in the UK and offers up to 160 digital TV channels, plus more than 230 free-to-air channels. To join Sky call 0844 241 0582, or call 0844 241 4141 if you are an existing customer looking to upgrade your subscription.
• Freesat - A free satellite TV service, Freesat has over 1.5 million customers in the UK and offers up to 140 channels.

Find out more about each of these services by reading our guides on Sky and Freesat.

Why should I choose satellite TV?

Advantages of satellite TV:

1. Satellite TV has the largest choice of channels in the UK, offering a variety of programmes
2. Satellite reception is generally better quality than Freeview reception, making the service available in most of the UK
3. With Sky, you can tailor your package to suit you, subscribing for the channels you want
4. Depending on which service you choose, satellite TV can be quite reasonably priced - Freesat set-top boxes (a one-off cost) start from around £49, while Sky monthly subscriptions start from £20 a month
5. Providers often have special deals and cheap introductory rates, and sometimes offer discounted installation and hardware.

Disadvantages of satellite TV:

1. Be aware that some premium channels on satellite TV, such as Sky Sports, ESPN and Sky Movies can be quite costly
2. Installing a satellite dish is a skilled job. Both Sky and Freesat recommend getting an engineer to do it for you (this costs £80 with Freesat, or is free with Sky)
3. Satellite TV services can be susceptible to atmospherics (poor signal if there’s a storm for example) - Virgin Media’s cable service is the only digital TV service that isn’t affected by weather conditions as it runs through an underground cable network
4. You must have a satellite dish in order to receive Sky or Freesat. This may not suit those living in a listed building or a conservation area. Similarly, people living in blocks of flats or renters may not be permitted to install a satellite dish.