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Original poster

If I get rid of sky what should I get instead.

55 replies

Ihatesundays · 01/08/2019 21:26

I’ve had enough of them. I’ve complained about the price again and they have offered me frankly a rubbish deal to stay - so that’s it.

We have Netflix but need a normal signal for for the TV and something that can tape things.
We watch the normal channels and a few more like discovery and history.
We do have sky movies but might try and do without - no interest in sports.

Who does everyone recommend.

OP posts:
Alislia17 · 02/08/2019 03:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

KatherineJaneway · 02/08/2019 05:50

I have Netflix and Amazon Prime and watch through Apple TV. It doesn't record but I have the BBC iPlayer app and that is all I need really.

Thecrown3 · 02/08/2019 06:40

I’m glad you posted op as I’m in same position with virgin tv.
We have an old tv though and didn’t want a free view box separate so we are waiting for the new tv deals at Xmas to get a tv with freeview and all the apps and shall just pay for broadband.
These companies are ripping ppl off with these packages now, there’s too many channels, no one can possibly watch all.

midsomermurderess · 02/08/2019 06:56

I agree, Now TV. I've dropped Netflix, for now anyway, just flat ran out of anything I wanted to watch. Now TV is a much better alternative. For now, anyway.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 02/08/2019 07:46

Has anyone tried Talk talk? It looks to cover a lot of the Sky channels and can tag on sport etc?

cantfindname · 02/08/2019 07:52

Use your existing sat dish and get a Freesat box. No Sky Arts, sorry, but plenty channels. Costs around £40.

I cancelled Sky as it was a ridiculous price with so many repeats and so many channels simply stopped working. Had Freesat for 7 years and am perfectly happy with it. If you need a new dish they are ridiculously easy to install, a 17 year old friend did mine for me so don't be conned into paying more than you need.

ptumbi · 02/08/2019 08:46

Get rid of Sky...replace with fresh air and outdoor hobbies. 😉 - Wow @Paperdolly, you stayed indoors specifically to come on mumsnet and post that? Don't you have anything better to do outside? Hmm

OP I am in the same boat - I have Virgin TV, phone and broadband but it's costing over £70 permonth and going up all the time. I only watch a few channels on Sky etc, and have a new-ish TV with Freeview, but the options are so confusing - I don't understand Netflix and don't really watch films anyway;I downloaded NowTV onto to the laptop to watch rugby but it was so jerky and cut out every few minutes....

I need to get my kids to explain it all to me! Grin

BarbaraofSeville · 02/08/2019 09:06

You don't need to 'tape' things any more as it is all streaming/downloads, but you do need decent broadband.

Now TV is a good option and like a PP says, if you tell them you want to cancel, they often offer you a deal. You can also often buy discounted passes from Curry's, supermarkets etc. We've had Now TV for a few years and almost never pay full price - usually between £2 and £4 pm. I'm currently working my way through some cards I bought cheaply from Morrisons and when they run out, I have the 3 months I won in the McDonalds monopoly.

However, the range of channels is a bit limited, so you might want to look at a Humax box for recording and if they don't have built in freesat, your old sky box will work as one after the contract ends.

Paperdolly · 02/08/2019 09:26

ptumbi Get rid of Sky...replace with fresh air and outdoor hobbies. 😉 - Wow @Paperdolly, you stayed indoors specifically to come on mumsnet and post that? Don't you have anything better to do outside? hmm

FYI- I’m actually camping and the poster didn’t mention it was for somebody housebound. Is wasn’t meant as a nasty comment so cut me a bit of slack eh? 😉

ptumbi · 02/08/2019 11:16

Paperdolly - it was a snide comment, suggesting that the OP should be doing something more than watching TV! Some people can't get out - disabled, for eg. There was absolutely no need to make anyone feel bad about watching TV. FWIW I watch a max of 2 hours per day, after work. Not much to do outside between 8-10pm or later Hmm every day. Although I do read a lot in the evenings too - is that OK with you? Hmm Is it just TV you have a problem with?

This thread is about how to watch TV, not about what we should be doing instead of watching TV.

Original poster
Ihatesundays · 02/08/2019 16:41

It was a snide comment. If you don’t watch tv at all why look at a thread looking for advice about Tv packages.
Not watching TV doesn’t make you better than anyone else - watching a few hours in the evening after work is totally normal.

Sky won’t let me leave until dec as I am tied in.
So I am cancelling my phone and broadband with them also - bloody ridiculous.

OP posts:
Craptop · 02/08/2019 16:45

Hi op. I've got Now TV for broadband and I get an entertainment pass with it (Sky Atlantic, Sky one, Sky Arts etc)

When I signed up it was £25 (free pass for the entertainment pass) but went up to £33 once they started charging me for the pass.

Called them and it's reduced to £25. Hurrah.

Definitely recommend now tv. I too really like Sky Arts.

Desmondo2016 · 02/08/2019 16:48

If you bought a smart tv it would do the lot, for the price of a year's sky (or less if you don't mind a cheaper brand)

jagack · 02/08/2019 17:13

Freesat HD box which is recordable to. We have prime & netflix to substitute but barely use the box anymore thanks to on demand and catch up via apps

Paperdolly · 02/08/2019 17:20

ptumbi and Ihatesundays. It was read by YOU as a snide comment. It was written by me as gentle humour. Thats the trouble with text. I don’t see any comment from the OP. She may have a sense of humour. 😉

Original poster
Ihatesundays · 02/08/2019 17:26

I am the OP

OP posts:
Lindormilk · 02/08/2019 17:27

This is something we need to look at. DH pays £96 s month for sky (variety/cinema/sport/multi room).

We use the multiroom
Variety, hit and miss.
Cinema, used to, kuds prefer Netflix so ive just signed for that,
Sport? Lots of times and BT sports. We all live the football.

So, if i cancelled sky altogether and went for Now TV, would i get the sky sports for £33.99 a month?
Its all very confusing!

PancakeAndKeith · 02/08/2019 17:35

We sacked off Virgin and just have freeview now. We mainly watch Netflix, iPlayer or 4OD.

Craptop · 02/08/2019 18:00

@lindormilk correct. They're doing a deal too - £199 for ten months. You can often get a free pass with a new now tv box. But you may have to pay seperarately for BT sport.

Craptop · 02/08/2019 18:01

@lindormilk and I think you can only watch on two devices at once, though you can sign six up

Owlbert · 02/08/2019 18:25

We've recently moved to Now Tv which is still owned by Sky but much cheaper!

greyspottedgoose · 02/08/2019 18:30

I would advise avoiding talktalk, the tv packages are good but the customer service is horrendous I'm currently paying to get away from them early

hairychinsrus · 02/08/2019 18:31

We ditched sky and went for BT, I hate it! Find it very difficult to navigate, it's slow and I actually can't wait to go back 😩

Paperdolly · 03/08/2019 19:51

ihatesundays - then I was wrong....you don’t have a sense of humour. 🙄

TonOfLead · 03/08/2019 20:10

Reading with interest as I'm about to bin Virgin. The broadband is great but I barely watch TV and when I do it is only a handful of Freeview channels.

I am looking at NowTv although it might require buying a new TV. Still would be cheaper than Virgin though.

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