Freesat from Sky was a British satellite television service from Sky UK. It offered over 240 free-to-air (FTA) channels in its EPG. This is a greater number than its competitors, Freesat, which has 200+, and Freeview, which has 70+. It also had up to six HD channels and used to have Sky Active interactive data service. The service was less-promoted than the subscription-based Sky satellite service.
As of April 2011, the number of households with free-to-view satellite television is estimated by Ofcom to be 2.045 million, or 8.0% of households with television. This figure includes households with the BBC/ITV Freesat, Freesat from Sky, and churned Sky subscribers who kept their Sky Digiboxes to access free-to-view channels.
Competition from other platforms
Freesat from Sky was a competitor to Freeview as well as to the BBC and ITV Freesat service, which also broadcast from 28.2° east. Freesat from Sky had five Free to View (FTV) channels that were not available on Freesat, along with a large number of free-to-air channels, including Sky News. Some Freeview channels were available on Sky, though they were subscription-only and therefore not accessible via Freesat from Sky.
Equipment
The Freesat from Sky offer included a standard Sky receiver, a mini-dish, remote control and a Freesat from Sky viewing card – the same equipment as Sky TV subscribers. Standard installation of your equipment is also included. All the equipment is yours to keep. Please note, the PVR function is not activated for Freesat from Sky customers, you will have to pay a monthly fee to use this function.
Sky Viewing Card
Freesat from Sky differentiated itself from Freesat not just by its use of Sky equipment but by offering both free-to-air and free-to-view channels. A card was included with installation or could be purchased directly from Sky.
For security reasons, the viewing cards were deactivated from time to time, and reception of the encrypted free-to-view channels was disabled. This required the user to purchase a new viewing card at the then-current standard charge.
Sky viewing cards used to access subscription services reverted to acting as fSfS viewing cards upon cancellation of the subscription. The viewing card also ensured the correct region for regionalised services for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. The then-current white viewing cards were expected to be the last, as there was now little use or demand for free-to-view channels. Many former free-to-view channels had become free-to-air.