Freesat from Sky

Freesat from Sky is a British satellite television service from Sky UK. It offers over 240 free-to-air (FTA) channels in its EPG. This is a greater number than its competitors, Freesat, which has 180+, and Freeview, which has 50+. It also has up to six HD channels and Sky Active interactive data service.

Despite the benefits, Sky does not actively promote Freesat from Sky (FsfS). Sky also has a pay TV service which is heavily promoted and is the UK's most popular pay TV service.

As of April 2011^[update], 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 BBC/ITV Freesat, Freesat from Sky, and 'churned' Sky subscribers who kept their Sky Digiboxes to access free-to-view channels.)

This service requires use of the proprietary SkyHD or SD set-top box, to receive the FTA channels. Sky's boxes use the proprietary OpenTV EPG for interactive television services. The boxes are limited in some regards when compared to other satellite receivers, such as digital audio, video outputs, and the lack of the ability to use a dish motor and scan for channels not carried on the EPG. They also feature an EPG that contains all Sky channels, including pay-TV services which are not available to non-subscription viewers. Sky currently include a SkyHD Digibox with new FsfS installations. These boxes receive a selection of standard definition and HD channels, but do not record. Those who wish to have Sky+ functionality (recording & time-shifting) must buy their own box, requiring Sky to 'pair' their existing viewing card to the new box. In addition, use of the recording facilities of these PVRs also requires an ongoing monthly fee.

Freesat from Sky differentiates 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 is included with installation or can be purchased direct from Sky. For security reasons the viewing cards are deactivated from time to time and reception of the encrypted free-to-view channels disabled. This requires the user to purchase a new viewing card at the current standard charge. Sky viewing cards used to access subscription services revert to acting as FsfS viewing cards upon cancellation of the subscription. The viewing card also ensures the correct region for regionalised services for BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and Channel 4.

...
Wikipedia