Sky Digital - Digital TV.org.uk - Your Guide to Digital Television

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Review by KEVIN HOLMES - 21 March 2008
SKY HD IS GREAT I WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT IT
KEVIN HOLMES's rating:

Review by Andy Liu - 29 January 2008
Get the HD box if you have a LCD.
Andy Liu's rating:

Review by David Morgan - 25 January 2008
impressed with the programmes but not impressed with the sky box being of slow response
David Morgan's rating:

Review by deano - 11 November 2007
hd its brill
Deano's rating:

Review by phil roche - 1 November 2007
just to say sky is great but dont knock HD unless you have a full 1080 screen - awesome.
Phil roche's rating:

Review by Jeremy Marsh - 13 October 2007
On the HD channels amazing. Obviously no change on the non HD ones
Jeremy Marsh's rating:

Review by dale watkinss - 11 October 2007
superb would not go back even to the old sky box.If you can get a hd box it won't let you down.
Dale watkinss's rating:

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Sky Digital

WHAT IS SKY TV?

Sky Digital packages are delivered through the infamous Sky satellite dish. Sky's packages are perhaps the most flexible of all, and overall offers the biggest selection of channels. They allow you to customise your subscription according to your own interests. This can make for a slightly more confusing sign-up service, but you will have access to everything you could want to see. The minimum that you will pay is £16 a month for just one type of mix. Top ups are available by adding more mixes or paying for thr premium channels of sport and movies.

CHANNELS, GLORIOUS CHANNELS

Sky has structured the programmes that it offers into various "mixes". The most basic package is one of these mixes for £16 a month. So what do they include?

Variety - more than 30 channels offering the best of drama, sci-fi and films. Highlights that you can't get through Freeview include Bravo, FX and TCM (Turner Classic Movies)

Kids - 15 child friendly channels for entertainment and education, with the added bonus of parental control options.

Music - 18 music channels, with chart shows, live music, interviews with the acts and documentaries.

News and Events - breaking news stories and in-depth current affairs coverage from the likes of CNBC, Fox News, and Sky Sports News.

Style and Culture - 18 channels of programmes with expertise on homes, gardens, food and travel.

On top of these mixes, you can add the premium Movies or Sports options from £9 more each per month, depending on how many "mixes" you have taken. Pricing is not standardised, but is based on a bulk-buy type principle. The more you buy, the cheaper the price per channel becomes.

HOW DO I GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION?

As with most providers, subscriptions (of at least 12 months, by the way) are best done online, as you can take advantage of a small discount or alternatively a credit to your account. When you sign up, not only do you choose the "mixes" to best suit you, you select the equipment that will deliver your channels. The three options of set-top boxes (which you will require in addition to the Sky dish) are as follows: Sky Box, Sky + Box and Sky HD Box.

The Sky + Box costs £129 because it includes the all-important stop, rewind and record features. This offers you tape-less recording of up to 40 hours of television, and the ability to pause the world while you make your tea. Amazingly, you can even set your digital via your mobile phone. Forget the drama of having forgot to set your recorder before you left home!

The Sky HD box on the other hand is for real TV enthusiasts who want to see the world in High Definition pictures. This has to do with the number of pixels on the screen, and undoubtedly delivers a better televisual experience. It can save up to 30 hours of programming, with recording 2 channels and the same time and a pause live TV option. The Sky HD box costs £229 plus an installation fee.

The new Multiroom option which allows you to watch different Sky channels in different rooms in your home. This service costs and extra £10 a month per box installed.

Installation costs stand at £30.This cost does however include the fee of a weekend call out, so if you're out all week earning the money to pay for your subscription they will do you the favour of visiting you when you are actually at home!

IS SKY TV VISION FOR ME?

It's worth remembering that the minimum price you will pay is £16 a month plus installation. Considering you can get a similar amount of channels without paying a subscription (eg SkySat), Sky Digital services are probably best suited to those who want a more significant package with lots of entertainment, sports and movie channels to watch. Sky offers the most channels out of the digital TV suppliers and has premium sport events offered to its customers.