Question
I have a new Panasonic TV with Freeview built in. It shows Sky Sports 1 & 2 but tuning to them I get an “encrypted channel” message. How do I get reception? I have asked Sky and they have no idea!
Submitted online by Geoffrey Bloom
Our Answer
Back in 2010, the Uk regulator ruled that other TV services should be able to offer Sky’s sports channels at competitive prices, to offer the channels to those unable or unwilling to get the channels via Sky and Virgin.
For the start of the 2010 football season, the TV service providers BT Vision and Top Up TV decided to offer Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 to their customers.
Both of these services use the Freeview system for live TV, and as a result, from August 2010, the two Sky Sports channels were added to the Freeview channel lineup. These two services also offer sports channel ESPN as well.
So, how can I get Sky Sports via Freeview?
There are two options:
- BT Vision: This service combines live TV from Freeview, and on-demand content via broadband. The two Sky Sports channels, as well as ESPN, are available from a BT Vision set-top box. For more, go to the BT Vision Sports site.
- Top Up TV: This service uses a special set-top box for the Freeview channels, extra TV content that’s downloaded overnight, and access to Sky Sports, ESPN and GOLD. With this service, you don’t need to have Broadband. For the details, see the Top Up TV Sport site.