Sky TV In Spain – A Guide to getting Sky TV in Spain
The Sky TV pay channels are currently transmitted from three UK TV satellites : Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G.
Previous satellites used for Sky TV were Astra 2A, Astra 2B, Astra 2C, Astra 2D and Eurobird 28.
Equipment required for Sky TV
To watch Sky TV pay channels, users required a Sky digibox, a Sky viewing card and a satellite dish with Low Noise Block LNB. The satellite dish collects the signals and reflects them to the LNB which collects the signals and sends then down the cable to the Sky digibox which then turns those signals into pictures and sounds.
Over the years Sky have produced a number of digiboxes, from the basic standard definition digibox, to the recording Sky+ digibox, and then onto the Sky+HD digiboxes in use today. The latest, SkyQ, is expected to be available in 2016.
Sky TV channels in Spain
Sky TV pay channels are broadcast with encryption, and can only be viewed by the use of a Sky subscription card. The amount of Sky TV pay channels that are “unblocked” will depend on the subscription charge you pay.
As far as I know, it is NOT illegal to use a Sky viewing cards or watch Sky TV channels in Spain. However, you are breaking the terms and conditions of your Sky contract. The Sky contract states that the Sky viewing card is only for use within the UK only. This is due to how the broadcaster rights for the programmes on the channel that are on Sky TV are sold around Europe.
The Sky contact also states that the Sky card and Sky digibox must be connected to a UK telephone line or internet service. However, this is only true if you have had your Sky viewing card and Sky digibox supplied by Sky as part of a Sky installation. In the UK Sky heavily discount the installation cost. All equipment is their property for 12 months, and to ensure that it stays where is should they require the decoder to call back to the Sky computers every so often. After 12 months the equipment, the satellite dish and Sky digibox is yours and you can disconnect them from the telephone system. With installations in Spain, you are personally buying the decoders and dish so the equipment is yours from the start and although, as you did not get the equipment direct from a Sky you do not need to connect to the telephone or internet system.
Sky TV Reception In Spain
Sky TV in Spain is, contrary to what some people believe, still available.
The Sky TV pay channels are currently transmitted from three UK TV satellites : Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G.
The majority of the Sky TV pay channels are on the European beam of the Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G satellites. The European beam give very good reception across the majority of mainland Spain. This means that the Sky TV pay channels can be received in Spain on a satellite dish measuring a minimum of 80x85cm.
Some Sky TV pay channels are on the “UK beam” or “UK Spot beam” of the Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G satellites. This UK beam signal footprint is different to the previous UK TV satellites UK beam. This has meant that reception of channels on the new Astra 2 satellites will be different to previous reception. In the areas between Valencia and Alicante, our service area, the Sky channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam can still be received on a small satellite dish – as small as a 110x120cm satellite dish, with a 125x135cm satellite dish being the recommended size satellite dish.
However, in other areas of Spain, reception of these Sky TV pay channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam has become harder. For example, in areas such as Barcelona, Catalonia and Zaragoza, you need at least a 1.8m satellite dish to receive these channels on the Astra 2F UK beam, whereas previously you only needed a smaller 80cm satellite dish. It is a similar story in the south of Spain, in areas like the Costa del Sol, Malaga, Almeria, Seville, Gibraltar and even Portugal, where even the larger 2.4m satellite dishes are struggling to receive these channels on the Astra 2 satellites UK beam.
The expected mission lifespan of the current UK TV satellites, Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2Gis approximately 12 to 15 years. So we can expect no further changes to reception of Sky TV in Spain via satellite until around 2025.
What sized satellite dish do I need to receive Sky TV in Spain?
In the Valencia and Costa Blanca North areas of Spain, you will require a minimum of a 110 x 120 cm “1.2m” satellite dish.
A 110x120cm offset satellite dish
A 125 x 135cm “1.4m” satellite dish is the recommended size required for Sky TV in the Valencia and Costa Blanca North areas of Spain. We have found that the the 125cm x 1.35cm satellite dish that we install performs much better than other satellite dishes of similar size for the reception of UK Sky TV in Spain.
A 125x135cm offset satellite dish – best satellite dish for Sky TV in Valencia / Costa Blanca
Sky Digiboxes
There are a number of types of Sky Digiboxes set top boxes. The basic standard definition model, the standard definition Sky+ recording digibox, a the high definition Sky HD digibox and the high definition Sky+HD recording model.
When we install a Sky TV system, we use official Sky TV digiboxes. Some satellite installation companies along the Costa Blanca and Valencia area may offer you an Iberosat, Ferguson Ariva or GI Galaxy Innovations satellite receiver, claiming they are Sky TV digibox, which they are not. Official Sky TV digiboxes have the Sky logo on the receiver, remote control and the packaging.
More on Sky Digiboxes here
More information?
If you want more information on our satellite TV system, or want to arrange an installation, or a viewing please contact us using the form below :
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