Getting Freeview on a TV without an Aerial - A Guide

We've always been told that we need an aerial to watch TV. This has always been the case in the United Kingdom, where an aerial is required to watch major channels such as the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.

However, in today's world, an increasing number of people are abandoning more traditional methods of watching television. With the growing popularity of Netflix and other streaming services, some people are abandoning terrestrial channels entirely.

However, it would be nice to be able to watch the main channels on occasion, right? Whether it's from watching Match of the Day for decades or simply wanting to watch the News at dinner time, having these channels is still worthwhile.

These channels are available for free through Freeview. But, without an aerial, can you watch Freeview on your TV? Or will you need an aerial to watch them? That's what we'll investigate and discover.

The truth is that you cannot watch live TV without an aerial or a viable alternative installed. You can watch all catch-up and on-demand streaming services without one, but you won't be able to watch things as they air.

There are some apps that allow you to watch live TV through them, but most of them aren't very good. Another option is to look into indoor aerials, which may provide a low-cost way to get Freeview working properly on your television.

So, what can you do if you don't want to get an aerial but still want to watch live sports and TV shows? Here are a few of the most effective methods.

Depending on your situation, you most likely do not have an aerial attached to your home. However, you may have a satellite dish to use. If you have a satellite dish that you can connect to, there are some simple ways to get Freeview with this.

Freesat

If you have a satellite dish, the simplest way to get Freeview is to purchase a Freesat box. They've been around for more than a decade, despite their recent popularity.

Freesat was a joint venture between the BBC and ITV to encourage you to install Freeview in your home. It's essentially the satellite equivalent of a Freeview box, but having a Freesat Box has some advantages.

The main reason to choose a Freesat box is that it has many more channels than a standard Freeview box - more than double, in fact. This includes radio channels, but if they're the same price, it's a good reason to go with one.

Another important consideration in your decision will most likely be your insurance coverage. Many people are still unable to receive a good signal from a TV aerial because their area is not covered. This is not the case with satellite, as the entire country is capable of receiving a signal.

So, if you're thinking about getting a satellite or already have one, a Freesat box is a good investment.

Sky

Of course, Sky is the most well-known alternative to watching Freeview channels on your TV without an aerial.

This may not be a good solution for some people, especially if you don't already have a satellite dish. However, Sky generally does not charge much to have a satellite installed, and once it is up and running, you will not have to pay any more than this.

You might be wondering whether you'll ever need a satellite dish to watch Freeview on Sky. In reality, Sky's goal with the SkyQ box is to eventually eliminate the need for a satellite. So, in the future, this could be a possibility.

However, for the time being, you'll need a satellite to watch Sky and Freeview on your Sky Box.

Use an Old Sky Box as an Alternative

Another major advantage of using a satellite dish over an aerial is that they are typically the less expensive option. So, even if you don't already have a satellite dish, getting one can be quite simple.

However, if you already have a satellite, you can get Freeview by purchasing an old Sky Box. You can get these for a very low price on eBay, and you won't have to sign any long-term contracts with Sky.

Even if you don't have Sky channels, you can watch Freeview on any Sky box for free. As a result, this could be a good way to save some money.

What can you do if you don't have an aerial and don't have a satellite dish? So you'll have to think about getting Freeview channels in a different way.

You may or may not be aware that with Virgin Media, you do not require an aerial to watch television. Obviously, Virgin Media packages include Freeview, so this is a simple solution to getting Freeview without an aerial.

The main barrier for Virgin Media customers is that it can be quite expensive, particularly for some of their full packages. This is especially true if you want to watch live TV sports and not just Freeview Play on your television.

However, there are packages with very few channels that are significantly less expensive. Furthermore, if you already have Virgin broadband, you should be able to get a better TV deal.

Another option for getting Freeview on your TV without using an aerial or a satellite is to use the internet. What exactly do I mean? So, here are a few options for getting Freeview via your internet connection.

Stick for Streaming

Using a streaming stick is the simplest and possibly cheapest way to get Freeview on your TV.

What exactly do I mean by this? You've most likely heard of an Amazon Fire Stick or a Roku Stick. These are simply sticks or dongles that you plug into your television to connect to your wifi network.

These streaming sticks allow you to download apps to watch on your television. They have a wide range of options, and one of the apps available for download on a Fire stick is called TV Player.

You can watch BBC channels through this app, as well as many of the channels available through Freeview on a Firestick in general. So, getting these channels by purchasing a streaming stick is one option.

Purchase a Smart TV

It is commonly stated that a streaming stick essentially converts your regular TV into a smart TV. This is somewhat true, as many smart TVs will come pre-installed with Freeview.

This eliminates the need for a second device entirely, and you will be able to watch all of your favorite shows directly on your television. There is no Freeview Box, no additional hardware, just the TV.

Aside from that, another advantage of having a smart TV is that you can access a plethora of apps on it. This includes well-known brands such as Netflix as well as UK-specific apps such as Now TV.

The only issue with this is that they can be quite expensive. If you're interested in a smart TV, check out this 65-inch smart TV buying guide for the best options.

Of course, if you want to watch live TV on your smart TV, you'll need an aerial. Without one, you can still watch apps like ITV Hub and Amazon Prime Video. However, for anything live, you will need to purchase an aerial.

Finally, there are numerous ways to watch Freeview on your own television without using an aerial. The most likely alternative is to use a satellite, but even if this is not possible, there are still other options available.

You can also watch it on your television via internet or cable if you live in an area that can be properly connected.