Freesat, the satellite-based Freeview equivalent, is offering significant Black Friday discounts on two of its 4K Recording Boxes.
Until December 9, you can save £50 on both the 500GB and 1TB models.
According to Freesat, this brings their prices down to their “lowest ever”, with the discounts available across several retailers (such as Currys).
If you’re thinking about ditching a pay-TV subscription (such as Sky or Virgin Media), or if aerial reception for Freeview in your area is poor, Freesat can be a compelling option – though there are some important caveats you should consider first.
Freesat vs Freeview
With Freesat, you can watch more than 80 channels (20+ of them in HD), without paying any monthly subscription fees (though you still need a TV Licence).
Instead of relying on aerial transmitters and aerials (which you need for Freeview), you simply point a satellite dish at the sky and connect it to a Freesat box inside your house. Many can even use their old Sky dishes, though these sometimes require retuning.
Freesat, which was originally a joint venture between the BBC and ITV but is now part of Everyone TV (the company behind Freeview), launched these current 4K boxes back in 2020.
They combine satellite TV with streaming capabilities via your broadband connection.
The Freesat Recording Boxes
The boxes on offer can record up to four programmes simultaneously while letting you watch a fifth.
The 500GB model stores about 250 hours of recordings, while the 1TB version doubles that to 500 hours.
They also come with popular streaming apps including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and YouTube. While the boxes support 4K content, this is currently only available through streaming apps rather than broadcast channels.
However, potential buyers should be aware of several significant recent changes:
In June 2024, Freesat removed the popular remote recording feature from their mobile apps.
While you can still record programmes, you’ll need to do it directly through the box – you can no longer set recordings remotely via your smartphone.
Then last month (October 2024), Freesat rolled out a complete interface overhaul with a new EPG. Early feedback has been mixed, with some users reporting the new interface is slower and less intuitive than its predecessor.
There’s also uncertainty about future updates. The boxes’ security certificates indicate that the “defined support period during which Freesat products shall receive security updates runs until 31 March 2025.”
When we approached Freesat about their plans beyond this date, they declined to comment.
Looking to the Future
That said, there is some reassuring news about Freesat’s infrastructure.
Sky recently extended its satellite deal until 2029, which benefits Freesat users as both services use the same satellites.
This suggests the basic service should continue working for several years to come, although Freesat’s future beyond that is still unclear, according to Ofcom.
The Black Friday Deals in Detail
The primary Black Friday offerings from Freesat focus on their 4K recording boxes, with substantial discounts on both the entry-level and mid-range models.
The promotion runs until December 9, giving potential buyers a decent window to make their decision.
The 500GB Recordable 4K TV Box, which usually retails at £229.99, is now available for £179.99.
Meanwhile, the more capacious 1TB model has dropped from £259.99 to £209.99.
If you’re considering the premium 2TB version, note that it isn’t included in this promotion.
Even with these discounts, Freesat recorders remain pricier than comparable Freeview options.
However, for those who can’t get reliable Freeview reception, or already have a satellite dish installed, they could still represent good value.
- Freesat 4K Recording Box 500GB on Currys
- Freesat 4K Recording Box 1TB on Currys
- Freesat 4K Recording Box 1TB on Amazon (often out of stock)
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Great if they are as good as humax