FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about UK TV in Spain

UK TV is available to expats in the Costa Blanca area of Spain.

Even with the recent introduction of new UK TV satellites reception of all UK TV channels is very good.

Reception of the main UK TV channels, like BBC and ITV, via satellite, using a satellite receiver or Freesat set top box, will mean you have to have a satellite dish measuring a minimum of 90x110cm “1m”.

For some areas of Costa Blanca, a minimum 110x120cm satellite dish is required for reception of UK TV in Spain via the likes of Freesat.

For some areas of Costa Blanca, a minimum 125x135cm satellite dish is required for reception of UK TV in Spain via the likes of Freesat.

With the very good satellite signals in the Costa Blanca area, UK TV by satellite is still the best option for receiving and watching UK TV.

For more information on watching and receiving UK TV in the Costa Blanca see > https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-in-spain/uk-satellite-tv-in-the-costa-blanca/

UK TV is available to expats in the Valencia area of Spain.

Even with the recent introduction of new UK TV satellites reception of all UK TV channels is very good.

Reception of the main UK TV channels, like BBC and ITV, via satellite, using a Sky digibox, or Freesat set top box, will mean you have to have a satellite dish measuring a minimum of 90x110cm “1m”.

For some areas of Valencia, a minimum 110x120cm satellite dish is required for reception of BBC and ITV via Freesat and Sky.

For some areas of Valencia, a minimum 125x135cm satellite dish is required for reception of BBC and ITV via Freesat and Sky.

For more information on the reception of UK TV in Valencia see > https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-in-spain/uk-satellite-tv-in-valencia/

UK TV is available to expats in northern Spain and the Barcelona and Catalonia areas of Spain.

However, with the recent introduction of new UK TV satellites reception of some channels in the Barcelona Catalonia and northern areas of Spain can be hard.

Reception of the main UK TV channels, like BBC and ITV, via satellite, using a Sky digibox, or Freesat set top box, may mean you have to have a very large satellite dish.

For more information on Sky TV in Barcelona > https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-in-spain/uk-satellite-tv-in-barcelona-and-catalonia/

UK TV is available to expats in northern Spain and the Barcelona and Catalonia areas of Spain.

However, with the recent introduction of new UK TV satellites reception of some channels in the Barcelona Catalonia and northern areas of Spain can be hard.

Reception of the main UK TV channels, like BBC and ITV, via satellite, using a Sky digibox, or Freesat set top box, may mean you have to have a very large satellite dish.

For more information on Sky TV in Barcelona > https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-in-spain/uk-satellite-tv-in-barcelona-and-catalonia/

Yes.
BBC iPlayer is designed for use UK residents only.
British expats living in US, Australia, Canada, Germany, UAE, or Spain cannot watch any content on BBC iPlayer directly, as their internet IP address will be blocked.

You can use a Smart DNS service, like SMARTDNSPROXY, to access BBC iPlyer in Spain.

For more information on Smart DNS services and VPNs for unblocking iPlayer in Spain > https://www.satandpcguy.com/on-demand-and-catch-up-tv-in-spain/smart-dns-services/

Simple answer is Yes, a UK TV will work in Spain.

There used to be issues with the older analogue TV systems, where for example, if you connect a Spanish TV aerial into an English TV, you had pictures but no audio.

But now, most TVs have HDMI connections for use with Freesat HD or Sky HD satellite receivers, so there are no issues with these.

Spanish TV received via a TV aerial in Spain can also be received on a UK TV in Spain.

More information on using UK TVs in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/tdt-digital-tv-spain/will-uk-tv-work-spain/

Sky TV uses approximately 100 frequencies.
There is not one single frequency used.
Which frequency your Sky digibox uses will depend which channel you have selected on your Programme Guide.

Freesat uses the same group of Astra satellites at 28.2°E as the Sky subscription satellite service.
Currently (2020) these satellites are Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G.
The free channels like BBC ITV C4 and Five all use the same satellites and frequencies no matter what system (Sky or Freesat), you use. There is no individual Sky or Freesat satellite

More information on Freesat : https://www.satandpcguy.com/freesat/

There is no TV licence scheme operating in Spain.

A UK TV licence is only required for property in the UK. Paying for a UK TV licence does not automatically give you the right to be able to receive UK TV channels outside the UK.

More information on TV Licencing in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/uk-tv-in-spain/tv-licence-in-spain/

The main Spanish TV channels, all available via a TV aerial in Spain are :
La 1
La 2
24 Horas
Clan
Teledeporte
Antena 3
La Sexta
Neox
Nova
Mega
Telecinco
Cuatro
FDF
Divinity
Energy
Boing
Disney Channel
Paramount Network
Atreseries
Be Mad TV HD
Trece

Some of the above channels are also available in HD

Yes.
A Humax Freesat set top box will work in Spain. The channels you are able to receive will depend on your exact location, and the size of your dish that you are using.

The size of satellite dish required for the reception of UK TV in Spain, depends exactly where you are in Spain.

For example, 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 125 x 135cm “1.4m” satellite dish is the recommended size requried for Freesat in the Valencia and Costa Blanca North areas of Spain.

But some areas, like the Costa del Sol, reception of channels like BBC ITV C4 Five, means you will need a very larger satellite dish, in excess of 4m in size, to be able to receive these channels from the main UK TV Astra satellites.

For more information on satellite dish sized for UK TV in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/freesat/freesat-in-spain/

Yes you can use your sky box abroad, as long as you have the right size satellite dish for where you are located to receive the UK TV satellite signals.
It is not illegal to use your Sky box abroad for watching free non subscription channels.
It is also not illegal to use your Sky box and Sky card abroad, but it is against the Terms and Conditions to do so as per your Sky contract.

No.
You cannot receive UK Freeview in Spain.
Freeview is a UK only TV service, transmitted by land based TV masts, like Emley Moor and Crystal Palace, and receive via a TV aerial.
These Freeview signals barely cover the UK, let alone strong enough to reach all the way down to Spain.
A TV aerial in Spain will only receive Spanish TV channels (not UK channels) from their version of Freeview.
The satellite equivalent of Freeview, Freesat, is available in Spain, as long as you have the right sized satellite dish for you location in Spain.

More information on Freeview in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/2015/05/08/confusion-about-free-uk-television-in-spain-freeview-freesat-free-to-air-free-to-view/

Now TV is available in Spain
Now TV (the UK version) is available to watch via the internet in Spain. However you will need to use a VPN or Smart DNS service to access this UK only content.
Now TV (Spanish Version) is also available to watch via the internet in Spain. But note that the content available on the Spanish version of Now TV is NOT the same content as the UK version of Now TV

More information on Now TV in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/on-demand-and-catch-up-tv-in-spain/how-to-get-skys-now-tv-in-spain/

The UK TV channels are currently transmitted from three UK TV satellites : Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G.
These are located at the 28.2 to 28.5 east (of south) satellite location.
You can receive these UK satellite TV signals in Spain, as long as you have the right sized satellite dish for your location in Spain.

Yes.
As long as you have a satellite receiver / set top box, and the right sized satellite dish for where you are in Spain, you can watch all UK TV, both free and Sky, in Spain.

Yes, you can watch Sky TV in Spain.
As long as you have a Sky+HD digibox, a Sky viewing card, a Sky subscription, and the right sized satellite dish for where you are in Spain, you can watch all UK TV , both free and Sky, in Spain

Sky TV in Spain is, contrary to what some people believe, available.

The Sky TV pay channels are currently (2020) 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.

More information on Sky TV in Spain : https://www.satandpcguy.com/sky-tv/sky-tv-in-spain/