New Sky Cards - Confirmation

[satandpcguy]

As posted on the sites "News" page ( Costa Blanca Satellite News) a few months ago Sky has officially confirmed today that they will be issuing new sky viewing cards. they have updated the messages on the sky information channels (999 and press red), and state that new viewing card will be issued during April.

If you have a sky subscription, then the new viewing card will be sent to the UK address (or your installers / agents uk address). If you bought a new FSFS card in the last 3 years then these should also be replaced.

it is expected that ex subscription cards and fsfs cards bought over 3 years ago will not be replaced. it is expected that all existing "blue house" cards will be switched off by May.

More information on Sky channel 999 and press red or Sky Viewing Card Help or keep an eye on out news page!

EDIT: I have created two new pages onthe main site that cover this change over.
New Sky Viewing Card Change
How to Change Your New Sky Viewing Card

[basher]

Satandpcguy,
I currently watch itv1 using channel 12199( frequency 12402 I think ) on my Slybox, but do not subscribe to Sly anymore. I still have the blue house card in the slot though.
Does this mean I'll lose itv1 when the card gets switched off?
Thanks for your help

[satandpcguy]

hi
all the ITV channels on frequency 12402, including the 12199, require a sky viewing card to allow the channels on that frequency to be viewed.
similary, for the channels 4 channels on 12480, C4 and C4+1 require a freesatfromskycard, and e4 and m4 requrie a sky subscription card.
TTon4 does not need a sky card to view.
so yes, to view the ITV regions available on frequency 12402 you need a viewing card.
so yes, when your card gets "deactivated" or switched off then you will loose access to that ITV region.

(Assuming that these regions do not move to the same satellites and similar frequencies as their free to air versions on astra 2d!)

[satandpcguy]

Hi
Just to let you know that many Sky boxes have started to flash up a message along the lines of "look out for your new sky viewing card"

So it may be an idea to let your people in the UK whos address your card is registered at to look out for an envelope from Sky and not to throw it away, but to get the contents to Spain ASAP.

[satandpcguy]

Freesat From Sky Cards...(some call them sky freeview cards!)

I have just seen that there is now a message at the bottom of the sky card change adverts that says "All PAY TV customers will receive a new card"...which may indicate that FSFS cards are not, for wharever reason, being replaced.

so, either they are not going to replace the fsfs cards and keep them all running,

or maybe there will no longer be a need for fsfs cards as you can get fta versions of all 5 main uk tv channels now anyway...maybe five will find some space on astra 2d (narrowbeam to limit signal outside the uk) and thus even less need for a fsfs card...

there is also a message that says that the new cards will only be activated in the "paired" receiver...so anyone using a card in a "non paired" receiver may have trouble activating the new card.

This may also mean that anone using a sky card in a non sky receiver may also have problems in activating the new card.

Will continue to keep you all posted.