topic Re: Sky Q Essential TV in Sky Q

Sky Q Essential TV

Rswxite — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:02:52 GMT

Hi, does anyone know if downgrading to Sky Q Essential TV (free to air only) is still available?

I've spoke to sky twice recently and both advisors i spoke to say its not available now? As of about 4 months ago apparently.

I know from reading previous threads that not all advisors were aware of it...so wondering if anyone has switched to it recently?

Thanks

Re: Sky Q Essential TV

TimmyBGood — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:16:16 GMT

@Rswxite wrote:

Hi, does anyone know if downgrading to Sky Q Essential TV (free to air only) is still available?

I've spoke to sky twice recently and both advisors i spoke to say its not available now?

The free-to-air channel product on Sky Q is/was called 'Television Essentials'

'Essential TV' is the cheaper alternative to 'Ultimate TV' on Glass & Stream.

If you were asking support whether Essential TV was available on Q then the correct answer would be no.

Re: Sky Q Essential TV

Rswxite — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:15:31 GMT

I explained to the advisor i wanted to keep my sky Q box and just recieve free to air channels and he was adamant that was not possible.

Re: Sky Q Essential TV

TimmyBGood — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:31:12 GMT

@Rswxite

Certainly possible the advisor wasn't aware of the Television Essentials product, or that it's no longer available to new users.

In theory the full list price for Television Essentials on Q is the same as Essential TV on Stream but the latter is hugely better value as it includes Sky Atlantic, Netflix Standard with Adverts and Discovery+ Basic.

Re: Sky Q Essential TV

DaveDrizen — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:48:58 GMT

Unlike previous boxes, Sky Q boxes are only loaned to us while we subscribe .Therefore I believe you need active subscption to keep the box. If you don't return the box when asked Sky will make a charge. I am not sure what position is after that if you paying the charge the box then is yours. May be someone on here can tell us if that might be the case and if you would still be able to view the free to air channels like BBC or if the card will still work to watch ITV ect which dose need a active card.

Re: Sky Q Essential TV

TimmyBGood — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:14:23 GMT

@DaveDrizen

Paying the non-return fee doesn't transfer ownership of the box(es). However, some recent posts have suggested Sky isn't necessarily asking for Q hardware back any more, and the language on the relevant page is rather different to how it used to be.

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https://www.sky.com/help/articles/charges-for-not-returning-sky-q-equipment