Can I watch downloaded / recorded programmes, without Sky?

[Simon_66]

Hello,

I am moving home next month and will be living in a house with no Sky Tv, (the first time for 20 years!) (there is broadband but its probably not Sky). Having Sky installed won't be possible. So, please can anyone tell me if I can watch the programmes that I have already downloaded / recorded, without any Sky Tv? If so, what would I need to be able to do so. I have a Sky Q box. Many thanks for all your help 🙂

[SKY1992bf · Accepted solution]

@Simon_66  You need a valid subscription to watch recordings/downloaded programs 

so the answer is no you can't I'm afraid 

[Laing1]

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@Simon_66 wrote:

Hello,

I am moving home next month and will be living in a house with no Sky Tv, (the first time for 20 years!) (there is broadband but its probably not Sky). Having Sky installed won't be possible. So, please can anyone tell me if I can watch the programmes that I have already downloaded / recorded, without any Sky Tv? If so, what would I need to be able to do so. I have a Sky Q box. Many thanks for all your help 🙂

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@Simon_66 as per @SKY1992bf you will need a valid subscription to watch downloads etc also as Sky own the Q boxes if you cancel your subscription you will have to return your Q equipment to Sky 

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @Simon_66   You will not be able to view downloads or recordings on Sky Q without a satellite signal, only purchases using the Sky Store player. It sounds like you may have to move to Sky Stream if you wish to continue your Sky subscription. https://www.sky.com/moving-home

[TimmyBGood]

@Simon_66 

Strictly speaking a Q box doesn't need a satellite signal for playback from hard drive (or online functionality) but Sky decided that it remains fundamentally a satellite television platform, and enforces this by requiring periodic subscription validation through a satellite signal.  Even if you kept paying them, the box would stop working if not connected to a dish feed: in fact it probably wouldn't reinitialize after the move.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Simon_66 wrote:

(there is broadband but its probably not Sky). 

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Sky Stream does not require the broadband to be from Sky.

[Simon_66]

Thats a shame but perhaps not surprising. Thank you for answering my question.

[Simon_66]

@TimmyBGood @MightyQuinn @Laing1 @SKY1992bf  Many thanks for all your replies. A shame it isnt possible but perhaps not surprising. Thanks also for the Sky Stream tip, at least I don't need to have Sky broadband for that. I will contact Sky for more info. 

Many thanks and best wishes for 2025.