Sky Digital is the UK's satellite TV provider. It has the widest range in television entertainment, and the biggest choice of individual channels.

The service offers fantastic high definition (HD) content, as wells as the option to buy or upgrade to a Sky+ box, which lets you record, pause and rewind live TV.

There are a variety of different options and packages to choose from when joining Sky. These range from selecting which channels you want to include, to deciding whether you want a subscription that combines your TV deal with Sky's broadband and phone packages.

Every Sky subscriber must have a satellite dish installed to their house. This acts as a digital aerial and picks up the signal that lets you watch Sky television.

Technically, the entire UK is eligible to pick up a Sky signal. However, some properties may have rules prohibiting tenants from installing a satellite dish, and on rare occasions reception may be restricted by hills and trees etc. Compared to Freeview and cable (pre-switchover), Sky's coverage is much more far-reaching.

Prior to the installation of Sky, the only personal equipment required is a digital compatible television and a phone line.

Sky customers will also need to have a satellite dish installed to the exterior of their property. The dish is installed to send signals to one of three set-top digital boxes - the standard Sky Box, Sky+ Box or Sky HD Box.

To become a Sky Digital customer, you'll need to sign-up to one of the company's subscription packages, and have a satellite dish and a special Sky digital box installed at your home. Don't worry if this sounds daunting - once you've chosen your deal, Sky can install everything for you.

When you order Sky, you'll be asked a few questions about your location. If you can receive a signal, then you can arrange an installation appointment where a Sky technician will install the Sky dish and your Sky set-top box. The installation process should take roughly an hour, and once the satellite dish and box are set up you're ready to start watching Sky TV.

As well as free-to-air channels such as those from the BBC, ITV, C4 and Five, Sky lets its customers select a number of pre-chosen 'channel packs'. These packs contain hundreds of channels that are aimed to suit viewers' lifestyles. When you sign up, you will be prompted to pick which packs you want to subscribe to.

There are two main types of channel packs in total. 'Entertainment Pack' packs include deals focussed on kids, music, news, culture, knowledge and variety. 'Premium Pack' packs are also available, which provide access to Sky's movie and sports channels including Sky Sports and Sky Movies.

The overall start-up price for Sky customers differs per deal (Sky Box is free, Sky+ available from € 49 and Sky HD costs from € 149 if ordered over the internet). A standard set up fee of € 50 is charged regardless of which deal you subscribe to.

For the subscription services, users can choose what channels they want to receive from a number of pre-defined pack packages - the more packs you choose, the more it costs. For an additional fee, Sky also gives you access to an on demand movie service and lets you add stand-alone premium channels to your deal.

Overall, Sky offers 500 channels, including radio stations - so there's definitely something for everyone!

"It's so easy to understand - that's the genius of it"
Ross Kemp on Sky+

"Of all the recorders currently on the market, we reckon the best, by some margin, is Sky+ … Sky+ is just so well thought-through,so competently executed in almost every regard, that it just has to earn our admiration… It’s the world’s most user friendly recordingdevice; recording quality is excellent; perfectly capable sound."
What HiFi - September 2004

“Sky+ is as life-changing as the washing machine. I got one of those about 12 years ago – no more queuing at launderettes – amazing!And now no more rushing home – because I’ve got it all!”
Ricky Gervais