I am trying to get this straight in my own head never mind any one else.
1) Freeview is free but you can get cards for same system which are charged for which are not technically freeview but uses same system.
2) Freesat is free but you can get cards for same system which are charged for which are not technically freesat but uses the same system.
Note anything similar in the two statements?
So let me try again and see if I can get it right this time.
Leaving internet out then.
Two terrestrial systems one with and one without a monthly paid for encoder card.
Two satellite systems.
One with all free channels, this can be further split with some boxes giving only now and next and others giving 7 day guides plus some have outputs to turn the dish or take multi-dishes to increase number of channels plus some are HD some are not this then moves to next.
With the next level the boxes take cards which can allow encoded channels and also allow post code encoding so you have local channels in the order found in paper program guides. There are many cards including one off payment cards.
The point is does it matter if one off payment is for a better box to allow HD or a card which goes into the box to allow extra channels and post code sorting it is still a one off payment.
At end of day it's down to the programs you want to watch. If you watch Yesterday on a regular basis the you want freeview, if you however like old films then you want a free satellite system. It also depends how or if you record programs. How easy it is to get freeview, and if your prepared to continually reprogram your box or TV when they have re-shuffled the programs yet again. I am lucky I can place a loop aerial on the windowsill down stairs and pick up Miss Piggy (Moel-y-Parc) others need huge masts to pick up terrestrial TV.
But as to channels I watch rather than simple count there is around 5 programs I can only watch for free with freeview and around 40 I can only watch with free satellite. Guy already has a dish, already has a receiver so to me no question he should retain his satellite viewing.
So question is in real terms is it worth putting up a terrestrial aerial to pick up an extra 5 channels? Only he can answer that.
You have got it all wrong.
1/. FREEview is FREE. There are no cards.
2/. FREEsat is FREE. There are no cards.
There is ONE terrestrial system.
There is ONE satellite system for UK viewers.
This one satellite system has free to air channels, about 5 encrypted channels that are free to view (well not quite, you have to pay £25 for a card), and encrypted channels which you can only get (legally) with a sky subscription.
Boxes wise.
1/. Freeview boxes which require an aerial. But these days Freeview is built into TVs so in general no boxes required.
2/. There are free to air satellite boxes which can get the free to air channels only with now and next programme guide on UK channels (but 7 day on some European channels). This is because the UK does not use the standard 7 day EPG.
3/. Generic satellite boxes with card slots. These can take cards for some European channels, but can't work Sky cards.
4/. Freesat boxes. Freesat is just an EPG (14 day) and these boxes can access it. They require your postcode so they can give you the correct regions. They will only get the channels that have paid to be on the Freesat EPG. Though they can be switched to non Freesat mode and act like a free to air box.
5/. Sky boxes. These are really designed for subscription but without a card will get all the free to air channels on the Sky EPG. You can get the £25 card mentioned above and get around 5 extra channels. It will also put the correct region according to the address registered to the card. For subscription you need to subscribe to sky and get a card for the package you subscribe to.
Incidentally the channel you mentioned "Yesterday" is on Freeview and free to air satellite, so a poor choice as an example.
