Cookie Policy

We use cookies and similar tracking technology (collectively, “cookies”) on our website freesat.co.uk (our “Website”).  This Cookie Policy explains the types of cookies we use and the reasons we use them, and gives detailed information about the various cookies set on our Website, including whether they are set by Freesat or a third party.  Our Website will only use cookies where you consent to their use, the exception being strictly necessary cookies which are required for the functioning of the Website.  Read on for more information.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small amount of data, which often includes a unique identifier, that is sent to your device browser and is stored on your device.  Some cookies expire at the end of your website session while others remain on your device for longer.  Cookies are used for a variety of reasons, including to make the Website function properly, to help us provide you with a good experience when you use or browse the Website, to remember what’s in your basket, and to show you content we think you’ll be interested in.

First party cookies and third party cookies:

Our Website uses both first party cookies and third party cookies. First party cookies are set directly by our Website and are often used to recognise your device when it revisits the Website.  For convenience, we use third party tools and services to understand more about our visitors and users.  Examples of these third party tools and services which are within Freesat’s control include Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, the Mapp site-wide pixel and the Facebook site-wide pixel.

If you click on content on our website which links through to social media platforms (embedded content) you may also receive cookies from these third party websites or domains, which may be used by that third party to recognise your device. Third party cookies are commonly used for website analytics or advertising purposes, so they can show you ads for products and services based on your interests. In addition, other third parties may track your visit from a prior website when you navigate to our Website.

We use the following types of cookies:

Strictly necessary cookies.  

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our Website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of the Website, and enable shopping cart or payment transaction functions for our webstore. These cookies are always on when you visit our Website.

Performance cookies.  

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our Website, and to see how visitors move around our Website when they are using it.

We use third party tools and services to help us with our analysis. For example, we use Google Analytics to collect information about how you use the Website.  This information is reported on an aggregated basis and includes information about the pages of the Website you visit, what you click on whilst you’re visiting and how long you spend on each page.  We use information from Google Analytics to improve the way our Website works and to learn which content is of interest to our customers. To learn more or opt out of Google Analytics specifically, click here.

We will only use performance cookies if you have agreed and you can switch them off at any time.

Functionality cookies.  

These cookies are used to recognise you when you return to our Website and provide enhanced functionality. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages (for example, where we embed content from social media).

These cookies enable us to greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, where you set your region on the TV Guide page), and also enable your interaction with third party embedded content to occur smoothly. We will only use functional cookies if you have agreed and you can switch them off at any time. If you do disable these cookies, some aspects of the Website may not function as we intended.

Targeting cookies.  

These cookies record your visit to our Website, the pages you visit and the links you follow. We may use targeting cookies to build a profile of your engagement with our Website, webstore and any marketing communications you may receive from us.  We may use this information to make our Website, advertising and/or marketing communications (where permitted) more relevant to your interests, including emailing you if you begin but don’t complete a purchase journey on our webstore.  For more information about how we process your personal data to send you marketing communications, please see our Privacy Notice.

We also use ad-retargeting cookies including Facebook, SearchAds360 (Google and Bing Ads), and MiQ (DV360 and Adnexus) to display relevant ads when you visit a third party website, which are tailored to you based on your prior use of our Website.

Our Website also includes cookies set by social media providers where we embed links and content from their platforms on our Website, including Twitter and YouTube. When you click on a link to embedded content this will launch cookies placed by the third party social media provider, allowing them to gather information about your visit to their site. We will only use targeting cookies if you have agreed and you can switch them off at any time.

How to control cookies:

You have control over which types of cookies are set on our Website during your first visit.  If you would like to change your preferences, please visit our Cookie Preference Centre by clicking the link under the heading ‘Reviewing your cookie choices’ below, where you can toggle on or off different types of cookies.

You can also set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. The ‘Help’ function within your browser should provide you with instructions. However, if you disable or refuse necessary cookies, please note that some parts of this Website may become inaccessible or not function properly

Reviewing your cookie choices

To see which cookies are used on our website, and your preferences, please visit the Cookie Preference Centre by clicking the link below.