We gave up on Sat TV a few years ago due to the reliability of signal. After that we used the iPlayer for a while through 'my-private-network' as a VPN to kid the Beeb that you are in the UK. Sadly the iPlayer is a mess, too many problems to list but an external group have come up with an alternative called 'get_iplayer'. It's clunky and old fashioned looking but does the job really well. The programs downloaded don't expire and sit on your computer as 'proper' MP4 files so you can copy them onto tablets, phones etc to watch on the plane or wherever. You still need the VPN though. We are on Eurona 3Mb WiMax (the little receiver pointing into town).
Have also started using thepiratebay.se which serves almost everything, including missed episodes from the Beeb.