We got our first (the original, I believe) On Digital box with a year's subscription from an auction site for £50 in 2000. I was travelling at the time and a friend sorted it all out for me (not bad - it was supposed to be one box per customer but they let him order two). And we never paid a subscription fee due to changes of ownership and the business of ITV Digital going bust over football.

Fast forward twelve years and as far as I can tell we have the best none satellite, digital TV service in the world for nothing more than the license fee!