Free view / saoirview

Friend of mine is paying excess 100 euro a month for tv , small bit of sport on it , but would be fine with a combo in three rooms , and all the channels that would bring .
The only small issue is the racing channel.
With non pay free view set up is there any way to just subscribe to racing channel as and when he wishes . What’s the cheapest option as regards there.
What’s the the best combo boxes at the moment for older people what I mean by that is , easy to navigate perhaps with one box Having the ability to record ( ideally - series link option)
Thanks
Paddy