WHAT IS FREEVIEW?

Freeview is the Digital TV service that can be received using a standard television aerial. To watch Freeview a digital decoder box can be connected to any television set giving the viewer access to 44 TV and 20 radio stations in digital quality. It is also possible to purchase a new television with integrated tuners or a DTT, Digital Terrestrial Television, reception card for a computer. Set top boxes and DTT computer cards start from around £20.

Freeview has no pay per view channels or subscription fees once the set top box has been connected to the television you will be able to receive all 44 channels free of charge (other than a standard TV licence). Currently 73% of the UK population can receive Freeview and this will rise to 90% by 2012. Some viewers may need to upgrade their aerial which can cost £80 to £180. Currently there are no high definition channels offered through Freeview, but there are plans to starting introducing some HD in 2009. Customers receiving digital television form a provider such as Sky, Virgin or BT will receive all the Freeview channels automatically.

Freeview Channels

BBC One, BBC Two, ITV 1, Channel 4 and five, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, BBC Three, Sky Three, BBC Four, E4, More4, Film4, UKTV History, Dave, Fiver, Five US, Nuts TV, Virgin 1 , Teachers TV, Community.
BBC News, Sky News, Sky Sports News, BBC Parliament. CBBC, Cbeebies
QVC, Bid TV , Price-drop TV , Ideal World

Philips DTR220

Daewoo DSD9503T

Daewoo DSD9503TFPB

FREESAT HD Digital Set Top Box

Setanta freeview box

Sony KDL26S3000 26'' Widescreen

WHAT IS FREESAT?

Freesat is the satellite equivalent of Freeview. There are currently two providers of this service. The first is Freesat itself a venture between BBC and ITV, the other provider is Sky. In order to receive Freesat, customers must have a satellite dish installed costing from £60 and buy a Freesat box. Freesat boxes currently cost £130 from a variety of suppliers and £150 for a box from Sky. Both of these are one off payments, after which you can watch television as much as you wish.

The advantages of Freesat are its 98% coverage and the extra channels received. Freesat from BBC/ITV provides over 60 channels while Sky has over 200. It is also possible to watch high definition television on both networks.