Free HD Service From Freesat

What is Freesat from the BBC and ITV.

Freesat is another way of receiving digital TV and radio stations with only an upfront payment to purchase the equipment. Following this initial payment the service is free of any contracts or monthly subscription charges forever. The service is a combined venture between the BBC and ITV and provides over 140 channels of TV and Radio with digital sound that is crystal clear and a close to perfect picture quality. Added to this there is a programme guide on screen with 8 days of future programmes and teletext and more channels coming in the future.

What equipment is required ?

To receive Freesat you will need to buy a set top box that is either standard or high definition for use with your existing TV. The set top boxes are also available with or without a built in PVR for recording programmes on the internal hard drive. Then again you can buy a TV with a Freesat receiver built in which case you won't require a set top box. At present Panasonic is the only manufacturer of TVs with Freesat. The models that have Freesat built in are the following LCD television models TX32LZD81 and TX37LZD81 and the following plasma Television models TH42PZ81B, TH46PZ81, and TH50PZ81B.

Both Freesat set top boxes and Freesat televisions need a satellite mini dish. An existing sky satellite dish will be enough if it isn't being used to receive sky. Even if it is and it has unused connections on the LNB then it can be used by your sky receiver and Freesat at the same time. You might need to get a satellite installer to upgrade your LNB to one with two or four connections if there aren't any spare ones available, or to run a cable from it to the television. If this isn't viable then you will have to have an extra mini dish installed. Obviously you will require a dish installing if you don't have an existing one, provided there aren't any obstructions preventing its installation e.g. trees, another building, etc.

Which areas of the country can receive Freesat ?

Something like 98% of houses in the UK can receive Freesat - so almost every household can receive Freesat even if they don't receive terrestrial freeview.

What types of programme channels are offered ?

All of the best channels from the BBC and ITV are available for the entire family including Entertainment, News, Sport, Lifestyle, Children, Special Interests, Music, Movies, Radio, Shopping and Regional TV, Dating and Gaming. The channels offered include BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, BBC News, BBC Parliament, CBBC, CBeebies, Channel 4, E4, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, Zone Reality, Zone Thriller, Zone Romanitica, Zone Horror, CITV, Tiny Pops, Pop, Pop Girls, Aljazera, KiX, Overseas Property TV, Film 4, True Movies, True Movies 2, Movies 4 Men 2, Bubble Hits, Scuzz, QVC, Price-Drop TV, Zmusic, QVCetc. Additional to these there will be extra channels available shortly.

Is HD television available on Freesat ?

HD TV is obtainable if you have a High definition Freesat set top box together with a television that is HD Ready. Otherwise, you can receive High definition from Freesat if you buy a HD TV that has Freesat built in such as the ones offered by Panasonic e.g. TX32LZD81, TX37LZD81, TH42PZ81B, TH46PZ81, and TH50PZ81B. The benefit of receiving the HD broadcasts on a HD Ready TV is that the image resolution is roughly five times that of a normal TV.

Currently there is limited availability of high definition television channels on Freesat with only BBC HD and. Neither of these channels offer high definition all day but the amount of time will increase in 2009.

If you own a HD Ready Television and don't have Virgin's HD Cable or Sky HD then Freesat offers a way of getting the most from the capabilities of your television without monthly charges.

What are the benefits of interactive TV ?

By just a push of the red button you can see the latest news headlines, the weather, lottery results, business news, or see if your favourite team has won. All of this information is on hand through user friendly menus.

The button also offers interactive Television where you can watch video based multi-screen services such as the Olympics, the Proms, Snooker, Wimbledon, and Glastonbury more al events in the future. By means of this feature you will be able to switch cameras to different events, stages, different tennis courts, or different camera angles, etc.

Conclusion

It is doubtful that high definition will be obtainable from any other broadcaster in the next few years without subscription. So if you want to be subscription and contract free high definition television then Freesat is the logical choice. Similarly if you don't receive freeview and don't want to pay a monthly payment then Freesat is worth bearing in mind. If you aren't interested in HD channels then also look at the free channels offered from Sky.

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