What is the BBC's and ITV's Freesat ?
Freesat is an additional way of getting digital TV and radio stations with only an upfront payment to purchase the equipment. After this initial payment the service is free of any contracts or monthly subscription charges forever. The service is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV and provides in excess of 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 upcoming programmes and teletext and extra channels coming in the future.
What equipment is required to receive Freesat ?
Either a set top box in conjunction with a TV, or a TV with a Free sat receiver built in is required to receive Freesat. Set top boxes are available in normal definition and high definition and some contain a built in PVR hard drives to record programmes. If you decide to buy a television with Freesat built in then you won't need a Freesat set top box. Panasonic is at present the only manufacturer of Freesat televisions. There are two LCD models available, TX32LZD81 and TX37LZD81; and there are three Plasma TV 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 sufficient if it isnt 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 TV. If this isn't feasible then you will have to have an extra mini dish installed. Clearly you will need 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 ?
Free sat is already available for more or less every household in the UK. Approximately 98% of households can receive a signal so it is more or less certain that even if you live in an area that can't get terrestrial Freeview you will be able to receive Freesat.
What types of programme channels are offered ?
All of the finest channels from the BBC and ITV are offered for the whole family including Entertainment, Lifestyle, Children, Special Interests, Movies, Music, Shopping, Radio and Regional TV, Dating and Gaming. The channels offered include CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Parliament, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, Channel 4, E4, Zone Horror, Zone Thriller, Zone Reality, Zone Romanitica, CITV, Tiny Pops, Pop, Pop Girls, Aljazera, KiX, Film 4, Overseas Property TV, Movies for Men, Movies 4 Men 2, True Movies, True Movies 2, , B4U Music, Bubble Hits, Scuzz, QVC, Price-Drop TV, Zmusic, QVCetc. On top of these there will be additional channels available shortly.
Can you receive high definition television on Freesat ?
If you purchase a high definition Freesat set top box, to use with a HD Ready tv, or a HD Freesat television then you can gain from a picture quality that has up to five times more resolution than standard TV, with deeper and more lucid images.
At present there is limited availability of high definition TV channels on Freesat with only ITV1 and BBC HD. Neither of these channels offer high definition all day however the amount of time will be greater in 2009.
If you own a HD Ready TV and don't have Virgin's HD Cable or Sky HD then Freesat offers a means of getting the most from the capabilities of your TV without monthly charges.
What are the benefits of interactive Television ?
At the press of the red button you will be able to have access, via user friendly menus, to news headlines, lottery results, the weather, business news etc.
The button also offers interactive TV where you can view video based multi-screen services such as Glastonbury, the Olympics, the Proms, Snooker, and Wimbledon 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.
Wrapping up
Freesat provides an alternative offering to Sky, Cable or Freeview. If you cant at present receive freeview and dont want to pay a monthly charge to Sky or Virgin then Freesat will be ideal. Equally with not much prospect of there being any terrestrial broadcasts of high definition then Freesat is the only choice that is free of monthly subscription. Then again before opting for Freesat also look at the free channel options available from Sky, although they don't offer free high definition channels.
Freesat is an additional way of getting digital TV and radio stations with only an upfront payment to purchase the equipment. After this initial payment the service is free of any contracts or monthly subscription charges forever. The service is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV and provides in excess of 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 upcoming programmes and teletext and extra channels coming in the future.
What equipment is required to receive Freesat ?
Either a set top box in conjunction with a TV, or a TV with a Free sat receiver built in is required to receive Freesat. Set top boxes are available in normal definition and high definition and some contain a built in PVR hard drives to record programmes. If you decide to buy a television with Freesat built in then you won't need a Freesat set top box. Panasonic is at present the only manufacturer of Freesat televisions. There are two LCD models available, TX32LZD81 and TX37LZD81; and there are three Plasma TV 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 sufficient if it isnt 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 TV. If this isn't feasible then you will have to have an extra mini dish installed. Clearly you will need 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 ?
Free sat is already available for more or less every household in the UK. Approximately 98% of households can receive a signal so it is more or less certain that even if you live in an area that can't get terrestrial Freeview you will be able to receive Freesat.
What types of programme channels are offered ?
All of the finest channels from the BBC and ITV are offered for the whole family including Entertainment, Lifestyle, Children, Special Interests, Movies, Music, Shopping, Radio and Regional TV, Dating and Gaming. The channels offered include CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Parliament, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, Channel 4, E4, Zone Horror, Zone Thriller, Zone Reality, Zone Romanitica, CITV, Tiny Pops, Pop, Pop Girls, Aljazera, KiX, Film 4, Overseas Property TV, Movies for Men, Movies 4 Men 2, True Movies, True Movies 2, , B4U Music, Bubble Hits, Scuzz, QVC, Price-Drop TV, Zmusic, QVCetc. On top of these there will be additional channels available shortly.
Can you receive high definition television on Freesat ?
If you purchase a high definition Freesat set top box, to use with a HD Ready tv, or a HD Freesat television then you can gain from a picture quality that has up to five times more resolution than standard TV, with deeper and more lucid images.
At present there is limited availability of high definition TV channels on Freesat with only ITV1 and BBC HD. Neither of these channels offer high definition all day however the amount of time will be greater in 2009.
If you own a HD Ready TV and don't have Virgin's HD Cable or Sky HD then Freesat offers a means of getting the most from the capabilities of your TV without monthly charges.
What are the benefits of interactive Television ?
At the press of the red button you will be able to have access, via user friendly menus, to news headlines, lottery results, the weather, business news etc.
The button also offers interactive TV where you can view video based multi-screen services such as Glastonbury, the Olympics, the Proms, Snooker, and Wimbledon 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.
Wrapping up
Freesat provides an alternative offering to Sky, Cable or Freeview. If you cant at present receive freeview and dont want to pay a monthly charge to Sky or Virgin then Freesat will be ideal. Equally with not much prospect of there being any terrestrial broadcasts of high definition then Freesat is the only choice that is free of monthly subscription. Then again before opting for Freesat also look at the free channel options available from Sky, although they don't offer free high definition channels.
About the Author:
For nearly 2 decades Armadeus Cornelius has built a wealth of knowledge in the electrical sector. For more details on high definition TV click HD Ready TVs. If you would like to know more about Freesat then click Freesat
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