HD Channels From Freesat
What is Freesat from the BBC and ITV.
Freesat is a further way of getting digital television 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 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 near perfect picture quality. Additional to this there is a programme guide on screen with 8 days of upcoming programmes and teletext and more channels coming in the future.
What equipment is required ?
When you purchase Freesat you will be able to obtain a standard definition or high definition set top box receiver, with or without built in PVR, which you use with your existing television. Then again you can buy some HD Ready televisions with a Freesat receiver built in, such as the Panasonic models TX32LZD81, TX37LZD81, TH42PZ81B, TH46PZ81, and TH50PZ81B, as a result you wont need a set top box.
Both Freesat set top boxes and Freesat televisions require 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 some spare ones available, or to run a cable from it to the television. If this isn’t feasible then you will have to have an additional 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.
What areas of the country can receive Freesat ?
Free sat is already available for practically every household in the UK. Roughly 98% of households can receive a signal so it is virtually certain that even if you reside in an area that can’t receive terrestrial Freeview you will be able to receive Freesat.
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, Children, Lifestyle, Special Interests, Music, Movies, Shopping, Radio and Regional TV, Dating and Gaming. The channels offered include BBC News, BBC Parliament, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, E4, Channel 4, Zone Romanitica, Zone Reality, Zone Thriller, Pop, Pop Girls, CITV, Tiny Pops, KiX, Aljazera, , 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. Additional to these there will be more channels available shortly.
What about high definition TV ?
If you buy a high definition Freesat set top box, to use with a HD Ready television, or a high definition Freesat television then you can benefit from a picture quality that has up to five times more resolution than standard Television, with deeper and more lucid images.
At Present there are two HD TV channels on Freesat – BBC HD and ITV1. Both of these channels offer HD programmes for a percentage of the time each day but the quantity of hours will increase during 2009.
If you don’t already subscribe to receive high definition on Virgin cable or Sky HD, and you already own a HD Ready TV, then Freesat represents a means of making sure that you get the full benefit from the capabilities of your HD Ready television
What are the benefits of interactive Television ?
The red button on the remote control makes available access to information regarding the latest news headlines, lottery results, the weather, business news, you can even see the results for your favourite team. This information is easily available through easy to use menus.
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. Using this feature you will be able to switch cameras to different events, stages, different snooker tables, different tennis courts, or different camera angles, etc.
Conclusion
It is doubtful that high definition will be available from any other broadcaster in the next few years with out subscription. So if you want to be subscription and contract free high definition television then Freesat is the obvious choice. In the same way if you don’t receive freeview and don’t want to pay a monthly charge then Freesat is worth considering. If you aren’t interested in high definition channels then also look at the free channels available from Sky.
For nearly 2 decades Armadeus Cornelius has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in the electrical sector. For more details on high definition TV go to HDTV. If you want to know more about Freesat then go to Freesat TV
