The benefits of Freesat

What is the BBC's and ITV's Freesat ?

Freesat has in excess of 140 channels of digital Radio and Television without any contract or monthly charges, and there are more channels to come. All that is necessary is the purchase of the receiving equipment. The BBC and ITV joined together to make available this service as an alternative to Sky Satellite, Freeview and Cable. It provides pictures and sound that are crystal clear and almost perfect. As you would expect there is also an 8 day on screen programme guide and teletext.

What equipment is required to receive Freesat ?

Either a set top box in cunjuction with a television, or a television with a Free sat receiver built in is required to receive Freesat. Set top boxes are obtainable in standard definition and high definition and some contain a built in PVR hard drives to record programmes. If you choose to buy a television with Freesat built in then you won’t require 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.

Whether you use a Freesat set top box or a television with Freesat built in you will also require a satellite mini dish. If you already have an existing sky satellite mini dish that is unused, or if have one being used for sky and it has an unused connector on the LNB, it follows that you won’t need to instal another dish. If you don’t have any free connectors on the LNB then a Satellite dish installer might be able to upgrade it so that it has two or four connectors. A satellite dish installer will also be required to instal a satellite dish if you don’t have one, or you need an additional one, or if you require additional cable runs from an unused LNB connector. Clearly the fittingof a satellite dish is dependant on the dish having no obstructions such as trees, and also subject to limitations such as planning issues or high rise buildings.

Which parts of the country can receive Freesat ?

Approximately 98 per cent of households are capable of receiving Freesat even if they don't at this time receive Freeview via normal broadcasts.

What types of programme channels are offered ?

There is a diverse range of programme categories such as Sports, News, Lifestyle, Childrens channels, Entertainment, Music, Special Interests, Movies, Dating, Regional television, Gaming and Shopping, as well as digital Radio. With quality channels from ITV and the BBC including BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, BBC News, BBC Parliament, Channel 4, Zone Thriller, E4, Zone Reality, Zone Romanitica, Zone Horror, Pop Girls, Pop, CITV, KiX, Film 4, Movies for Men, Movies 4 Men 2, B4U, Music, QVC, Zmusic, Price-Drop TV, JML, etc. Whats more there are additional channels due to come shortly.

Can you receive high definition TV on Freesat ?

HD channels are accessible on Freesat without any further charges other than the cost of the HD set top box and a HD Ready television or a Freesat HD Ready television. The benefit of a high definition picture is an increase in the picture resolution by roughly five times that of a standard picture resolution giving more vivid and detailed pictures.

Currently there is limited availability of high definition TV channels on Freesat with only BBC HD and . 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 Television 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 with no monthly charges.

Interactive TV - a new way of viewing television.

At the press of the red button you will have access, via user friendly menus, to lottery results, news headlines, the weather, business news etc.

There are also video based multi-screen interactive television services, which allow you to choose which cameras you view on selected programmes or events, again by pressing the red button. This is available on events such as Glastonbury, Wimbledon, the Olympics, Snooker, the Proms, etc. So you will be able to choose which court you view at Wimbledon, or which snooker table, stage, event ,etc on other events. This feature will be obtainable on an increasing amount of events in the future.

Conclusion

With freeview even now not available in all areas of the country Freesat is an ideal choice that doesn't require a monthly payment or agreement. The only other option is the free channel option from Sky but that doesn't boast any free of charge high definition channels. If you don't intend to pay a monthly charge and you would like to receive HD TV then Freesat is probably the only alternative for the next few years.