Freesat, the British free-to-air (FTA) digital satellite TV service co-founded by BBC and ITV, is set to stage a comeback in the subscription-free HD broadcast arena, following a series of positive announcements over the past week. One that will surely go down well with existing customers is the long-overdue arrival of Channel 4’s high-definition simulcast channel C4 HD on the platform come April.
Freesat’s growth has been stunted somewhat since the launch of Freeview HD last year. While both high-def services do not charge any monthly subscription fee, generally speaking Freeview HD is more accessible for the UK public compared to Freesat, since the former can be received through existing roof-top aerials, whereas the latter requires the installation of a satellite dish. Also, most of the recent flat-screen HDTV sets available on the market are likely to have Freeview HD tuners built in. Unfortunately the same cannot be said on the Freesat front: TV manufacturers have restricted the incorporation of an integrated Freesat tuner to a only few selected models.
Of course, one scenario where Freesat would unquestionably trounce Freeview HD is in a geographical area with poor Freeview coverage. Even so, the FTA satellite TV platform offers only three high-def channels – BBC HD, BBC1 HD and ITV1 HD – to Freeview HD’s four. That will soon change in April, with the launch of Channel 4 HD on Freesat levelling the playing field.
Last week also saw an upgrade to another crucial feature on the Freesat platform: its BBC Red Button interactive service now offers an expanded range of video content, rivalling the ones available on the Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media portals. Initially limited to only the BBC Sport Multiscreen at launch, Freesat viewers can start enjoying single-stream video services – such as Becoming Human (a new spinoff from Being Human), and extra footage from BBC2’s latest comedy Episodes – via the Red Button on their HDTVs.
On Tuesday, the subscription-free digital television satellite service announced the addition of two new music channels in the shape of NME TV and Bliss. These favourable developments will not only help Freesat keep hold of its existing customer base, but also establish the platform as a strong alternative for those who cannot receive Freeview HD, and/or refuse to subscribe to Sky+HD.
Glad to see 4HD finally appear! It’s silly that I have to hook up an aerial for this one channel.
Couldn’t care less about the red button though!
When are the programs such as five-usa; quest; dave; dave ja vu and other programs shown on freeview going to be shown on freesat?
just tried down loading new data on to old freesat box. box has sopped working now wish i had not bothered upgrading box. now it will cost me for a new box.
^ Isn’t it under warranty?
In my view, the Freesat HD service is superior to Freeview HD. I have both options at home, but hardly ever use Freeview. The Freesat EPG makes more sense and there is a wider choice of channels. In addition, the BBC iplayer on demand service as a red button option is great. I would recommend Freesat HD to anyone considering cancelling an existing Sky or Virgin subscription or upgrading to subscription free HD television.
I like Freesat for the international news channels (NHK, etc). The exclusively British (with a touch of American) viewpoints seen on terrestrial feels limiting to me.
why is it not possible to get itv 1 hd in the north of scotland ?
All that is missing from Freesat now is a good sports channel. I’m sure people would move from Sky if their sports needs were covered on Freesat. Be great to have Eurosport on there.
@David Ross:
STV have the rights to air ITV shows up here. If you want to get access to ITV1 HD, enter an English post code in the Freesat system menu.
My Freesat box is coupled to a Sky satllite dish and uses 2 feeds from a 4 feed horn. It works very well, as does the Sky box too. Previously I used Sky but find it lacks what I want inless I’m prepared to pay for HD and Films, which I don’t think are good value from Sky. One aspect of Sky I do think is good, is their program guide. The Freesat one leaves much to be desired.
Is there a way of finding more channels from the Freesat satellites which are also subscription free, say French, German or others. Is it possible to find a link that would give you a better spread of documentary channels?
The Humax Freesat box has a card slot for subscription satellite. With it only pointing at the Sky and Freesat Satellites, what extra channels can you get and who are the providers besides Sky. How do you approach them? Via the internet would be good.
An enquiry about this to Google doesn’t seem to focus on providers at all well.
Freesat has greater room for expansion than Freeview. With the launch of some new satellites this year, more space is being made for the addition of new HD channels and other free-to-air content. With Channel 4HD expected on Freesat this month (April) channel 4 have also hinted that the change in distributor for the channel may bring more services to freesat i.e. 4music , film 4hd etc.
In response to Mr. A. Moore – “When are the programs such as five-usa; quest; dave; dave ja vu and other programs shown on freeview going to be shown on freesat?”
It is unlikely that these channels will ever appear on Freesat – because of the licenses for the programmes they broadcast can only be broadcast in the UK and the “footprint area” that the Freesat satellite covers is considerably larger than the UK (covering most of France and Spain) – and will only be on a pay-for (encrypted) satellite service such as Sky which can only be used (officially) by someone with a UK address registered with Sky.
If you months ago I cancelled the Sky sports package, just keeping the basic subscription channels. I have finally realised that I was paying Sky for channels I was not (in the main) watching, and last week I cancelled Sky altogether and bought a Freesat (Humax HD+) box. I am very very impressed by the interface, and the general ease of use. I’ve now rigged the box up to my Internet connection via a mains socket kit (dead easy, plug and play) and can get BBC i-player, with the ITV product soon to follow – this gives me a library of high quality programming, not quite as specialised as (say) the History Channel, but far higher quality than some of the dross that I was paying for previously. I’m really chuffed with myself!
I live in the Irish Republic and for years we have watched British TV programes.
Going back to the days when we had to errect a huge aerial on our roof and watch a snow filled screen most of the time.
Then we got cable and later sattalite, we now have the possability of watching on Freesat as we fall within the Uk ‘footprint’ and I am very happy with the quality picture and the programes,
John,
bray,
Co Wicklow
ROI.
Pleaaase tell me that there putting 4music on freesat…does anyone know if they are? If so when are they?