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| Freeview - Digital Terrestrial |
Freeview, is the name for the free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the UK. The service is jointly run by its five equal shareholders, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. DTV Services is designed to market changes to the platform.
DTV Services is responsible for marketing services such as Freeview+, the PVR brand and Freeview HD.
The technical specification for Freeview is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital TV in the UK who also provide the test and conformance regime for Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview HD products. DMOL, a company owned by the operators of the six DTT multiplexes (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Arqiva) is responsible for technical platform management and policy, including the electronic programme guide and channel numbering.
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| Website: www.freeview.co.uk |
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| Coverage |
Ofcom estimates that the coverage level of the three public-service broadcasting multiplexes will reach 98.5% of the population (the same as analogue television) and six-multiplex reception will cover 90% of the population once the digital switchover has been completed in 2012.
The full package of sixty Freeview channels (six-multiplex) will only be available via the main transmitter in each transmitter group, and a number of other Relay Transmitters that are deemed to be important in terms of the large coverage area they serve. Those who rely on a local self-help relay transmitter, or other Relay transmitters covering a small village or area will only receive around eighteen channels (three-multiplex) after digital switchover.
Freeview Lite refers to those areas only served by the public service multiplexes. These areas are served by relays and not by the main transmitters. Commercial multiplexe opperators have decided that in certain areas (due to their small populations), that it is not ecconomically viable to broadcast their services to certain (mainly rural) areas. Most affected are northern and central Wales, the Scottish Highland and islands, parts of England, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Viewers with limited or poor Freeview reception, can receive most Freeview channels on satellite, either through Freesat or Sky.
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| Freeview Channels |
The Freeview service broadcasts free-to-air television channels, radio stations and interactive services from the existing public service broadcasters. Channels on the service include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 terrestrial channels, as well as their digital services. In addition, channels from Sky and UKTV and radio stations from BBC and Bauer amongst others are available.
The full range of channels broadcast via digital terrestrial television includes pay television services from operators such as Top Up TV and ESPN. These channels, although available only to subscribers with appropriate equipment, are listed in the on-screen electronic programme guides displayed by many Freeview receivers. |
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| Freeview+ & Freeview+ HD |
Freeview+ and Freeview+ HD is a consumer brand created in the UK by DTV Services Ltd (Freeview) to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview capable digital TV recorders otherwise known as personal video recorders.
Players which meet specific quality and functionality criteria carry the Freeview Playback, Freeview+ or Freeview+ HD logo, and benefit from joint marketing and consumer confidence.
Standard definition Freeview+ recorders were available from May 2007 and high definition Freeview+ HD recorders were available from May 2010. Between May 2007 and July 2008, Freeview+ was known as Freeview Playback.
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| Freeview HD |
Freeview HD offers high definition TV from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 without subscription via a TV aerial. You will need a Freeview HD receiver or Freeview HD TV.
Freeview HD was the first operational TV service in the world using the DVB-T2 standard, which will require the purchase of new compatible reception equipment.
Channels currently available on Freeview HD are BBC One HD, BBC HD, ITV HD and Channel 4 HD.
STV HD is broadcast in Scotland, and UTV HD in Northern Ireland..
Viewers not able to view Channel 4 HD or ITV HD, have the option to view for free via satellite.
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| Freeview in the Channel Islands |
The Channel Islands TV region has switched, so Freeview is available throughout the Channel Islands. There is one transmitter group in the Channel TV region, (Fremont Point and its seven relay transmitters)..
Note, not all Freeview muxes are available in the islands, to receive more channels you will need to use a satellite platform, either Freesat or Sky.
ITV HD is not available in the Channels Islands on Freeview, to receive this channel use a Freesat HD receiver and an English post code. |
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| Freeview on the Isle of Man |
Freeview is available on the Isle of Man from the Glenmaye transmitter, though not all commercial muxes are available, reception of the others may be possible from the mainland. The island is covered by the Granada ITV region.
The Isle of Man is a dependency of the British Crown, it is not part of the United Kingdom or a member of the EU. The local government controls broadcasting on the island.
The island is close to the British mainland, has no local television channels and receives television and radio services from the British mainland. |
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