Freeview
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is the operator of free digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom, using the DVB-T standard. The Freeview brand name, owned by DTV Services,[1] is used to promote the free digital terrestrial television service as a whole and those services operated by companies who rent capacity from Freeview Consortium shareholders. Contents
* 1 Overview
o 1.1 Service costs
o 1.2 High Definition on Freeview Planned
o 1.3 Coverage and reception
o 1.4 Freeview Playback
* 2 Freeview channels
o 2.1 TV channels
o 2.2 Radio stations
o 2.3 Text and interactive services
o 2.4 Former channels
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links
Overview
Freeview was launched on 30 October 2002 at 6 am when it took over the digital terrestrial television (DTT) licence to broadcast on three multiplexes from the defunct ITV Digital (originally called ONdigital).
The founding members of DTV Services were the BBC, National Grid Wireless and British Sky Broadcasting. On 11 October 2005, they were joined by ITV plc and Channel 4. The Freeview service broadcasts free-to-air television channels, radio stations and interactive services from the BBC, Sky and other broadcasters. 2007, Q3, UK's 60 million TV sets (not homes, Ofcom figures) 2007, Q3, UK's 60 million TV sets (not homes, Ofcom figures[3])
As of the end of December 2006, 30.4% of first sets and 25.6% of all TV sets in the UK use Freeview. 7,703,000 of the 25.3 million UK homes are 'Freeview only', with 15.3 million Freeview enabled TVs (and integrated digital televisions) in 10.5 million homes.
The Freeview model has been copied in a number of countries including France and Spain.[citation needed]
Service costs
Freeview offers no premium or pay-per-view channels and no subscription channels. The name distinguishes the service from ITV Digital, cable and satellite digital TV services. To receive the Freeview services, a set-top box (typically available from £20) or a new television with an integrated digital tuner is required. DTT reception cards for computers are also available for a similar price. Some viewers also need an aerial upgrade which can cost around £80 to £180. In addition, the annual television licence must be purchased, as is required for all viewers of broadcast television in the UK irrespective of the method of reception.
In addition to Freeview, a subscription-based service, Top Up TV, launched in March 2004 using unused channel space on Multiplexes that were owned by parties, who at the time, were not members of the Freeview consortium. The Top Up TV service is not connected with the Freeview service; it simply runs alongside it on the DTT platform. It was possible to receive Top Up TV selected Freeview set-top boxes or televisions equipped with a card slot or CI slot, however, this was discontinued in 2006 in favour of "Top Up TV Anytime", a service which depends on a proprietary set top box.
The Digital TV Group made up of all the multiplex owners, is responsible for co-ordination between Freeview and Top Up TV services.
High Definition on Freeview Planned
There are currently no hi-def chanels on Freeview, but as of January 2008 it appears that there are plans to roll out hi-def channels on a regional basis, starting in 2009. According to The Producer, a Sony publication for professionals: "on 21 Nov 2007 Ofcom proposed a reorganisation of the three public service digital multiplexes to allow free-to-air HD services to launch by late 2009. It has backed a scheme to clear multiplex B for this goal (currently used by the BBC to carry CBeebies, BBC Parliament, three interactive video services, ten radio and two data services). The process strips the BBC of a significant amount of spectrum, and gives Ofcom the power to decide who gets what in the subsequent carvup. The day before the announcement the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five signed a "non binding memorandum of understanding" to reorganise their DTT spectrum to ensure an HD launch on Freeview within the existing spectrum capacity, in an attempt to control their own destiny. Offcom is backing a near-doubling of efficiency by two means. These are, first, through coding squeezing more into the same spectrum by using MPEG4 rather than the current MPEG2. Secondly it is backing a new transmission standard DVB-T2, an update from existing DVB-T, this alone promises to deliver a 30 percent increase in capacity to a multiplex. Together the two moves increase the capacity of a multiplex by 160 percent. Ofcom expects to award four blocks but with three starting in 2009/2010 and a fourth starting 2012. It is expected that the first three will be BBC HD, ITV HD, and Channel 4 HD. The HD services will also be available on Freesat." Freesat, which will parallel the Freeview service on a new dedicated satelite platform, is expected to start in 'Spring 2008'.
The Ofcom proposal and the consultation responses can be found here. Ofcom DTT Future
Coverage and reception
Approximately 73% of households are in a location that can receive Freeview broadcasts. Maximum Freeview coverage of the UK whilst analogue and digital services are running in tandem has now been reached. The British government plans to switch off analogue transmitters region-by-region, starting in 2007, to allow for an increase in both Freeview coverage and transmitter power. The government 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.
Freeview Playback
Main article: Freeview Playback
Freeview Playback is a consumer brand created in the UK by the DTG Group to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview-capable digital video recorders. Players which meet specified quality and functionality criteria are permitted to carry the Freeview Playback logo, and benefit from joint marketing and consumer confidence.
Freeview channels
A full list of digital terrestrial television channels in the UK is also available, which includes the additional Top Up TV and Setanta Sports services.
TV channels
1. BBC One (some regional variations in programming) 2. BBC Two (some regional variations in programming) 3. ITV1, STV or UTV (some regional variations in programming) 4. Channel 4 (except Wales) or S4C Digidol (Wales only) 5. Five 6. ITV2 7. BBC Three 8. Channel 4 (Wales only) or TeleG (Scotland only) 9. BBC Four 10. ITV3 11. Sky Three 12. UKTV History (available between 0600 and 1800) 13. Channel 4+1 14. More4 16. QVC (reduced hours in Wales) 18. The Hits (rebranding to 4Music by end of 2008) 19. Dave 20. Virgin 1 (available between 1800 and 0600) 21. TMF 22. Ideal World 23. bid tv (reduced hours in Wales) 24. price-drop tv 28. ITV4 29. E4 30. E4+1 31. ITV2+1 32. Film4 35. Five US 36. Five Life 37. SmileTV (available between 0300 and 0700) 42. Nuts TV 43. Gems TV (available between 0945 and 1245) 44. The Jewellery Channel (available between 1900 and 2100) 45. Lottery Extra 70. CBBC Channel 71. CBeebies 75. CITV Channel (not available in Wales) 80. BBC News 24 81. BBC Parliament 82. Sky News 83. Sky Sports News 86. S4C2 (Wales only) 87. Community Channel (available between 0600 and 0900) 88. Teachers' TV (available between 1600 and 1700)
Radio stations
700. BBC Radio 1 701. BBC Radio 1Xtra 702. BBC Radio 2 703. BBC Radio 3 704. BBC Radio 4 (FM version) 705. BBC Radio 5 Live 706. BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 707. BBC 6 Music 708. BBC 7 709. BBC Asian Network 710. BBC World Service (English language European service) 711. The Hits Radio 712. Smash Hits (not available in Wales) 713. Kiss 100 714. Heat 715. Magic 105.4 716. Q 718. 102.2 Smooth Radio 719. BBC Radio Scotland 720. BBC Radio nan Gaidheal 721. Mojo 722. Kerrang! 723. talkSPORT 724. Clyde 1 725. Premier Christian Radio 726. U105 727. Virgin Radio 728. Heart 106.2
Text and interactive services
100. Teletext 101. Teletext Holidays 102. Teletext Cars 103. Teletext Games 104. Teletext on 4 105. BBCi 108. Sky Text
