freesat goes live across the UK

At long last, freesat has gone live across Britain, promising a wide variety of programming from the main terrestrial broadcasters, plus a selection of high definition content from the BBC and ITV.

freesat was officially launched at a press event in London this afternoon.

The Basics

freesat will offer a range of programmes via free-to-view satellite. The service is subscription-free, requiring just a one-off payment for equipment, plus optional installation.

Coverage

Freesat is transmitted from the Astra and Eurobird satellites, meaning that 98% of the population should be able to receive a signal.

Channels

From today, freesat carries around 80 channels, including a range of digital radio and TV stations (see end of article for full list). It is hoped that this number will rise to 200 or more by the end of the year.

All of the free-to-air channels from the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 are available immediately. Five has a contract with Sky, so it's not known when their channels will arrive on freesat.

High Definition

BBC HD is available immediately, with ITV HD expected to launch exclusively on freesat within the next few weeks. Details of ITV's high definition programming will be available soon.

EPG

freesat uses an Electronic Programme Guide which is supposed to be much easier to use that other systems. It initially comes with ten genres of programming to make it easier to find specific channels.

Products

These products are already available, prices approximate:

Humax FOXSAT-HD high definition digital set-top box - £150

Grundig GUFSAT01SD standard definition digital set-top-box - £50

Grundig GUFSAT01HD high definition digital sex-top box - £150

Goodmans GDSAT100SD standard definition digital set-top box - £70

Goodmans GFSAT200HD high definition digital set-top box - £150

Bush BFSAT01SD standard definition digital set-top box - £50

Bush BFSAT01HD high definition digital set-top box - £120

Additionally, Panasonic plans to manufacture three LCD HDTVs with freesat built in. 42 and 46 inch models will be available from June, with a 52 inch model coming in July.

Stay tuned to HDTVUK for more detailed specifications on all these boxes.

Retailers

freesat equipment and installation booking can initially be done via Argos, Comet, Currys and John Lewis, plus some independent retailers.

Installation

freesat is primarily being offered as an install product, though it is possible to use an existing satellite dish.

Once equipment has been bought, customers can elect to pay for an installer to come and put up the satellite dish.

Retailers have been trained / scripted to ask the right questions to ensure this process is as pain-free for customers as possible.

Upgrades

Every piece of hardware can be upgraded with new features as they become available, and will be fitted with an Ethernet port for possible future Internet / network connectivity, IPTV services, etc.

In addition, future functions may well include interactive red button services.

Branding and Exclusivity

Every piece of equipment authorised by freesat must pass strict DTG testing, and will carry the freesat logo. Non-branded equipment will not be able to receive the full range of channels or features. The system is based on open standards but with some proprietary encoding / software.

FREESAT CHANNELS AT LAUNCH (EPG numbers in brackets)

Entertainment (101-199)

BBC One (101)
BBC Two (102)
ITV1 (103)
C4 / S4C in Wales (104)
BBC Three (106)
BBC Four (107)
BBC HD (108)
ITV2 (113)
ITV3 (115)
ITV3+1 (116)
ITV4 (117)
S4C Digidol / C4 in Wales (120)
E4 (122)
More4 (124)
Zone Romantica (135)
Zone Thriller (137)

News and Sport (200-299)

BBC News (200)
BBC Parliament (201)
S4C2 (202)
Al-Jazeera English (203)
Euronews (204)

Movies (300-399)

Film4 (300)
True Movies (302)
True Movies2 (303)
Movies4Men (304)
Movies4Men2 (306)

Lifestyle (400-499)

Wedding TV (402)
Overseas Property Channel (411)
Men and Motors (450)

Music (500-599)

Chartshow TV (500)
The Vault (501)
Scuzz (502)
Bubble Hits (503)
B4U Music (504)

Children (600-649)

CBBC (600)
CBeebies (601)
CiTV (602)
POP (603)
POPGirl (604)
Tiny POP(605)

Special Interest (650-699)

Teachers TV (650)

Radio (700-799)

BBC Radio 1 (700)
1Xtra BBC (701)
BBC Radio 2 (702)
BBC Radio 3 (703)
BBC Radio 4 FM (704)
BBC Radio 4 LW (705)
BBC Radio Five Live (706)
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra (707)
BBC 6 Music (708)
BBC 7 (709)
BBC Asian Network (710)
BBC World Service (711)
BBC Radio Scotland (712)
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal (713)
BBC Radio Wales (714)
BBC Radio Cymru (715)
BBC Radio Ulster (716)
BBC London 94.9 (718)

Shopping (800-849)

QVC (800)
Price Drop TV (801)
Bid TV (802)
Pitch TV (803)
JML Lifestyle (810)

Interactive (900-949)
BBCi

Regional (950-999) also accessible via BBC
One/BBC Two
BBC One London (950)
BBC One Channel Islands (951)
BBC One East (W) (954)
BBC One Northern Ireland (957)
BBC One Scotland (960)
BBC One Wales (964)
BBC Two England (968)
BBC Two Northern Ireland (969)
BBC Two Scotland (970)
BBC Two Wales (971)

ITV regionals accessed via ITV1 London (not listed separately)

Ulster
STV Scottish East
STV Scottish West
ITV1 Wales
ITV1 Border England
ITV1 Central West
ITV1 Granada
ITV1 Anglia East
Channel TV
STV Grampian North

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