Digital TV News

Freesat is now in 600,000 homes

Thursday 17 September, 2009

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Digital satellite TV service Freesat has sold 200,000 digiboxes over the summer, boosting to the number of Freesat households to 600,000.

Freesat - a subscription-free satellite digital TV service provided by the BBC and ITV - has boosted its sales figures by 50%, from 400,000 in May to 600,000 this month.

The service offers satellite TV without a monthly contract, for the one-off cost of a digibox and installation of a satellite dish. It can be received with an existing satellite dish, or a dish can be installed for around £80.

Managing director at Freesat, Emma Scott, said: “To achieve this level of sales and viewing in such a short space of time is a fantastic achievement and testament to the ever-growing appeal of Freesat, both to consumers and broadcasters.”

Freesat is a joint venture of the BBC and ITV, launched in May 2008. It is an option for households unable to receive Freeview (www.freeview.co.uk) and will help the government make digital TV available to the whole of the UK following the digital switchover, which will be completed by 2012.

Freeview has become the biggest service offering digital TV, with over 18 million households.

Freesat offers 140 TV, radio and interactive channels, as well as 70 hours of peak time high-definition (HD) programmes from ITV and the BBC.

Freesat is also in talks with the BBC about launching the BBC iPlayer on its service, making it the first free-to-view service offering the on-demand platform.