Digital TV News

Freeview HD sales pass 4.4 million in 2011

Tuesday 14 February, 2012

By Anthony Hill

High-definition, subscription-free service in millions of UK homes.

Freeview, the UK's biggest digital TV service, has confirmed that following strong quarterly sales of 1.3 million Freeview HD televisions and boxes, the number of high-definition (HD) Freeview units sold reached 4.4 million by the end of 2011.

According to BARB, which compiles British TV ratings, two million homes are actively using the service, which launched just 18 months ago. Freeview also reports that of the 2.6 million “smart” internet-connected TVs sold to date across the UK, more than 80% are Freeview HD televisions.

Viewers can access four HD channels - BBC One HD, The BBC HD Channel, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD - as well as up to 50 standard definition channels. Connected to the internet, it offers a world of additional entertainment, such as BBC iPlayer, YouTube and film rental service LOVEFiLM.

Ilse Howling, managing director of Freeview, said: “Television remains an incredibly important part of people’s lives and Freeview has continued to provide the most-loved programmes in the format people want without the need to pay for a subscription.

“Our focus now is to ensure we continue to evolve the service and give viewers what they want over the next 10 years.”

At present, around 81% of the UK can receive a Freeview HD signal. By the time the Olympic Games arrive in London this summer, this will have jumped to 85% and the whole country will be able to get it when the digital switchover completes in October.

The number of UK homes with Freeview on their main TV is currently 10.6 million.