Digital TV Providers

Free-to-view digital TV

Updated: Wednesday 4 April, 2012

By Editorial

With a free-to-view digital TV service you won’t have to commit to a contract or pay any monthly subscription - but you will get more channels than you will with free-to-air digital TV.

With a free-to-view service you won’t be restricted to just the main digital terrestrial channels because you don’t want to pay a monthly subscription. Here’s our simple guide to free-to-view digital TV.

What is free-to-view?

Free-to-air channels are channels that are available to anyone with a digital set-top box. The difference between free-to-air and free-to-view channels is that the latter can be watched free of charge and do not require a subscription fee, but they are encrypted, so can only be accessed by certain digital TV services or in certain areas.

So, while you can access only free-to-air channels via Freeview, you can access both free-to-air and free-to-view channels via a service like Freesat or Freesat from Sky.

A range of free-to-view channels are also supplied by pay-TV providers like BT Vision (www.btvision.bt.com) and Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com). However, access to free-to-view channels with these providers often comes via a subscription service that you will have to pay for, even though you won’t be paying for the free-to-view channels themselves.

Depending on the provider you choose, you can have anything from the 100-plus channels available from Freesat, up to the 240-plus channels available from Freesat from Sky.

You may also get access to on-demand movies or a catch-up TV depending on the provider you choose and the hardware you are supplied with.

Why should I get free-to-view?

Because when the analogue TV signal is turned off, you will have to switch to digital if you want to carry on watching TV. This means it is going to cost you whatever digital TV option you choose, but going for free-to-view will increase the range of channels you have to choose from once the digital switchover is complete.

Free-to-view digital TV will allow you to carry on watching your favourite channels, but in greater clarity, as well as giving you access to an ever-growing selection of digital-only channels, radio stations and high-definition channels.

When will my area switch to digital?

The digital switchover began in 2008 and will end in October 2012. The switchover is being done region by region, so when you switch will depend on where you live in the UK. For a general idea of when your area is due to switch, or whether it already has, check the digital TV switchover dates. For exact dates, enter your postcode on the Digital UK website - this is the organisation overseeing the digital switchover.

What do I need for free-to-view?

Depending on the digital TV provider you choose, you will need to invest in some new receiving equipment to watch free-to-view. However, the cost of the equipment and its installation is often included in the price of the package. Your options are:

Freesat - This is similar to Freeview as it requires a set-top box, albeit a Freesat one. However as programmes are transmitted via satellite rather than via TV aerial as with Freeview, you will also need to have a satellite dish installed. This can be done by an engineer for a fee, but if you live in a rented or listed property get the green light to do so before going ahead with it.

Freesat from Sky - The ultimate free-to-view experience with Sky comes with over 240 channels and the option to upgrade to any Sky package at any time without any more hardware having to be installed. Installation of a Sky mini-dish and set-top box is included in the price of the package.

BT Vision - BT Vision is a pay-TV service, meaning you will have to commit to a contract and pay a monthly subscription as well as an activation fee if you opt for it. However, as well as offering BT broadband customers the standard Freeview channels, it also provides up to 40 extra channels, depending on where you live, as well as a TV catch-up service and a Vision+ digital box, which allows them to pause, rewind and record live TV. It also offers you the option of subscribing to premium channels such as Sky Sports and on-demand films.

Virgin Media - As with BT Vision, this package is a pay-TV service, so an installation fee, contract and monthly cost all apply. The entry-level Virgin Media TV package offers the regular Freeview channels, plus 25 extra channels. Users also get a V HD box, which provides access to Virgin TV On Demand. Virgin Media TV subscribers can also add premium channels like Sky Sports and Sky Movies to their package for an additional monthly fee..

How much does free-to-view cost?

Again, this depends on which service you choose. The best way of choosing which is best for you is by comparing packages.

If you want to get Freesat then you’ll have to make a one-off payment for the set-top box, but may have to pay more for installation and connection. There is also the cost of the satellite dish to take into account.

If you go for Freesat from Sky, you’ll pay a fair bit more in terms of a one-off payment, but it truly is a one-off payment as it includes the Sky HD box, mini-dish, viewing card and installation and, of course, there are no monthly payments after that.

BT Vision and Virgin Media TV are by far the most expensive ways of accessing free-to-view TV as they involve not just a monthly subscription, but also an activation or installation fee and committing to a lengthy contract. To subscribe to BT Vision you must have a BT landline and be a BT broadband customer, while to get Virgin Media TV you will need to take a landline from the provider too.