Digital TV Providers

Freesat

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

If your household hasn’t already made the switch to digital, Freesat is an option for those that don’t want to sign up to a monthly contract. But is it right for you? (Written 23/9/09).

By 2012, every analogue TV signal in the UK will have been switched off and replaced by a digital TV signal, so consumers have some important decisions to make when deciding which digital TV service to take, and which supplier they want. Freesat is a subscription-free satellite digital TV service. Read below for more information…

• What is Freesat?
• How do I get Freesat?
• How much does Freesat cost?
• Is Freesat right for me?

What is Freesat?

Freesat is a satellite TV service that offers every household in the UK the opportunity to watch digital TV without having to sign-up or pay for a monthly subscription. Similar to the service from Freeview, Freesat customers only have to pay a one-off charge for the equipment to receive the service. However, unlike Freeview, where the quality of the picture and choice of channels you’ll get are dependent on your postcode, Freesat offers every customer the same viewing experience.

It offers over 140 different TV, radio and interactive channels, including high-definition (HD) services from the BBC and ITV. All the existing mainstream channels such as BBC1 and ITV come as standard with Freesat.

Freesat is a not-for-profit joint venture between the BBC and ITV.

How do I get Freesat?

Getting Freesat is simple and set-up is easy. As Freesat is a satellite TV service, a satellite dish is required but viewers can use an existing dish if they already have one from a previous service such as Sky, or they can have one installed for around £80.

Freesat digiboxes are available either online or in-store, at retailers like Argos, Currys and Comet.

How much does Freesat cost?

With Freesat, there are different options to suit a variety of needs:

• Standard-definition (SD) digital box - Costs from £48.89, providing over 140 digital TV channels and services
• High-definition (HD) digital box - Costs from around £69, providing over 140 channels, plus HD from the BBC and ITV
• Freesat+ HD digital television recorder - Costs from around £249.94, allowing viewers to pause, rewind and record both SD and HD programming
• Integrated digital TV (IDTV) - Costs from £489.95, a flat screen television with HD Freesat built in.

Is Freesat right for me?

If you’re looking for a digital TV service that offers a better picture and channel choice than Freeview, but doesn’t tie you in to a monthly contract, then Freesat is probably the best option for you.

However, if you’re looking for more channels, including channels with films and sport, you may be better signing up to a subscription service like Sky or Virgin Media.

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