Digital TV News

Sales of Freeview HD exceed 3 million

Friday 28 October, 2011

By Anthony Hill

The UK’s biggest digital TV service is now enjoyed in high definition (HD) by millions of households across Great Britain.

Freeview has sold around 3.1 million Freeview HD devices nationwide since the premium service launched in March 2010.

Ilse Howling, managing director of Freeview, said breaking through the three million sales barrier was a “huge achievement” for the company.

“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 since Freeview launched in 2002.

“Our focus now is to ensure we continue to develop and give viewers what they want over the next 10 years, post-switchover and beyond,” she added.

Around 70 million Freeview products have been sold throughout the UK since the subscription-free digital TV service was established, with one in five Freeview homes now watching programmes in HD.

Freeview HD currently offers four HD channels, BBC One HD, BBC HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. A fifth station is expected to launch in April 2012.

Ms Howling went on to say there is currently a “shift” in what television viewers want from their digital TV provider.

“The ability to access HD has become something people expect as normal when buying a new television. Also, most Freeview HD TVs and some Freeview+ HD recorders now offer smart features, giving viewers access to more entertainment such as BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Facebook,” she explained.

Currently around 80% of the UK can enjoy Freeview HD, though the service will be available everywhere when the digital switchover is completed next October.

This week, a brand new Freeview HD TV guide app was released for Apple iPad, iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to plan their viewing in advance and save their favourite shows to receive recommendations tailored to their preferences.