Digital TV Guides

Freeview HD

Updated: Wednesday 4 April, 2012

By Editorial

Looking for high-definition channels without a costly subscription or monthly fees? If you live in an area that can receive it, Freeview HD may be right for you.

Freeview (www.freeview.co.uk) is one of two subscription-free TV services being rolled out across the UK, helping the country to switch to digital. If you haven’t already, read our guide to Freeview to find out more about the service and when it’ll be available to you.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a high-definition (HD) TV service, Freeview now offers a subscription-free option - making it ideal for anyone that doesn’t want to fork out loads for HD channels. Because HD TV offers you a better television viewing experience, with clearer pictures and sounds, it is now in more than 24 million homes* around the UK. Read our guide to decide if Freeview HD would suit you…

What is Freeview HD?

Freeview HD was first rolled-out to homes in London, Liverpool and Manchester in December 2009.

Following the initial launch, the service is being steadily rolled out across the UK, with all homes around the country expected to receive the high-definition broadcasts by the time the digital switchover finishes in 2012.

As well as giving you up to 50 standard definition digital channels and radio stations, Freeview HD will also give you access to some subscription-free HD channels, providing they are available in your area.

You will only be able to watch programmes in high-definition on Freeview HD if you have a high-definition enabled set-top box connected to a HD ready TV, or an integrated HD TV.

Freeview HD hardware

If you’re considering Freeview HD, you will have to upgrade your digital TV hardware to receive the service. There are two options if you want to watch Freeview HD:

1. Freeview HD set-top boxes - If you already have an HD ready TV, you’ll need a new set-top box. There is a range of Freeview HD set-top boxes and Freeview+HD boxes available. Prices vary, but you can now pick up a HD box for less than £100.
2. HD ready TV with built-in Freeview - If you’re in the market for a new TV, or don’t want another box stacked under your television, shop around for a television set with a built-in Freeview HD tuner. Again, prices vary depending on the size of the screen and the manufacturer, but are typically around £800.

Both set-top boxes and integrated TVs are available from retailers such as John Lewis, Argos and Currys. Check out the table below to see how Freeview HD boxes compare against the HD hardware from Sky and Virgin Media:

FREE Sky+HD box* + FREE set-up from £12.50 a month + 1/2 price HD for 6 months	FREE V HD box (£49.95 set-up) £26.50 a month** + FREE HD TV	FREE V HD box (£49.95 set-up) £7.00 a month** + FREE HD TV	from £99.99**** (aerial required) no monthly subscription
Over 60 HD channels	Over 30 HD channels	5 HD channels	4 HD channels
Pause and rewind "live" TV	Pause and rewind "live" TV
Record 2 programmes at once	Record 2 programmes at once + watch a 3rd
Record series automatically	Record series automatically
£25 Marks and Spencer voucher (Online only)	FREE catch-up TV with the BBC iPlayer and more	FREE catch-up TV with the BBC iPlayer and more
Visit sky.com or call 08442 410582	Visit virginmedia.com	Visit virginmedia.com	Buy at johnlewis.com

* For new and existing customers taking their first Sky+HD package. Get up to 60 HD channels with addtional Sky HD packs. ** + a Virgin Phone line for £13.90 a month. *** + a Virgin Phone line for £13.90 a month. **** Prices sourced from freeview.co.uk. HD box capabilities vary across manufacturers. Higher prices may apply for recorder and catch-up capabilities.

Freeview HD coverage

By June 2010, over 50% of British homes could already receive the HD service from Freeview. Other areas in the UK will be able to get Freeview HD as its being rolled-out with the digital switchover. For details on when your area will switch to Freeview HD, read our guide to Freeview coverage.

You can find out whether you already have HD coverage using our HD postcode checker and if not, you can see when HD is due to become available in your area.

Freeview HD channels

Because Freeview doesn’t have the luxury of the bandwidth available to competing digital services, such as Sky and Virgin Media, the number of high-definition channels is limited. The HD channels from on Freeview HD are:

• BBC HD - The channel shows top BBC programmes such as Hustle, The Royle Family and Silent Witness in high-definition
• ITV1 HD - ITV1 HD is a high-definition simulcast of ITV, showing a range of entertainment programmes, like Coronation Street, X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, to millions of viewers
• 4 HD - The HD simulcast of Channel 4 brings you a variety of entertainment programmes, including Desperate Housewives, Deal or No Deal and Shameless, in all the close-up detail of high-definition.

The channels available to you with Freeview will depend on where you live, so it’s important you do a postcode check first - you don’t want to buy a HD set-top box only to find that your area will not receive the free-to-view HD channels until 2012.

Is Freeview HD right for me?

One of the main attractions of Freeview HD is that once you’ve paid for the equipment, whether it’s a set-top box or an integrated Freeview TV, there are no ongoing monthly subscription charges for HD.

Sky and Virgin Media both have monthly costs attached for HD content, however offer a much wider variety of channels - so if you’re looking for something for all the family, it may be worth considering a HD service from either digital TV provider.

If you’d rather not pay a monthly subscription and you don’t live in an area that can receive Freeview HD, there is another option - Freesat. Freesat is the satellite TV service from the BBC and ITV. Although it currently only carries the BBC HD and ITV HD channels, Freesat HD has the advantage that it already provides almost complete UK coverage and potentially has the capacity to carry far more HD channels than Freeview. Set-top boxes and Freesat integrated TVs are also cheaper than Freeview HD products.

Digitalchoices.co.uk recommends comparing digital TV packages before signing up - a subscription TV service may not be as expensive as you think, and there’s also the option to bundle your broadband and home phone with Sky and Virgin Media.

* Ofcom, August 2010