Digital TV News

First Freeview HD set-top boxes go on sale

Monday 15 February, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

The wait for subscription-free HD is over, as high-definition Freeview set-top boxes go on sale across the UK today.

Freeview (www.freeview.co.uk) has launched its first high-definition (HD) set-top box, the Humax HD-FOX T2, letting households watch programmes in HD without the need for a subscription to a digital TV provider.

The Freeview HD box went on sale on Saturday 13 February exclusively at John Lewis’ flagship store on Oxford Street, but it is now available from other retailers across the UK.

Freeview, the free-to-view digital TV service, will give viewers access to four HD channels from the public service broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, as well as up to 50 channels in standard definition.

John Kempner, John Lewis’ vision buyer, said: “Our customers are early adopters of the latest technology and we expect the arrival of Freeview HD and the new Humax HD-FOX T2 to be very popular.”

He added: “All of our TVs are now HD ready and this new technology allows customers to get the best picture quality from their TV with a one-off payment.”

Customers will only be able to watch high-definition programmes through Freeview if they have a HD ready TV connected to the set-top box with a HDMI cable. To see if Freeview HD is available in your area, enter your postcode on the Freeview website.

Jon Ingram, operations director at Digitalchoices.co.uk, said: “The launch of Freeview HD is great news; however households looking for more HD channels with a wider variety of programmes should consider a subscription TV service.”

He added: “Sky currently offers 38 high-definition channels, while cable TV provider Virgin Media now had eight channels available at no extra cost to its Size XL TV customers. Use our postcode checker to find a digital TV service that suits you.”

How to get high-definition TV