Quick provider guide
Soon we’ll all have to switch to digital in order to carry on watching our favourite programmes. Here’s a quick breakdown of each digital TV provider to help you make your choice.
Freeview
Freeview is the cheapest way to go digital. You can make the switch simply by buying a set-top box or if you need a new TV you could get a digital integrated television which has Freeview built in. basic set-top boxes start at around only £20 allowing you to go digital for next to nothing.
So, if you don’t want to sign up to a year-long contract but still want the extras you get with digital terrestrial television then Freeview could be for you. You can also add Top Up TV for extra channels or Setanta if you’re a sports fan. Click here to read more about Boosting your Freeview.
Click here to read more about Freeview, or visit the Freeview website at www.Freeview.co.uk
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Top Up TV
If you want Freeview but feel that you need a few more viewing options then Top Up TV might be just what you need. You’ll get a Top Up TV+ set-top box that gives you access to all the normal Freeview channels as well as over 600 programmes a month.
The Top Up TV+ set-top box also acts as a digital recorder letting you record, pause and even rewind “live” TV as well as offering parental controls. The Top Up TV+ set-top box costs £99.99 and then you just pay £9.99 a month with no annual contract.
Click here to read more about Top Up TV, or visit the Top Up TV website at www.TopUp.tv
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Setanta Sports
Setanta is another add-on that can be used to boost your Freeview channels or even a package from BT Vision, Sky, Tiscali TV or Virgin Media. Setanta has broken Sky’s monopoly on the Premier League for the first time in 13 years and will be showing 46 live matches this season as well as golf, basketball, horse racing and other football coverage.
It costs £9.99 a month with no annual contract or can be bought as part of promotional deals with BT Vision, Tiscali TV or Virgin Media.
Click here to read more about Setanta, or visit the Setanta website at www.Setanta.com
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BT Vision
Customers wanting to sign up to BT Vision will first have to be BT Total Broadband customers. If you’re not already a BT Broadband customer you can sign up by clicking here.
Once you have BT Broadband, and have paid the installation cost, basic BT Vision is a free service allowing you to access all of the Freeview programming available in your area but with the added flexibility of being able to purchase pay-per-view programming when and how you want to watch. Customers can also add subscription packages on a month-by-month basis starting at £4 a month. This means that you could add the Kid’s package over the summer holidays or the Sport package over the football season.
Click here to read more about BT Vision, or visit the BT Vision website at www.BTVision.bt.com
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Sky
Sky is a recognised name in the subscription TV market and offers digital TV in a range of packages. Sky channels are separated into “mixes” and you can opt for a combination of any two, four or six mixes and then choose to add on Sky Movies or Sky Sports if you want even more. Subscription packages start from £16 a month for one mix, going up by £1 for each additional mix you add.
Sky also offers freesat - digital TV that is free-to-view but offers a bigger range of channels. All subscription customers also get access to the 200 freesat channels as well as their chosen mixes. Freesat is available for a one-off cost of £150 for equipment and installation and customers can upgrade to a subscription from Sky at any time.
Sky customers can bundle their digital TV with broadband and home phone to save on the overall cost.
Click here to read more about Sky, or visit the Sky website at www.Sky.com
Or click here to read more about freesat from Sky, or visit the freesat website at www.FreesatfromSky.com
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Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers digital TV packages in three different sizes; Size:M, Size:L and Size:XL and customers can choose to add Sky Movies or Sky Sports to their package too. XL customers even get Setanta thrown in for free. Digital TV costs from £11 a month for the Size:M home phone package - all customers then get Size:M digital TV at no extra charge.
All of the digital TV packages have to be taken along with a Virgin Media home phone line but can also be bundled with broadband and even your mobile phone.
Click here to read more about Virgin Media, or visit the Virgin Media website at www.VirginMedia.com
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Tiscali TV
Tiscali TV is currently only available in select areas - those that were previously covered by HomeChoice - but for those who are covered by the Tiscali TV network it is an extremely competitive option. Those served by a BT exchange that has been unbundled by Tiscali can get digital TV, broadband, home phone and their line rental all for only £19.99.
Tiscali TV offers basic digital TV which customers can then add extra services to, including a Movie package with 28 movies each month for £5, music packages and kid’s packages as well as more select packages such as Sony TV Asia and the Chelsea Football channel.
Click here to read more about Tiscali TV, or visit the Tiscali TV website at www.Tiscali.co.uk
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