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New television service offers free 80-channel HDTV

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Published Date: 07 May 2008
A DIGITAL satellite television service from ITV and the BBC launched across Britain yesterday, offering high-definition (HD) programming and more than 80 channels for no monthly fee.
The service, called Freesat, will be available in 98 per cent of households, as Britain continues the process of switching off the analogue signal in favour of digital.

The broadcasters also hope the addition of HD channels on a free-to-air service will increase interest in HD programming.

The transition to HDTV has been called a landmark for the industry. It had only been available to those with pay-per-view satellite or cable packages from BSkyB and Virgin Media. The hugely popular Freeview digital service plans to carry HD channels from 2009 or 2010.

Set-top HD box prices will start from £120, plus installation costs. The channels initially available will be from the BBC, including BBC HD, ITV, Channel 4, Al-Jazeera English and digital radio.

The ITV HD channel will launch exclusively on Freesat shortly.





The full article contains 175 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 06 May 2008 10:05 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Tedz,

South of the border 07/05/2008 02:18:56
Funny this - not so long ago ITV were complaining about the increasing figure of BBC's advertising income. ITV have gone strangely quiet now and it is clear why that has happened...

The Barrow analogue switch off went 60% SKY and 40% Freeview. If that were repeated nationally (and it is likely that SKY wil increase that %age with aggressive marketing) then most of ITV's advertising revenue would be via SKY - so ITV's income would be dependent on their main competitor!

So, that's why this "partnership" is being hurried through. Remember how we were told that it was originally going to be about 2010 before the BBC got its HD head together?

Amazing what the prospect of a near SKY monopoly can do to timescales. But, does this mean that ITV will be getting an indirect subsidy through the BBC? I'd love to see the figures...
2

Guga II,

Rockall 07/05/2008 03:09:42
Does this mean that we are all supposed to rush out and spend more money so that we can get a larger selection of garbage and repeats in High Definition?

Pass.
3

Boy Wonder,

07/05/2008 10:20:30
There's so much crap on TV I'm thinking of getting rid of mine altogether ... if the wimmin of the house will let me!

I can still watch what I want to watch on computer, can't I?
4

hertscot,

07/05/2008 12:09:12
80 channels and there'll still be buggerall to watch!
5

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 07/05/2008 12:09:54
I have more than 80 channels on my "digital bundle" here in Canada (not in HD, I will pass on that) and there are not enough hours in the day to watch all the interesting programming what with reading, work, bicycling, walking the dog, doing research, etc., etc.

I think I will contact my cable provider and get a less elaborate bundle.

NOBODY needs 80 or more channels to choose from unless you are unemployed, brain-dead, illiterate, or just have to have EVERYTHING>
6

John Blackley,

Florida 07/05/2008 19:23:13
I'd be a little more impressed with this announcement if there were some detail included on what those channels are and what programs they're likely to show.

Regular BBC channels I'd watch. All religion all the time I wouldn't watch. Movie channels I'd watch. All soap-opera all the time I wouldn't.

And, #5 TimW1234, I don't need to insult others to justify my own choices.

 

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