The Digital Switchover

With the Digital TV switchover already started and finishing in 2012, time is ticking before all TV signals turn digital at which time if you dont have a Digital Freeview box or havent had a Digital Freeview Television Aerial installed you will be unable to continue watching your television!

 

For a digital freeview installation please give us a call: 0800 612 2318

 

The Benefits of the Digital Switchover

 

The transmitters will have their power increased by as much as 20 times. This means that those people who struggled to get a good signal may finally get one. You may not need to rely on your local relay transmitter anymore (if you aerial is vertical you probably get your signal from a relay which may not transmit all the channels. If this is the case call us on 0800 612 2318 and we can fix it for you!). All in all, there will be more channels available with more advanced services such as BBC Interactive.

 

With many new digital tv products and services launched within the last year, theres no wonder there is confusion on which is the best digital tv service to opt for - Sky Freesat, Digital Freeview TV or BBC Freesat.

 

The digital offerings from Freeview, Sky Freesat and BBC Freesat, provide a complete home entertainment tv viewing package, with a number of free digital, and in some cases, free HD (high definition) television channels. There are also a number of digital radio channels available.

However, each digital service is different and provides a different variety of digital tv channels and technology. The table below illustrates each digital service to help you decide which is best for you:

	Freeview TV	Sky Freesat	BBC Freesat
Free Digital TV Channels
Free Digital HD Channels
Free Digital Radio Channels
Free Recording Facilities
Amount of Digital TV Channels	48	240+	140
Amount of Digital Radio Channels	24	90	30
Covergae Within The UK	75%	98%	98%
Equipment Required	Digital Compatible Aerial Digital Freeview TV or Digital Freeview Box	Mini Satellite Dish Standard Sky Receiver Sky Freesat Viewing Card	Mini Satellite Dish BBC Freesat Receiver or Digital TV With Integrated Freesat

As you will see from the table above, the digital service from BBC Freesat, even though it is still relatively new compared to both Sky Freesat and digital Freeview TV, provides a great number of channels with varied entertainment, Freesat+ recording facilities and superb HD (high definition) programming, all free of any monthly subscriptions or contracts.

 

BBC Freesat will also be increasing their channel line up this year to approximately 200 digital tv channels, and some further high definition tv programming.

 

Although Freeview TV does provide the smallest variety of digital channels, as the digital switchover progresses further throughout the United Kingdom, more channels will soon be available, including free high definition also, similar to that on offer from BBC Freesat satellite service.

 

Freeview TV also boasts Freeview+ it's own digital recording service, like Freesat+, allowing the viewer to record their favourite television programmes direct to the Freeview+ set top box.

Sky Freesat does boast the greatest digital channel line up, however, if you want to record your favourite programmes direct to your sky box (sky+), or watch high definition programming (sky hd), you will need to subscribe to a Sky digital entertainment package which will incurr a monthly charge (you will also require a replacement satellite receiver).

 

If you want to receive a good selection of digital channels, be able to record direct from your televiison, and also watch free high definition entertainment, BBC Freesat is the best system suited for you