What is FreeSat?
BBC and ITV, the two main public service broadcasters in the UK, have made their services available digitally through two platforms, digital terrestrial (Freeview) and digital satellite (Sky Digital).
On digital terrestrial, the channels have always been available free of charge with appropriate equipment.
However, Freeview is currently available to only 73% of the population. After digital switch-off, this will increase to 98.5% for the public service channels and 90% for the full Freeview service. In order to provide fuller coverage and a larger number of channels, a digital satellite alternative is necessary.
The digital satellite platform has largely been controlled by the commercial operator BSkyB. Initially, both the BBC's and ITV's channels were encrypted since the original satellites used for Sky Digital broadcast to most of Europe though the broadcasters' rights for premium content such as films and sports typically covered the UK only.
The use of encryption meant that any viewer wishing to view the channels had to purchase equipment from Sky and pay for a free-to-view viewing card in order to decrypt the channels. Similarly, in order to use the Videoguard encryption, the broadcasters needed to pay a fee to NDS.
Free-To-Air
In May 2003, the BBC moved all of their channels onto the Astra 2D satellite which focuses more tightly on the UK. This allowed the BBC to stop encrypting their broadcasts while continuing to meet their licence and copyright obligations.
In September 2005, the BBC and ITV announced that they would collaborate on a free-to-air satellite service to complement Freeview. Two months later, ITV began broadcasting in the clear.
The free-to-air channels could then be received using any standard digital satellite (DVB-S) receiver. However, the Freesat project aims to provide a more managed service with an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), interactive features and approved receivers, similar to the Freeview service. So, although you can get the Freesat programmes on a standard digital satellite receiver you won't get the programme guide and interactive features unless you get a Freesat receiver.
What equipment is required to watch Freesat?
There are two types of FreeSat receiver currently announced — Standard Definition (SD) -only receivers and High Definition (HD) receivers. These receivers will be sold through official retailers such as Argos, Comet, Currys and John Lewis.
You will also require a satellite dish positioned to receive the Astra 2/Eurobird1 group of satellites copositioned at 28° East.
For users who do not currently have a satellite dish, FreeSat offers an installation service which is made available through retailers and which is advertised in a leaflet included with Freesat receivers. If you currently have a Sky dish, this can also be used for Freesat, you could have both services from the same dish by using a Twin dual output LNB.
Freesat HD
Freesat is likely to be the sole free platform for high definition content for the next few years. Currently, no high definition channels are available via digital terrestrial. Ofcom have announced that, after analogue switch-off, they plan to reorganise the Freeview channels ans multiplexes, in order to allow several high definition channels to be added without making available more capacity. However, these plans have drawn widespread criticism for not providing additional capacity, which may lead to unsatisfactory picture quality for both SD and HD channels.
Technical Information
Freesat broadcasts from the same fleet of satellites as Sky Digital, Astra 2A, Astra 2B, Asytra 2C, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1. Channels are broadcast using DVB-S. The Freesat programme guide will be broadcast from the Eurobird 1 satellite situated at 28.5° east.
All the channels broadcasting to date are broadcasting using DVB-S. Standard definition channels are broadcast using MPEG-2 for compatibility with Sky Digital receivers.
BBC HD is broadcast using MPEG-4 since it does not need to be compatible with Sky's non-HD boxes. Currently, BBC HD uses DVB-S since the channel shares a transponder with several Standard Definition channels. It is unknown whether or not this will switch to the newer DVB-S2 used for Sky HD when more HD channels are made available.
Available Channels
This list is growing all the time but as at June 2010 it was:
Tip: You can get your local regional TV channels by programming yout FreeSat receiver with your postcode. This won't work if you just have a generic digital satellite receiver though.
|
