HDTV For Free

In the the Spring of 2008 , the BBC and ITV will launch a joint venture to bring High Definition TV to UK for free. The service is provisionally known as Freesat and is a satellite service that will broadcast both Standard definition and High Definition channels. The service is being introduced partly as a result of Ofcom’s decision to sell off the the highest bidder the broadcast bandwidth freed up by the switch-over from analogue, which would inevitably lead to more pay per view TV. A free satellite service also has the advantage of bringing digital and HDTV signals to areas where freeview is currently unavailable or has a weak signal.

The service will launch with with around 200 channels and consumers have the choice of a standard or a high definition receiver, as well being able to choose a Hard disk recorder similar to SkyHD or the Virgin V+ boxes. As well as ITV and BBC the door is open for other broadcasters to join the venture, so the future looks bright for free HDTV after all, so long as the receivers aren’t too expensive.