Freeview
How to get Freeview
One of the simplest ways to receive digital TV is by purchasing a
Freeview receiver. Digital receivers, often called set-top boxes are
available in a variety of forms from a number of retailers. The most
basic Freeview set-top box will provide you with over 40 of the free-to-air
digital terrestrial (DTT) channels as well as 20 digital radio stations,
and will come with a basic EPG, which will give you information on
the broadcast you are currently watching, and what is coming up next.
More advanced Freeview set-top boxes come with enhanced EPGs which
can be programmed to record any upcoming programme, whilst others
allow you to pause, rewind and record broadcasts in a similar manner
to the Sky+ box and the V+
service from Virgin Media.
As the Freeview service provides access to what is the standard DTT
channels, this also means that everything you can get on Freeview
can also be viewed on any of the other pay-TV formats, in the same
way that the standard terrestrial channels were available on the old
analogue satellite and cable TV platforms. So customers subscribing
to Sky, Virgin
Media and BT Vision will also be able
to receive the Freeview channels through their respective set-top
boxes.
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Where to buy Freeview
Freeview is available from electrical stores (large and small), department
stores and supermarkets. You may find that some products (especially
large digital TVs) are only available from electrical retailers.
Select your Freeview retailer below and view their latest offers:
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How to get Freeview
One of the simplest ways to receive digital TV is by purchasing
a Freeview receiver. Digital receivers, often called set-top boxes
are available in a variety of forms from a number of retailers.
The most basic Freeview set-top box will provide you with over
40 of the free-to-air digital terrestrial (DTT) channels as well
as 20 digital radio stations, and will come with a basic EPG,
which will give you information on the broadcast you are currently
watching, and what is coming up next.
More advanced Freeview set-top boxes come with enhanced EPGs
which can be programmed to record any upcoming programme, whilst
others allow you to pause, rewind and record broadcasts in a similar
manner to the Sky+ box and the V+
service from Virgin Media.
As the Freeview service provides access to what is the standard
DTT channels, this also means that everything you can get on Freeview
can also be viewed on any of the other pay-TV formats, in the
same way that the standard terrestrial channels were available
on the old analogue satellite and cable TV platforms. So customers
subscribing to Sky, Virgin
Media, Top-Up TV Anytime and BT
Vision will also be able to receive the Freeview channels
through their respective set-top boxes.
Freeview Retail Outlets
Freeview set-top boxes and Digital TV's with built-in Freeview are available
from a number of electrical retail outletss online.
Choose your retailer from the list below.
About Freeview
Freeview, launched in 2002, has become one of the most popular consumer choices for digital TV reception, and is currently available to nearly three-quarters of the UK population.
Freeview is a non-subscription free digital TV service that receives broadcasts through your existing rooftop aerial instead of a fibre-optic cable or satellite dish. Freeview currently offers 40 digital television channels, including Film 4, E4, BBC Three, and Sky News, and also 20 DAB digital radio stations, including Kerrang! Radio, Q, Magic, as well as all the main BBC Radio stations.
The main advantage of signing up for a Freeview service is that after the one-off purchase price of a set-top box, there are no additional fees; no set-up cost, no monthly bill for subscription. All Freeview boxes furnish viewers with a basic on-screen service which provides information (programme titles, start and finishing times, etc) for the current show and for the following programme.
The types of Freeview digital receiver vary greatly, ranging from the most basic set-top boxes offering no-frills standard access to all the channels for as little as £30, to more costly twin-tuner DVR models that enables users to pause, rewind and record live TV as well as record from one channel whilst watching programmes on others. Some set-top boxes feature enhanced programme information and interactive broadcasting schedules that allow viewers to set their DVR up to record programmes to the hard drive as you would with a standard VCR. These more advanced receivers can cost from anywhere from £100 to £300 depending on the functions on offer.