Freeview Summary

Freeview is the UK’s free-to-air digital TV service, offering a selection of channels that are available without any subscription.  These include the original analogue channels BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as other channels broadcasting a range of entertainment.  You can watch Freeview using a Freeview box, connected to your home aerial.

All you need to get Freeview is a Freeview set-top box, a functioning aerial in your home and a TV.  Many TVs now come with a Freeview receiver built into the hardware, but if you need to buy a box you will find that they cost very little and are available from various supermarkets and high street tech shops.

A Freeview set-top box plugs into your TV via a SCART lead, and this usually comes with the box.  There are different boxes to choose from, and they can include pause, rewind and record functions, as well as HD capability, meaning that you can watch in stunning high definition.

Freeview Services

Freeview+HD gives you control of your TV viewing with the option to pause, rewind or record live TV.  This means you don’t have to miss anything, and you can go back and watch the best bits.  There are no tapes or disks needed to record your favourite TV shows, because the Freeview+HD box has a hard drive for storing programmes.  There is no subscription needed, so you only pay for the Freeview box and nothing else.  If your TV programme or movie is split because of a news broadcast, the box will work this out and record both parts.  Freeview+HD also offers an on-screen guide so you can plan ahead with your viewing.

With Freeview+HD you also get high definition viewing; as long as you have an HD-ready TV, then Freeview+HD gives you all the free-to-air HD channels, meaning that you can watch TV shows with enhanced sound and stunning picture quality.  Freeview+HD also includes the Green Button function, so when a trailer for a programme airs on TV you can press the green button to set the episode, or the whole series, to record.  With Freeview+HD, there is still no subscription fee at any time.

As long as you have twin tuners, which come with all Freeview+HD products, you can also record two shows at a time, so no more need to worry about programme clashes – watch one now, watch one later.

Freeview Channels

Freeview is made up of all the free-to-air channels available in your area, which means you could get up to 50 digital channels and over 20 digital radio stations.  These channels include the big five of BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as the popular sister stations such as BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2 and E4.  You also get the free-to-air plus one (+1) channels, such as Channel 4+1.

Film fans can enjoy classic and modern cinema of different genres spanning decades of moviemaking with Film4, and Dave offers a range of entertainment focusing on comedy.  There is plenty to choose from, and no subscription to pay, and with Freeview+HD you can watch the free-to-air high definition channels for crisp, clear and enhanced picture quality.

Freeview also offers an on demand service, available through Smart TV services.  Many of the Freeview integrated TVs have the Smart services built in, so you can watch BBC iPlayer, and in some cases LOVEFiLM and YouTube, for catch-up content, movies and videos.

Freeview Packages

Freeview is a subscription-free service, replacing analogue TV in the UK.  Since it is essentially the UK’s free-to-air digital TV service, there are no packages to compare.  It is a single service with a set of digital channels in standard definition, and a few in high definition, plus some digital radio stations.  You can buy integrated Freeview HD TVs to get an all-in-one combo, or simply get a Freeview set-top box and connect to your TV.  Some of the integrated TVs are built with Smart TV services, so you can watch BBC iPlayer for on demand BBC catch-up content.  Some Smart TVs also allow access to YouTube and LOVEFiLM for web videos and movies on demand.

If you wanted to have the Freeview channels with more on demand content and the option of premium channels like Sky Sports, you might want to consider BT Vision.  If you want even more channels, more HD channels and a range of on demand movies and exclusive live sport, then check out Sky deals or offers on Virgin Media packages.

Freeview Boxes

Freeview+ HD

• HD-ready

• Pause and rewind

• Record live TV

• On-screen guide

• On demand Smart TV (selected models)

Freeview+

• Pause and rewind live TV

• Record favourite programmes

• On-screen guide

• Different models available

Freeview HD

Freeview

Digital TV Guides

What is HD?

High definition TV offers viewers enhanced picture and sound quality, improving the whole experience and making movies, sport and TV much more vivid and crisp. Read our detailed guide about HD TV.

What is Digital TV?

Digital TV broadcasts images and sound through a digital transmission, which is an enhanced, more efficient way to send a TV signal. Read more about digital TV, the benefits and subscription services.

Types of Digital TV

Digital TV can be broadcast in different ways, such as via satellite or fibre-optic cable. This short guide will tell you more about each method of digital TV signal broadcast, and the relevant providers.

The Digital Switchover

The Digital Switchover is shutting down the analogue signal throughout the UK, changing all TV services to digital. Our guide tells you about the process, benefits, cost, TV boxes and what you have to do.

What is On Demand TV?

Catch-up with your favourite TV shows, access classic archived sport and watch brand new film releases with on demand TV. You can browse libraries of content, and at the touch of a button whenever you like.

Other Providers