Today sees the launch of the BBC and ITV English regions on Freesat, plus ITV2+1 and Pitch TV .
When you retune, if you enter an English postcode when you set up your Freesat box, you will now get the correct BBC One and ITV-1 region in the 101 and 103 positions.
The BBC has commenced DVB-T2 test transmissions in preparation for the launch of high definition services on Freeview.
The tests, which are being conducted from the Guildford transmitter, follows the approval by the DVB Project of the DVB-T2 specification, an improved version of the DVB-T standard currently used for digital terrestrial transmissions in the UK designed to increase capacity and thus permit the carriage of high definition services on the platform.
Plans announced in April by broadcasting regulator Ofcom will see multiplex B cleared of its current standard definition services, converted to use the DVB-T2 standard to increase its total capacity, and used for the carriage of BBC HD and other public service broadcasting offerings by the end of 2009.
BBC Research and Innovation is conducting the test transmissions in partnership with National Grid Wireless and Arqiva. It is also developing a modem compliant with the newly-ratified DVB-T2 standard.
Justin Mitchell, who leads the DVB-T2 modem development team for BBC Research and Innovation, said:
“We are delighted that our team in collaboration with our partners has been able to deliver such a key piece of technology in such a short timescale. This is a big step forward in enabling the introduction of full HD terrestrial on Freeview by the end of 2009.”
Here is a comprehensive list of Free-To-Air channels that are available on Freesat as of the launch.
Entertainment (101-199)
BBC One (101)
BBC Two (102)
ITV1 (103)
C4 / S4C in Wales (104)
BBC Three (106)
BBC Four (107)
BBC HD (108)
ITV2 (113)
ITV3 (115)
ITV3+1 (116)
ITV4 (117)
S4C Digidol / C4 in Wales (120)
E4 (122)
More4 (124)
Zone Romantica (135)
Zone Thriller (137)
Freesat, the UK’s latest package of free-to-air TV channels, transmitted from a satellite, has now gone live, allowing comsumers access to standard-definition and HD (high-definition) broadcasting for a single, one-off payment.
Freesat is brought to us by BBC and ITV and currently features a package of over 80 digital channels, including some HD channels (although we are promised more soon!).
Freesat’s Highlights:-
Over 80 digital TV and radio channels
HD TV programmes subscription-free
No contract, no subscription, just a one-off payment
Available to almost every home in the UK
Although Freesat is available to buy now through many retailers such as Argos, Currys & John Lewis, the choice of equipment is currently limited. We will be doing a full article with lots more information soon.
Today sees the launch of the BBC and ITV English regions on Freesat, plus ITV2+1 and Pitch TV .
The BBC has commenced DVB-T2 test transmissions in preparation for the launch of high definition services on Freeview.