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With the launch of Freesat your choices for digital TV have never been greater. Radio Times answers your questions about what Freesat offers, how it compares to Freeview, whether it really is free - and exactly what TV channels are on it.
What is Freesat?
It's a new, not-for-profit, joint venture set up by the BBC and ITV. It's similar to Freeview, except the 85 free-to-air TV and radio channels are received via a satellite dish rather than a TV aerial. Like Freeview, once you've paid the cost of kit and installation there are no additional charges.
And precisely what equipment will I need?
Most of the leading retailers will be selling Freesat packages, so the options should be clear. But essentially it's a dish, a digital box and connecting leads. Depending on the box you get (see below) the cost of purchase and installation should be between £150 and £250.
So why should I choose Freesat instead of Freeview?
At the moment Freeview can still only reach 73 per cent of the country, a situation that won't improve until full digital switchover in 2012. Channels carried by Freesat will reach all but two per cent of the country.
What channels will I get on Freesat?
The line-up will be largely the same as Freeview, with one significant difference - BBC HD, the BBC's high-definition channel, will also be carried on Freesat, on a non-subscription basis. An ITV HD channel will also be available soon after launch.
Many other channels are hoped to join the service but from launch there are 66 TV channels (including 20 regional BBC and ITV variations), one interactive service and 18 radio stations. Broken down into genres like News, Entertainment and so on, the full launch list is:
Entertainment
BBC1
BBC2
ITV1
Channel 4/S4C in Wales
BBC3
BBC4
BBC HD
ITV2
ITV3
ITV3+1
ITV4
S4C/Channel 4 in Wales
E4
More4
Zone Romantica
Zone Thriller
News & Sport
BBC News
BBC Parliament
S4C2
Al-Jazeera English
Euronews
Movies
Film4
True Movies
True Movies2
Movies4Men
Movies4Men2
Lifestyle
Wedding TV
Overseas Property Channel
Men & Motors
Music
Chartshow TV
The Vault
Scuzz
Bubble Hits
B4U Music
Children
CBBC
CBeebies
CITV
POP
POPGirl
Tiny POP
Special interest
Teachers TV
Radio
BBC Radio 1
1Xtra BBC
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4 FM
BBC Radio 4 LW
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra
BBC 6 Music
BBC7
BBC Asian Network
BBC World Service
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC London 94.9
Shopping
QVC
Price Drop TV
Bid TV
Pitch TV
JML Lifestyle
Gaming & Dating
No services at launch
Interactive
BBCi
Regional
BBC1 London
BBC1 Channel Islands
BBC1 East (W)
BBC1 Northern Ireland
BBC1 Scotland
BBC1 Wales
BBC2 England
BBC2 Northern Ireland
BBC2 Scotland
BBC2 Wales
Ulster
STV Scottish East
STV Scottish West
ITV1 Wales
ITV1 Border England
ITV1 Central West
ITV1 Granada
ITV1 Anglia East
Channel TV
STV Grampian North
Note that Five, Dave and UKTV History are not yet part of the line-up.
And what's HD?
Many of the BBC's biggest shows are now filmed and transmitted in high definition, which produces very high-quality, intense, vibrant, immersive pictures that have up to five times more detail than standard-definition pictures.
The BBC HD channel currently broadcasts for around four hours a night from 8:00pm, with extended hours to embrace live events such as Glastonbury, the Euro 2008 finals, Wimbledon and the Beijing Olympic Games.
So am I not seeing these programmes in high definition through my HD-ready TV?
No. BBC HD is a dedicated channel, and until the launch of Freesat only available to Sky or cable customers. To watch HD, you'll need an HD-ready TV, and the appropriate digital HD box and HDMI cable. To receive the HD channel via Freesat you'll need a HD digital Freesat box and satellite dish. However, if you're not bothered about getting the HD channel, a standard digital box and dish will deliver the other free-to-air channels.
So, will high-definition services ever be available via Freeview?
The BBC Trust has just announced that it hopes to start introducing HD on Freeview, region by region, in about two years' time.
Where can I receive further information?
There's much more from the Radio Times guide to Freesat, including the latest updated version of our acclaimed Digital Guide. Plus the BBC has a dedicated HD site.
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