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Sky Freesat, Freeview HD and HDTV Options

If you are confused over free digital TV choices in the UK, this article will help. In it we compare the various Freesat services from Sky and the BBC to Freeview and Freeview HD, providing help and advice for choosing the right subscription-free digital TV service in the UK, either by satellite or via your existing TV aerial.

Freesat HD

In direct competition with Sky Freesat and the subscription based Sky HD services, the BBC and ITV now jointly offer a Freesat HDTV service, which provides 5 subscription-free High Definition TV channels (HDTV) comprising BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV1 HD, Channel 4 HD and NHK World HD, as well as around 150 free Standard Definition digital TV and radio channels.

Freesat HD offers the best of BBC and ITV programming in HD and is broadcast via the Astra satellite at 28.2E (the same orbital position as used by the Sky Digital platform - making it possible to use an existing Sky dish to receive the new HD service). No viewing card is needed.

To complement Freesat HD, Humax has launched a Freesat+ HD PVR which offers similar features to the Sky+ HD recorder, but without the need for a monthly subscription.

The necessary equipment to receive BBC Freesat HD or Freeview (the UK's terrestrial digital TV service via your aerial), is available online from John Lewis and Currys.

UK Digital TV Comparison Table

Sky Freesat HD
Channels Available 240 TV channels transmitted in Standard Definition (SD). 6 HDTV channels including BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Ch4 HD and Ch5 HD. 85 digital radio channels. Cost and Equipment Required Subject to a £175 one off payment for installation. Sky Freesat requires a Sky Digibox and a Sky Freesat Viewing Card, but has no monthly subscription and no contract after installation and card purchase. Contact Sky on 08442 410 595 for more information. Important Note: A Sky+ HD box is supplied for new Sky Freesat customers which will receive 6 HDTV channels subscription free (including Ch5 HD which is not currently available on Freesat). However to record SD or HD programmes onto the hard disk of the Sky+ HD box requires a £10 a month Sky subscription. Cancel Sky TV Subscription - downgrade to Sky Freesat Alternatively, if you are an existing Sky customer you may be able to cancel your monthly Sky subscription (subject to contract). If you have been with Sky more than 12 months, this usually means giving 31 days notice of cancellation by calling Sky on 08442 414 141. Wait times can be long, so try the equivalent freephone number for Sky which is 0808 101 4437 - if you don't like calling chargeable non-geographic numbers. You will need to be the account holder and you will need your account number or Sky viewing card number. Only the account holder can request Sky cancellation, not his or her partner or spouse. After contract cancellation, any existing Sky viewing card will revert to being a Sky Freesat viewing card at no additional charge, with no monthly subscription payable. The card will then only receive free-to-air satellite channels. Incidentally, do not cancel your direct debit until Sky have processed any refund/s and final payments due on your account. Non Sky TV subscribers with an installed Sky Digibox and minidish will need to pay £25 for a Freesat card (the card last 2 - 3 years then needs replacing by Sky for a further £25 fee). Cards are available from the Freesat from Sky website. Which Free UK TV Channels Need a Freesat Card? Most of the popular free-to-air UK TV channels - BBC1, BBC2, BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4 and Five do not currently require a Sky Freesat viewing card. At the time of writing (January 2010) ITV1 requires a Freesat card, as does Sky3. Both channels display as 'Insert Sky Viewing Card' without a viewing card present. Reception Method Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires minidish for UK reception.

Sky Freesat HD

Channels Available
240 TV channels transmitted in Standard Definition (SD).
6 HDTV channels including BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Ch4 HD and Ch5 HD.
85 digital radio channels.
Cost and Equipment Required
Subject to a £175 one off payment for installation. Sky Freesat requires a Sky Digibox and a Sky Freesat Viewing Card, but has no monthly subscription and no contract after installation and card purchase. Contact Sky on 08442 410 595 for more information.

Important Note: A Sky+ HD box is supplied for new Sky Freesat customers which will receive 6 HDTV channels subscription free (including Ch5 HD which is not currently available on Freesat). However to record SD or HD programmes onto the hard disk of the Sky+ HD box requires a £10 a month Sky subscription.
Cancel Sky TV Subscription - downgrade to Sky Freesat
Alternatively, if you are an existing Sky customer you may be able to cancel your monthly Sky subscription (subject to contract). If you have been with Sky more than 12 months, this usually means giving 31 days notice of cancellation by calling Sky on 08442 414 141. Wait times can be long, so try the equivalent freephone number for Sky which is 0808 101 4437 - if you don't like calling chargeable non-geographic numbers. You will need to be the account holder and you will need your account number or Sky viewing card number.

Only the account holder can request Sky cancellation, not his or her partner or spouse.

After contract cancellation, any existing Sky viewing card will revert to being a Sky Freesat viewing card at no additional charge, with no monthly subscription payable. The card will then only receive free-to-air satellite channels. Incidentally, do not cancel your direct debit until Sky have processed any refund/s and final payments due on your account.

Non Sky TV subscribers with an installed Sky Digibox and minidish will need to pay £25 for a Freesat card (the card last 2 - 3 years then needs replacing by Sky for a further £25 fee). Cards are available from the Freesat from Sky website.
Which Free UK TV Channels Need a Freesat Card?
Most of the popular free-to-air UK TV channels - BBC1, BBC2, BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4 and Five do not currently require a Sky Freesat viewing card. At the time of writing (January 2010) ITV1 requires a Freesat card, as does Sky3. Both channels display as 'Insert Sky Viewing Card' without a viewing card present.
Reception Method
Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires minidish for UK reception.

Freesat HD
Humax HDR-1000S Humax HDR-1000S Freesat HD Recorder Records Freesat standard definition & HDTV progammes Record 2 channels at once 5 Free HD channels Twin digital tuners 1080i HDMI Interface Huge 1TB (1000GB) disk Easy to use. No subscription Requires Minidish at 28.2E Best Price £269.99 Channels Available 150 TV and digital radio channels are provided. Most channels are transmitted in Standard Definition (SD), but Freesat HD also includes 5 High Definition (HDTV) channels - BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and NHK World HD. An HD Ready TV with an HDMI connector is required to get the full benefit when watching HD programming. Cost and Equipment Required The costs are from around £69.95 for a Manhattan Plaza HD-S Freesat Box or around £279 one-off cost for a Humax HDR-1000S Freesat+ Recorder which offers similar functionality to Sky+ HD but without the monthly subscription. Features include being able to pause live TV and record two channels at once, even whilst watching a previous recording. Freesat HD has no monthly subscription or contract and no viewing card is required. Homes with a correctly installed Sky Digital minidish do not require the additional cost installation, however most Freesat HD Recorders (also known as Freesat Plus boxes) require a satellite dish with two coaxial cable feeds in order to simultaneously record two channels. Most Sky dishes can be upgraded by fitting a Quad LNB which are around £7. Choice of Freesat HD Equipment 1. The popular Humax Foxsat HDR has now been superceded by the Humax HDR-1000S which (with its massive 1TB hard disk) offers around 250 hours of HDTV recording. The HDR-1000S provides similar functionality to Sky+ and is priced at around £279, with no subscription costs. It has pause live TV functions and advanced recording capabilities, with five HD channels and 150 SD channels available. 2. John Lewis offer a choice of TV's with Integrated Freesat & Freeview to watch BBC and ITV HD programming without the need for an external set top box and no monthly costs. 3. BBC Freesat retailers include John Lewis, Currys and Argos. Reception Method Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires minidish for UK reception.

Freesat HD

Humax HDR-1000S

Humax HDR-1000S

Freesat HD Recorder

Records Freesat standard definition & HDTV progammes
Record 2 channels at once
5 Free HD channels
Twin digital tuners
1080i HDMI Interface
Huge 1TB (1000GB) disk
Easy to use. No subscription
Requires Minidish at 28.2E

Best Price £269.99

Channels Available
150 TV and digital radio channels are provided.
Most channels are transmitted in Standard Definition (SD), but Freesat HD also includes 5 High Definition (HDTV) channels - BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and NHK World HD. An HD Ready TV with an HDMI connector is required to get the full benefit when watching HD programming.
Cost and Equipment Required
The costs are from around £69.95 for a Manhattan Plaza HD-S Freesat Box or around £279 one-off cost for a Humax HDR-1000S Freesat+ Recorder which offers similar functionality to Sky+ HD but without the monthly subscription. Features include being able to pause live TV and record two channels at once, even whilst watching a previous recording.

Freesat HD has no monthly subscription or contract and no viewing card is required. Homes with a correctly installed Sky Digital minidish do not require the additional cost installation, however most Freesat HD Recorders (also known as Freesat Plus boxes) require a satellite dish with two coaxial cable feeds in order to simultaneously record two channels. Most Sky dishes can be upgraded by fitting a Quad LNB which are around £7.
Choice of Freesat HD Equipment
1. The popular Humax Foxsat HDR has now been superceded by the Humax HDR-1000S which (with its massive 1TB hard disk) offers around 250 hours of HDTV recording. The HDR-1000S provides similar functionality to Sky+ and is priced at around £279, with no subscription costs. It has pause live TV functions and advanced recording capabilities, with five HD channels and 150 SD channels available.
2. John Lewis offer a choice of TV's with Integrated Freesat & Freeview to watch BBC and ITV HD programming without the need for an external set top box and no monthly costs.
3. BBC Freesat retailers include John Lewis, Currys and Argos.
Reception Method
Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires minidish for UK reception.

Sky+ HD
Channels Available Sky HD offers 50 HD TV Channels with Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound. An HD Ready TV with an HDMI connector is required (a flat screen LCD or Plasma model). Access to standard definition Sky TV services is provided with the received channel lineup appropriate to your chosen Sky TV subscription level. Cost and Equipment Required For a limited time Sky are offering a Free Sky+ HD box subject to terms and conditions. An additional £30 set-up charge for existing Sky customers applies. Sky Plus HD is subject to a Sky monthly subscription. Subscription to Sky HD pack required at £10.25 extra per month. A new 12 month Sky contract will be applied, even when a customer chooses a Sky HD upgrade package. Reception Method Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires a minidish for UK reception with a Quad LNB fitted.

Sky+ HD

Channels Available
Sky HD offers 50 HD TV Channels with Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound.
An HD Ready TV with an HDMI connector is required (a flat screen LCD or Plasma model). Access to standard definition Sky TV services is provided with the received channel lineup appropriate to your chosen Sky TV subscription level.
Cost and Equipment Required
For a limited time Sky are offering a Free Sky+ HD box subject to terms and conditions. An additional £30 set-up charge for existing Sky customers applies.
Sky Plus HD is subject to a Sky monthly subscription.
Subscription to Sky HD pack required at £10.25 extra per month. A new 12 month Sky contract will be applied, even when a customer chooses a Sky HD upgrade package.
Reception Method
Via satellite (Astra 28.2E) - requires a minidish for UK reception with a Quad LNB fitted.

Freeview & Freeview HD
Humax HD-FOX T2 Humax Foxsat HDR Freeview HD Set Top Box Receives Freeview HD Services Check HD availability in your region 50 SD Digital TV Channels 24 Radio Stations 1080i HDMI Interface SD Upscaling Easy to use. No Subscription Best Price £130.00 Channels Available Freeview offers around 50 digital TV channels and 24 digital radio channels - all received via your TV aerial. It is limited to Standard Definition (SD) services in most areas of the UK, with only certain TV transmitters currently broadcasting the Freeview HD multiplex. Freeview HD is now available in many places including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow. It will be available in many more areas in the coming months, including Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham and Leeds/Bradford. Freeview recently issued their comprehensive high definition upgrade schedule: More than 20 terrestrial TV transmitters and relays broadcasted the Freeview HD multiplex in time for the Football World Cup in June 2010. The Freeview HD multiplex went live from the Winter Hill and Crystal Palace transmitter on December 2nd, 2009. These transmitters serve Manchester and the north west and the London area. Following this, Glasgow and Edinburgh (Black Hill), Durham and Teeside (Pontop Pike), Birmingham (Lichfield), and south Yorkshire (Emley Moor) were upgraded by Easter 2010. The Freeview HD transmitter upgrade schedule includes most of Wales, the entire Granada region, the Shetlands and Orkneys, and northern Scotland. By the end of 2010, homes in western England and most of Scotland, plus the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, were able to receive Freeview HD through their TV aerial. The rest of the UK will be able to receive Freeview HD as their regions switch to digital in 2011 and 2012. The south of England (including the Hannington TV transmitter) got Freeview HD at Digital Switchover (DSO) in February 2012. Freeview HD offers BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. A set top box compatible with Freeview HD is required - like the Humax HD Fox T2. Cost and Equipment Required The costs are from around £27 - for an Icecrypt T5000 Freeview Receiver with Twin SCART and RF Modulator (receives Standard Definition Freeview programmes only). Freeview Digital TV recorders (or PVR's) are available from around £100. Your TV needs to have a Scart connector to connect the Freeview set top box equipment. Very old TV's may require an external UHF Modulator. Freeview set top boxes are available from John Lewis and Currys. Freeview HD set top boxes are now available, but the service is currently only available in certain areas of the UK. You can check availability in your region at the Freeview HD website. No monthly subscription and no contract applies to any Freeview TV services. Reception Method Reception is via your existing TV aerial (although an aerial upgrade may be needed in some UK locations at additional cost).

Freeview & Freeview HD

Humax HD-FOX T2

Humax Foxsat HDR

Freeview HD Set Top Box

Receives Freeview HD Services
Check HD availability in your region
50 SD Digital TV Channels
24 Radio Stations
1080i HDMI Interface
SD Upscaling
Easy to use. No Subscription

Best Price £130.00

Channels Available
Freeview offers around 50 digital TV channels and 24 digital radio channels - all received via your TV aerial.
It is limited to Standard Definition (SD) services in most areas of the UK, with only certain TV transmitters currently broadcasting the Freeview HD multiplex.
Freeview HD is now available in many places including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow. It will be available in many more areas in the coming months, including Cardiff, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham and Leeds/Bradford.
Freeview recently issued their comprehensive high definition upgrade schedule:

More than 20 terrestrial TV transmitters and relays broadcasted the Freeview HD multiplex in time for the Football World Cup in June 2010.

The Freeview HD multiplex went live from the Winter Hill and Crystal Palace transmitter on December 2nd, 2009. These transmitters serve Manchester and the north west and the London area. Following this, Glasgow and Edinburgh (Black Hill), Durham and Teeside (Pontop Pike), Birmingham (Lichfield), and south Yorkshire (Emley Moor) were upgraded by Easter 2010.

The Freeview HD transmitter upgrade schedule includes most of Wales, the entire Granada region, the Shetlands and Orkneys, and northern Scotland.

By the end of 2010, homes in western England and most of Scotland, plus the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, were able to receive Freeview HD through their TV aerial. The rest of the UK will be able to receive Freeview HD as their regions switch to digital in 2011 and 2012. The south of England (including the Hannington TV transmitter) got Freeview HD at Digital Switchover (DSO) in February 2012.
Freeview HD offers BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. A set top box compatible with Freeview HD is required - like the Humax HD Fox T2.
Cost and Equipment Required
The costs are from around £27 - for an Icecrypt T5000 Freeview Receiver with Twin SCART and RF Modulator (receives Standard Definition Freeview programmes only).
Freeview Digital TV recorders (or PVR's) are available from around £100.
Your TV needs to have a Scart connector to connect the Freeview set top box equipment. Very old TV's may require an external UHF Modulator.
Freeview set top boxes are available from John Lewis and Currys.
Freeview HD set top boxes are now available, but the service is currently only available in certain areas of the UK. You can check availability in your region at the Freeview HD website.
No monthly subscription and no contract applies to any Freeview TV services.

Reception Method
Reception is via your existing TV aerial (although an aerial upgrade may be needed in some UK locations at additional cost).

Compare Free Digital TV Services

To clarify things let's compare the UK's free digital TV services:

Freeview is subscription free digital TV via your aerial requiring a Set Top Box or IDTV (Integrated Digital TV) whereas, by comparison, Sky Freesat and Freesat HD both offer free digital TV channels via a satellite dish. As explained earlier, Sky's Freesat service requires a Sky Digibox and viewing card, whereas Freesat HD requires a Freesat HD box or PVR. Both services provide free-to-air digital satellite TV to UK viewers.

To compare Freesat services, Freesat from Sky still offers more free digital TV and radio channels than Freeview or the BBC / ITV run Freesat service - although it doesn't currently offer any HD TV channels - so you'll have to purchase the subscription based Sky HD service in order to gain access to Sky's 50 HD channels or consider Freesat HD which is the free to view ITV/BBC run service now offering 4 HD channels (BBC1 HD, BBC2 HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD) without a monthly subscription - independent of Sky. Channel 4 joins Freesat in April 2011 too.

So how do the satellite based digital TV services compare to Freeview which is received via your aerial? Well, in comparison, Freeview channel density is limited by the number of available UHF channels for broadcasting the terrestrial digital TV service - so not surprisingly Freeview via your aerial will offer significantly fewer TV channels for the forseeable future until UK Digital Switchover (DSO).

Freesat from Sky and the separate BBC run HD Freesat service, by contrast have access to multiple Astra satellite transponders and are able to offer more channels. Sky Freesat now features around 240 free digital TV channels to your home delivered via a satellite dish. This compares to around 50 free digital TV channels on the DVB-T Freeview TV service via an aerial.

Freeview terrestrial digital TV reception is currently only possible in around 80% of the UK via an conventional aerial, due to the lower power of the digital terrestrial TV service. The new Freeview HD service is also becoming available in more parts of the UK.

Whereas digital TV reception via satellite (including the Sky HD subscription service, Sky Freesat and BBC Freesat) is possible in around 98% of the UK. Around 2% of UK locations, particularly homes in deep valleys or surrounded by tall trees to the south east obstructing the view of the Astra 28.2 satellite, will not be able to receive Sky TV. Visit our Sky TV reception problem page for more help and advice.

Installation Options For Sky Freesat

If you don't have Sky TV already, for a one-off fee you can purchase a Sky Freesat installation for £175 to receive a good choice of free to air digital TV channels, without paying a monthly subscription. Alternatively as an existing Sky TV subscriber, you could cancel your monthly subscription, subject to the conditions of your Sky contract - in which case your existing viewing card will usually be downgraded to a Freesat card at no additional cost. See cancelling your Sky subscription above for help on this topic.

New Sky Installation

To get Freesat from Sky if there is no existing Sky TV box or satellite dish (minidish) installed at your UK address, you will need to buy a new Sky Freesat installation, by calling 08442 410 595. A trained Sky engineer will then fully install a Sky box and minidish at your property and provide a Freesat viewing card for a one time payment (currently £175). After this one off payment, there is currently no monthly Sky subscription for Freesat.

Save Money by Installing Your Own Sky Box

Alternatively, you can buy a second hand Sky box on Amazon (or buy one new) and install it yourself using a suitable satellite alignment meter or get a friend or local Sky installer to install it, then all you need to pay Sky is a one-off payment of £25 for a Sky Freesat card, including service activation.

Note: You may also need to buy a cheap satellite dish alignment meter.

The one off £25 fee for a Sky Freesat card applies even if you have no current Sky subscription at your premises. After this one off payment, you can enjoy the benefits of subscription free digital TV by satellite, whilst saving money on the £146.81 installation charge. And, as previously stated, all Sky Freesat customers pay no monthly subscription!

Sky Freesat Channels

For an up to date list of channels on Freesat from Sky click here.

Sky Freesat has many of the same free digital TV channels as Freeview including popular general entertainment channels: BBC1, BBC2, BBC THREE, BBC FOUR, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, C4 and five. Unfortunately, many of the additional free TV channels on Freesat (which are not available on Freeview) are "special interest channels" many of which feature sales presentations of products and services rather than general entertainment.

When I compare the channels offered, Freeview has more quality music TV channels with HITS and TMF, whereas Freesat from Sky offers CNN (currently unavailable on Freeview) and a much better selection of digital radio channels. Unfortunately having more free digital TV channels than Freeview doesn't necessarily mean higher quality programming!

Free to Air TV Channels

You will need a viewing card to view certain channels on Sky Digital. Currently these include Channel 4, Five, Five Life, Five US and Sky Three - but the list may vary in the future.

BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4 and ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 are all free to air channels and can be watched without a viewing card (with a Sky Digibox and a correctly aligned satellite dish of the recommended size). Please refer to our article Sky Digital reception in Europe for more information.

BBC Freesat HD TV Service

The BBC and ITV have joined together to offer the UK's first HD TV service via digital satellite. To see what's on visit the BBC TV Guide and ITV1 TV Guide for more details.

To receive Freesat HD TV you'll need an Freesat HD digital set top box which you'll need to connect to your existing Sky TV dish (as the HDTV service uses the same satellite). If you haven't got a Sky dish on your property, you'll need to get a local CAI installer to fit one at a cost of around £80 or buy a satellite dish alignment meter to undertake installation yourself.

It's worth noting that by changing the LNB on your existing Sky dish you can still enjoy subscription channels from Sky Digital as well as having access to Freesat HD TV. A Quad LNB allows up to 4 digital receivers (whether they are Sky Digital or Freesat) to be fed from one dish via separate coaxial cables. An LNB upgrade may mean your dish needs re-aligning slightly as quad LNB's are slightly heavier than single LNB so the dish elevation can be affected.

You can buy a Freesat HD box from John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Comet online. Prices start from around £120 for the HDTV compatible set top boxes, with standard definition (SD) boxes from £40. For around £230 the Humax Foxsat HDR allows the recording of Freesat HD programmes as well as standard definition services as well as the ability to pause live TV.

To make the BBC Freesat HD service even more attractive, Panasonic manufactures the an integrated Freesat HDTV (the Panasonic Viera PZ81 IDTV series) making HDTV reception possible via satellite without the use of an external digital set top box.

More information on the BBC Freesat HD TV service is available on the official Freesat HDTV website.

Disclaimer

All information on this page to compare Freeview HD, Sky HD, Sky Freesat and BBC Freesat HD TV is provided in good faith and all help and advice is provided to the best of our ability. Digital TV channels, packages and services are all subject to continual amendment and hence we offer no guarantee concerning the accuracy of information contained in this guide.

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