FREESAT

'Freesat' is a BBC-owned trademark for free to air digital satellite television services targeting the UK. It is used as a tradename by two, differing systems, one of which is not purely free-to-air. Both of these systems draw or will draw their signals from the SES Astra/Eutelsat owned Astra 2 and Eurobird satellites located at 28.2 and 28.5 degrees east of south respectively. The service will be available for a one off payment and include a set top box and Installation.

Contents

BBC/ITV Freesat

Channel 4

See also

References

External links

BBC/ITV Freesat

The BBC and ITV first revealed in September 2005 that they were working on a free-to-air (FTA) satellite service to complement Freeview.^[1] The BBC went free-to-air on digital satellite in 2003, with ITV moving their remaining Videoguard encrypted channels over on 1 November 2005. Since then, viewers have been able to pick up the signals using any commercial DVB-S decoder. For widespread adoption, a more managed platform is required to provide an electronic programme guide and interactive television features.
The BBC initially planned to launch such a platform in early 2006 but this was put back first to Autumn 2007 and later to Spring 2008. On 27 April 2007 the BBC Trust approved the BBC's plans for ''Freesat''.^[2]
The technical details of the platform have yet to be announced. However, the platform will include support for HDTV and DVR recording features. Boxes will initially be provided by Alba plc, Humax, Panasonic and Sagem.
Some channels that are available on Freeview, such as Sky Three, Five and Sky Sports News will be absent from the ''Freesat'' line-up unless the channels renegotiate their carriage deal and go free-to-air.

Channel 4

Channel 4 have expressed interest in joining the BBC and ITV in promoting and jointly operating ''Freesat''. Channel 4 has an exclusive deal with BSkyB which means its channels (except Film4 and Film4+1) are encrypted until 2008 but stated that "under the Communications Act we would expect to become subject to obligations to ensure the availability of the core channel on all satellite platforms, which would require that Channel 4 was available on Freesat".^[3]

See also

★ Freeview

★ Free to air

★ Free to view

★ Freesat from Sky

References

1. BBC and ITV to start Sky TV rival
2.
3. Channel 4 expresses freesat interest

External links

★ BBC News: Q&A on Freesat

★ BBC News: Free satellite service war begins

★ Freesat information at Astra 2D