HD
productions
including
Planet
Earth
will be
available
on the
service
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A free-to-view
satellite television
and radio service
from the BBC and ITV
is being launched
across the UK.
Freesat is available
to 98% of homes,
including those that
are unable to
receive Freeview
through a TV aerial.
Freesat will carry
80 digital TV and
radio channels,
including free high
definition
programmes, with
that number due to
rise to 200 by the
end of 2008.
Users will make a
one-off payment for
a dish, set-top box
and installation,
but will not pay a
monthly
subscription.
The price of a box
will start at £49,
rising to £120 for a
high-definition (HD)
version. The cost of
installation,
including the
satellite dish, will
be a further £80.
The BBC, ITV and
Channel 4's digital
services will
feature on Freesat,
with news and
children's channels
among the others on
offer.
The BBC's HD channel
will appear on the
service immediately,
while ITV HD will
launch soon.
ITV executive
chairman Michael
Grade called Freesat
"the final piece in
the digital jigsaw
that will ensure
that all viewers in
the UK have access
to free-to-air
digital and high
definition TV".
BBC director general
Mark Thompson said:
"All the BBC's
digital channels,
including BBC HD,
will now be
available to all
licence fee payers
wherever they live
and however they
choose to access
them."
Emma Scott from
Freesat told BBC
Radio 5 Live: "It's
only homes that
really don't have a
clear line of sight
to the satellite
that can't get it,
or certain listed
buildings.
"But unlike Freeview,
you can receive
Freesat across the
country, which means
that in those areas
that at the moment
can't get access to
free digital
television this is
the first time that
you can get free
digital TV."
HD boost
The BBC's media
correspondent Torin
Douglas said the BBC
and ITV were hoping
the new service
would also increase
interest in high
definition
television.
It is thought that
around 10 million
homes in the UK now
have a television
set capable of
carrying HD, but
most do not have a
receiver or
subscription.
Mr Grade said ITV's
HD service would
launch "with an
unrivalled line-up
of premium
football".
The BBC Trust has
said Freesat is
guaranteed to remain
subscription-free.
Set-top boxes will
be available from
high street
retailers, who will
also arrange
installation.
Sky already offers a
service that is also
free to view once
the equipment has
been bought.
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