Introduction to Freeview Terrestrial Digital services

hawkish

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Its confusing isnt it?
Different flavours of freeview services are available - you need to be aware of what type your products come with before you buy to be sure you have what you want


Freeview


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The original service that rose from the ashes of on/itv digital about 7 or 8 years ago. This service is found in most if not all televisions, set top boxes and recorders and is the basic service available. there is up to 50 digital TV channels, 24 radio stations and interactive content. It will not be discontinued in favour of the freeview HD service and will continue indefinatly.

Current channel list details are kept here

Be warned though, if you are unlucky your aerial will be fed by a "repeater" rather than the main "transmitter" meaning you will only recieve a handful of channels - best to ask a local shop or aerial specialist to guage your chances


Simple enough so far so lets make it slightly harder.....


There are third party boxes available that pad up their subscription offerings with the freeview service channels they are:-


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subscription based extra channels on bt vision are
ESPN
SKY sports 1
SKY sports 2
BBC Worldwide
The History Channel
CBS Television Studios
Living TV
The Battlefield Channel
MTV
National Geographic Channel
HBO
Warner Bros.
Adult Swim
Fireworks / Paranormal Media
Discovery Channel
nickelodeon
Cartoon Network
HIT Entertainment
Jetix
Milkshake!
Entertainment Rights.

bt visions television program on demand service
Disney on Demand (Disney Channel VOD, Disney XD VOD and Disney Cinemagic VOD)
Channel 4 on Demand (4oD)
BBC on Demand
Demand Five.
ITV Catch Up

bt visions movies PPV on demand service
DreamWorks
Paramount Pictures
NBC Universal
Lionsgate films
Buena Vista International (Disney)
Walt Disney Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Miramax Films
Pixar Animation Studios
Warner Bros.
Momentum Pictures
Film 4
MGM
Artificial Eye

bt visions music PPV on demand service
Sony BMG
EMI Music
Universal Music
Music Mall
NBD
Planet Rock






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subscription based channel packages on Talk Talk TV are


  • Variety pack (all customers): access to the standard TV and radio channels (including basic Sky channels), seven-day catch up service, pay per view films from Movies Now and Film 4 On Demand, 'taste' of C1 video on demand
  • Entertainment xtra mix: access to an additional fifteen TV channels, additional VOD channels, full access to C1 VOD
  • Music mix: access to 11 interactive On Demand V:MX music channels, additional music channels
  • Kids mix: access to additional children's channels and VOD, 'minimote' (children's television remote control) provided
  • Bollywood and South Asian TV subscription: access to Bollywood movies and music videos on demand, additional channels Zee TV and Sony Entertainment Television Asia
  • Picturebox subscription: access to movies on demand from NBC Universal
  • Disney Cinemagic subscription: access to the Disney Cinemagic channel
  • Sky Movies subscription: access to five Sky Movies channels: (Comedy, Family, Sci-fi and Horror, Classics, Modern Greats)
  • Sky Sports subscription: access to four Sky Sports channels: (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • ESPN subscription: access to two ESPN channels: (ESPN, ESPN America)
  • Chelsea TV subscription: access to the Chelsea TV channel, focusing on Chelsea FC
  • Adult pack - choice of subscriptions to access the following video on demand channels: trade.tv, The Lovers' Guide, Playboy TV, The Adult Channel and Spice Extreme


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subscription based extra channels on Top Up TV are

G.O.L.D.

ESPN UK
Home
Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports 2




Top up TV's on demand service

TCM
BBC Comedy
CBS
G.O.L.D.
Warner TV
BBC Drama
CBS
Syfy Channel
TV Box
US Drama
Warner TV
BBC Factual
Crime & Investigation
National Geographic Channel
History Channel
Home
Boomerang
Cartoon Network
Disney Channel
Nickelodeon
Picturebox Movies






Freeview +

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Freeview + is designed to give personal video recorders and dvd recorders extra features and functions. The name mirrors similar "plus" boxes from sky, virginmedia and btvision

The extra recording features over standard freeview are :-

  • Minimum of eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG)
  • Series link (one timer to record whole series)
  • Record split broadcasted programmes as one programme
  • Offer to record related programme
  • Record alternative showing if there is a time or signal conflict
  • Schedule changes updated in standby
  • Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are recorded based on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled time) - since this is based on signals from the broadcaster, the broadcaster can prevent recording by sending nonsense signals as a form of copy protection, as already happens on music channels. This can be circumvented by specifying a timer recording instead of a programme recording or by routing the player through a traditional VHS recorder.




Freeview HD

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Freeview HD is what most televisions have as standard these days. The service compliments freeview and adds a maximum of 6 extra channels due to bandwith restrictions. 3D broadcasting will be an imposibility on the freeview HD platform.

HD channels on Freeview HD are


  • BBC HD
  • ITV HD /STV HD
  • CHANNEL 4 HD / S4C HD
  • BBC ONE HD (NOVEMBER 2010)

Recorders with Freeview HD service incorporate all the features of Freeview + they have dual tuners as standard to that you can easily upgrade your television to the service
 
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