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Freeview is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the United Kingdom. The service was launched at 5am on 30 October 2002 and is jointly operated by its five equal shareholders – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and transmitter operator Arqiva. This article documents the history of the Freeview service, from its inception up to the present.

2002[edit]

Best Answer: is there anything like freeview, in the united states? All full power over-the-air broadcasts in the US are digital. 'Freeview' is just the term used in the UK for digital over -the-air TV broadcasts. However the broadcast standard in the UK is different than the one used in North America. Freeview is the free digital television service in Australia. Freeview brings you all your existing favourite TV channels, plus extra TV channels, for free! Skip navigation.

Following the collapse of ITV Digital, the Independent Television Commission re-advertised the licenses for the three multiplexes (MUX B, C and D) that had been used by ITV Digital. On 16 August 2002 the licenses were granted to members of the Freeview consortium, with BBC getting multiplex B and Crown Castle getting multiplexes C and D.[1]

Although all pay channels had been closed down on ITV Digital, many free-to-air channels continued broadcasting, including the five analogue channels, the digital BBC channels, ITV2, the ITN News Channel, S4C2, TV Travel Shop and QVC.[2]

Freeview launched on 30 October 2002 at 5am. Sky Travel, UK History, Sky News, Sky Sports News, The Hits and TMF were available on the launch, however many channels originally available have since been removed. BBC Four and the interactive BBC streams were moved to multiplex B.[3] Under the initial plans, the two multiplexes operated by Crown Castle would carry eight channels altogether.

If this happens viewers are advised to do a retune of their YouView box to ensure they receive the correct channels. If the issues continues we recommend contacting the Freeview Support Line on 0808 100 0288 for more help. I've always wondered how many channels the USA of have on terrestrial tv?! Also have they got the same type of service as freeview? Or is it more like freesat?cable? I'd love to know how adv.they're tech.is, cos i've never been there or been told! Ratings: +36. All freeview PVR's are designed to work with Digital Terrestrial TV, that is a digital signal sent to your aerial, I don't believe the US broadcast digital on the regular aerial's due the predominance of cable and satellite. I'm 99% sure a freeview PVR bought over here would not work in the US.

Freeview gives you more choice of the best TV absolutely free. Catch up on your favourite shows in the comfort of your lounge room with Freeview Plus or stream live TV on the go with the Freeview FV mobile app.

2003[edit]

In February 2003 BBC Three replaced BBC Choice, which since February the previous year had no longer contained children's programming, as the job was fulfilled by the CBBC and CBeebies channels.

The seventh stream became shared by UK Bright Ideas and Ftn which launched in February 2003. The eighth stream was left unused until April 2004 when the shopping channel Ideal World launched on Freeview. There are now 13 streams carried by the two multiplex, with Multiplex C carrying 5 streams, and Multiplex D carrying 8.

2004[edit]

Pay television returned to the terrestrial platform in March 2004 when Top Up TV launched. The BBC and Crown Castle multiplexes were at the time not allowed to broadcast pay channels, so the new service broadcast on multiplex A and Channel 4's half of multiplex 2.[4] The autumn of 2004 saw the launch of two new free-to-air entertainment channels; ABC1 in September and ITV3 in November. ITV3 was the replacement for Plus on platforms other than Freeview.

2005[edit]

In early 2005, two new channel streams became available on the two Crown Castle multiplexes. ITV and Channel 4 won one stream each. ITV used their channel to broadcast Men & Motors. Channel 4's entertainment channel E4 had up until this time been broadcast as part of the Top Up TV package, and at this time it was decided that E4 would be made free-to-air, as well as being available on Freeview along with E4 +1 which was launched at the same time in the newly acquired stream. They also launched a live stream of the Big Brother house, which was later replaced by quiz channel Quiz Call.[citation needed]

In the autumn of 2005 Channel 4 and ITV joined the Freeview consortium. They also launched two new channels, More4 and ITV4, respectively. Sky replaced Sky Travel with the broader entertainment channel Sky Three.[citation needed]

Another stream became available on the Crown Castle multiplexes. Channel 4 won the bidding for this stream, which reportedly reached £12 million per year.[5] The space was initially used to broadcast More4 +1.

The ITV News Channel had seen its broadcasting hours reduced to daytime after the launch of ITV4. It stopped broadcasting on 23 December 2005 at 6pm and the space was taken over by CITV in March 2006.[citation needed]

2006[edit]

ITV Play was launched in April 2006, and Men & Motors was taken off Freeview to make way for this to happen. FilmFour ceased its subscription service in mid-2006. Also, at the same time, it launched on Freeview and changed its name on all platforms to Film4, and introduced commercials during films for the first time. It also reduced its broadcasting hours to 12:45 – 08:45 so National Lottery Extra and Gems TV could launch. On Freeview, it replaced More4 +1, although the space was briefly used for Big Brother coverage before it was launched on Freeview.

Five had bought a stake in the company behind the Top Up TV service, and in the autumn of 2006 it was restructured into a video on demand service. This made space for Five to launch two new channels in October, which were Five Life and Five US (now known as 5* and 5 USA respectively).[6][7]

Quiz Call was sold in November 2006, however because the deal did not include the Freeview slot it meant it had to close down. The space was then used by Film4 +1.[citation needed]

2007[edit]

ITV Play stopped programs in the early hours of 6 March 2007. Originally, it was to return later in March, but it was decided it would close down for good, with it being removed from the EPG on 16 March 2007. The slot got reused for a one-hour timeshift of ITV2, ITV2 +1, shortly afterwards.[8]

Channel 4 replaced Film4 +1 with Channel 4 +1 in August 2007.[9]Disney decided to leave Freeview and unexpectedly closed down ABC1 shortly after midday on 26 September 2007, days before it was supposed to close down on 1 October 2007.[10]

Ftn was replaced by Virgin1, UKTV Bright Ideas was closed down, UKTV History had its broadcasting hours restricted to daytime and UKTV G2 was launched on Freeview under the new name Dave.[11]

Additionally, in December 2007, the Jewellery Channel was made available on Freeview on channel 44.

2008[edit]

CITV eventually moved into ABC1's old space, allowing ITV4 to broadcast 24/7. Because the slot that CITV moved into would interfere with S4C if available in Wales, it means that CITV can now only be received using Freeview in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. CITV continues to be available in Wales on all other platforms.[12]

The Jewellery Channel was removed in May 2008 because the broadcast license was not renewed, and was replaced by a second stream of Gems TV, which was referred to inside the EPG as 'GEMSTV1'.

The Hits was renamed 4Music in August 2008.[13]

2009[edit]

In January 2009, price-drop tv was replaced by Quest, gambling service Super Casino launched in new space on the SDN multiplex, Turner channel Nuts TV was closed and replaced with four-hours of news channel CNN International, and Arqiva announced that their latest new channel slot had been sold to UKTV who now use it to broadcast Dave ja vu (originally Dave +1, and is a one-hour timeshift of Dave). Then, Russia Today TV announced that they were going to broadcast for a small amount of time during the day, timesharing with Dave +1. Also, January saw NETPLAY TV launch on channel 49, timesharing with Super Casino on 48. This shows Rocks&Co and various JML presentations throughout the day. Finally, Directgov launched on channel 106.[citation needed]

Quest, was due to launch on Channel 47 on 14 May. Following the broadcast of a preview loop from 7am, the channel launch was suspended at 10am by its channel owners, who stated that the channel would be delayed until later in the year due 'to a number of commercial factors'.[citation needed] The channel successfully launched on 30 September 2009.

After Quest was launched, Film4 broadcast hours were extended to 9:45am to 8:45am (although films were only broadcast between 11am and around 4am), as Gems TV changed its schedule to broadcast during Quest's downtime (between 1am and 11am). Film4 now, instead of closing down in downtime hours, instead broadcasts teleshopping or an animated caption stating it will return at 11am. Around the same time, Gems TV ceased its second stream and was replaced by extended coverage of CNN.

On 20 May Virgin1 went 24 hours on Freeview, with a timeshifted version of the channel on channel 35 between 6pm and 6am. However, it was, later in the year, reduced back to 9am to 7pm in Wales and to 7am to 3am for the rest of the UK, allowing Tease Me TV to launch.[14]

On 15 July 2009, quiz channel Big Deal launched on channel 37 between 10pm and 5am, timesharing with Create and Craft and Russia Today.[citation needed]

Freeview underwent a major multiplex re-configuration on 30 September 2009, which required all Freeview users to retune.[15] This cleared multiplex B (aka PSB3 aka BBCB) to run in DVB-T2 mode, and moved all BBC television and radio services to multiplex PSB1 (BBCA) in post-DSO areas. Five moved to multiplex 2/PSB2/D3+4, swapping with ITV3 which ended up on multiplex A/COM4/SDN. ITV4 moved to Multiplex D/COM6 swapping with ITV2 +1, which ended up on Multiplex 2/PSB2 (in ITV plc areas ITV2 +1 moved to LCN 33 in anticipation that it would become ITV1 +1).[16] 18 million households were required to retune their television sets on or after midday on 30 September.[15] The changes lead to several hundred complaints from people who had lost channels as a result of retuning their equipment.[17]

To make room for the HD channels, the number of interactive BBC streams was reduced from 4 to 2 in pre-DSO areas and 1 in post-DSO areas, and the Community Channel became inaccessible to post-DSO areas. However, as the Community Channel later switched multiplexes from B to C, it was restored to post-DSO areas.

Freeview HD started broadcasting on 2 December 2009, when BBC HD and ITV HD started transmission to parts of the country.[18]

2010[edit]

In February 2010 National Lottery Extra ceased to exist. The channel was replaced by extended coverage of Film4, which became 24/7 once the channel stopped, but continued to show just teleshopping and animated captions between around 4am and 11am.

Channel 4 HD joined the platform on 30 March 2010.[19] A few days later, on 2 April, ITV1 HD launched as a standard channel on all platforms. The high-definition version of S4C, Clirlun, launched on 30 April 2010.

Five HD was originally planned to be the fourth HD channel to launch on Freeview. But in March, it was revealed that Five HD would not be launching in 2010. The other applicant, Film4 HD, was also unable to launch. The commercial public service broadcasters will be able apply to the launch of another HD service in 2012, when a fifth HD stream is expected to become available.[20]

The fourth HD channel slot was automatically given to the BBC, who, on 28 May, announced that they intended to use the space to launch a high-definition simulcast of BBC One in the autumn.[21]

During June 2010, 4TVInteractive ceased broadcasting on the platform on channel 300. It was used to provide up to 14 days worth of EPG data to compatible receivers between 3am and 4am. Receivers which relied solely on this data and are not compatible with the standard 8-day EPG requirement for products with digital tick are no longer able to provide advance EPG data.

On 1 July 2010, Al-Jazeera English launched on the platform[22] and Russia Today extended its hours to broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

During August 2010, Sky Sports 1 and 2 were made available on digital terrestrial television via BT Vision and Top Up TV.

On 23 August 2010, Sky Sports News was removed from the platform due to it becoming a pay TV channel. The slot was then reused for a 1-hour timeshift of Sky3, called Sky3 +1.

On Friday 3 September 2010, Virgin1 changed their name to Channel One. This was because its new owner, Sky, was not entitled to use the Virgin name in their channels.

On the midnight after 13 November 2010, CNN International was removed from Freeview.

On 30 November 2010, S4C2 was removed from Freeview, for this being because its live coverage from the National Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh show would be more heavily featured on the main S4C channel. It ceased broadcasting on all remaining platforms on 6 December 2010.

2011[edit]

ITV launched their timeshift channel for ITV1 which is called ITV1 +1 on 11 January 2011. To make way for the timeshift, ITV2 +1 no longer broadcast for 24 hours a day and changed its hours to 7pm to 6am. However, ITV2 +1 restored its 24/7 status on 2 August 2011 as a new eleventh stream became available on the multiplex.

Channel One began to leave Freeview across the country, starting with Wales on 31 January 2011 at 7pm and finishing with the rest of the country on 1 February 2011 at 3am. On the other platforms, Channel One continued until 1 February 2011 at 6am with its one-hour timeshift, Channel One +1, ceasing broadcasts at 7am the same day. On Freeview, the slot was used to launch Challenge. Challenge launched at 9am the day Channel One stopped broadcasting.

Sky3 & Sky3 +1 became Pick TV & Pick TV +1 at 6am on 28 February 2011.

The Scottish Gaelic channel BBC Alba was launched in Scotland on 8 June 2011, replacing TeleG, which had been on channel 8 in Scotland from the launch of Freeview. To make room for the launch, all radio stations owned by BBC (except BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 6 Music) now only operate between midnight and 5pm (6pm on weekends). However, the radio stations are only affected when watching in Scotland via Freeview.

Gems TV stopped timesharing with Quest on 30 June 2011, as a new stream became available on the multiplex.

Freeview Tv Usa

Food Network launched on channel 49 on 7 July 2011, broadcasting between 6pm and 10pm.[23]

Really launched on channel 20 on 2 August at 10am, reducing Dave ja vu to a two-hour service between 2am and4am.[24]

Pick TV +1 closed on channel 44 on 20 September 2011 at 2pm. This allowed all channels owned by Sky to be on multiplex C as well as Challenge to go 24 hours in Wales.

On 21 September 2011, the Jewellery Channel was restored to Freeview, this time being on channel 60. The channel replaced Challenge's old slot on multiplex A.

In October 2011, Daystar silently closed on channel 47. The channel however continues to broadcast on other platforms.

2012[edit]

Movies4Men, Movies4Men +1, Movies4Men2 and Movies4Men 2 +1 all closed in January 2012 on the local multiplex that broadcasts in Manchester. Movies4Men 2 and Movies4Men 2 +1 closed themselves in May of that year. Movies4Men and Movies4Men +1 returned in 2014.

4seven launched on channel 47 with a placeholder channel on 2 April 2012 in post-switchover areas, and officially launched on 4 July 2012.

2013[edit]

BBC Two HD launched on 19 February on channel 102 replacing BBC HD

Drama launched on 8 July on channel 20 replacing GOLD which moved to channel 26. This then caused the previous channel 26 station Home to be moved to new channel number 54. This also caused Dave ja vu to reduce its broadcast hours

Film4 moved to multiplex 2, making the channel more widely available in the UK

Travel Channel launched on channel 42 with limited broadcast hours of 6pm to 10pm.

True Entertainment launched on channel 61, making it the first CSC Media Group channel to launch on the platform

Pay TV provider Top Up TV closed on 31 October after 9 years of providing extra pay TV content. Most Top Up TV set top boxes will still be able to receive Freeview channels

In July 2013 Ofcom announced that they would make some of the spectrum freed up from the analogue switchover to launch two additional terrestrial multiplexes that could carry ten high-definition channels. The BBC subsequently announced that it would launch high-definition versions of BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC News, CBBC and CBeebies.[25] All these channels launched on 10 December 2013, with BBC Three and CBBC using vacant capacity on BBC's existing multiplex, while the others used the new capacity.

One other HD channel, Al Jazeera English, had launched in November, also using the new multiplexes.

2014[edit]

Channel 5 +24 launched on 4 February on channel 55. Between 7pm and midnight, it broadcasts the previous day's Channel 5 schedule.

Freeview Tv Usa

Movies4Men returned to Freeview nationwide. It had previously been Manchester only.

Pop launched on 20 March 2014, making the it the 4th children's channel (other than HD Channels) to launch on Freeview.

Shop at Bid and Price Drop closed on 17 April 2014, with the channels being removed from the EPG on 25 April 2014.

On 8 May 2014, Chart Show TV launched, but timeshares with Pop meaning it is night-time only. This arrangement was short-lived as Chart Show TV is now only available on the Manchester Stream. Pop became a 24/7 channel in the process.

2015[edit]

On 12 February 2015, Freeview changed its logo.[citation needed]

2016[edit]

BBC Three closed down on 31 March 2016. It had carried promotional information regarding the online-only service of the same name from 16 February 2016. However, due to the closure of BBC Three, some channels on Freeview moved to channel 7 or 8, depending on their locations.

2017[edit]

On 15 March 2017, Tiny Pop moved to the local TV multiplex meaning that cities with no local TV channel on either channels 7 or 8 no longer could access the channel.

CBS Action gained a timeshift channel on channel 90 which meant that CBS Drama had to move multiplexes so that the timeshift channel could broadcast. It moved from the COM7 multiplex to the COM6 one.

Quest Red launched on Freeview channel 38. Quest+1 moved to 92 only being 3 hours a day (5am – 8am).

Colors HD launched on COM8. TJC Choice launched on channel 93 on 22 March.

BT Showcase went defunct on 9 May, being replaced by BT Showcase HD at COM8.

On 30 August 2017, Kix was rename Pop Max, with no signs of change for programmes.

2018[edit]

On the third of January, True Christmas reverted to True Movies.Eight days later, Together launched as a placeholder service. Also, two BBC HD channels (BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD) moved multiplexes from COM7 to COM8. VIVA left Freeview as it became MTV OMG , a pay-tv channel. This also meant that 5USA+1 extended its hours.On the second of February, 5Spike+1 launched as a placeholder service, lasting 2 hours a day. The Vault moved multiplexes becoming Manchester only.

References[edit]

  1. ^Mary Debrett (2010). Reinventing Public Service Television for the Digital Future. Intellect Books. pp. 48–. ISBN978-1-84150-321-9.
  2. ^'UK DTT Channel List (free-to-view including yr2002 dtt trials)'. Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  3. ^'UK DTT Channel List (Freeview)'. Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  4. ^'UK DTT Channel List (Freeview/Top Up TV)'. Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  5. ^'Confirmed: Channel 4 wins new Freeview slot'. digital Spy. 28 November 2005.
  6. ^Lovelace Consulting (21 November 2005). 'Five buys stake in Top Up TV – DTG News'. Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  7. ^'Five launches Two New Channels'. Broadcast Now. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  8. ^Lovelace Consulting (14 March 2007). 'ITV Play closes down, replaced by ITV2+1 – DTG News'. Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  9. ^'Freeview Press Release on the launch of Channel4+1'. Freeview.co.uk. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  10. ^Lovelace Consulting. 'DTG News Item – Disney to axe ABC1'. Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  11. ^Joanne Oatts (20 September 2007). 'UKTV G2 becomes Dave, Joins Freeview'. Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  12. ^'Round the clock broadcasts for ITV4'. Digital Spy. 7 February 2008.
  13. ^'The Hits becomes 4Music – Digital Spy News'. Digitalspy.co.uk. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  14. ^'Digital TV – News – Virgin1 to go 24 hours on Freeview – Digital Spy'. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  15. ^ ab'18m Freeview homes in TV retune'. BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  16. ^[Freeview – Remember to Retune http://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Press/Freeview-launches-Remember-to-Retune-campaign]
  17. ^'Complaints over Freeview retune'. BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  18. ^'Freeview HD begins UK transmissions'. Digital Spy. 2 December 2009.
  19. ^'Channel 4 HD launches on Freeview HD'. Digital Spy. 30 March 2010.
  20. ^'Digital TV – News – No Five HD on Freeview before 2012'. Digital Spy. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  21. ^'BBC One HD to launch in autumn'. Digital Spy. 28 May 2010.
  22. ^Sweney, Mark (30 June 2010). 'Al-Jazeera English to launch on Freeview'. London: mediaguardian.co.uk.
  23. ^Food Network UK launches on Freeview channel 49 on 7 July 2011 – Freeview.co.uk
  24. ^Really launches on Freeview channel 20 and replaces Dave Ja Vu on 2 August 2011 – Freeview.co.uk
  25. ^'BBC to launch five new HD channels'. BBC News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Freeview_UK&oldid=892513790'
Freeview
Joint venture
IndustryTelevision broadcasting
Founded2002
Headquarters
London
,
Area served
United Kingdom
Guy North (Managing Director)
ProductsEquipment to receive free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels
OwnersArqiva
BBC
ITV plc
Channel Four Television Corporation
Sky
ParentDTV Services Ltd
Websitewww.freeview.co.uk

Freeview is the United Kingdom's digital terrestrial television platform. It is operated by DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. It was launched in 2002,[1] taking over the licence from ITV Digital which collapsed that year. The service provides consumer access via an aerial to the six DTT multiplexes covering the United Kingdom. In April 2014 it had some 60 TV channels, 26 digital radio channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streamed channels, and one interactive channel.[2][3][4] A number of new HD channels launched in 2014,[5][6] from a new group of multiplexes awarded to Arqiva.[7] The new HD channels were launched in selected areas on 10 December 2013 with a further roll-out during 2014.

Freeview Tv App

DTV Services' delivery of standard-definition television and radio is labelled Freeview, while its delivery of HDTV is called Freeview HD. Reception of Freeview requires a Freeview tuner, either in a separate set-top box or built into the TV set. Since 2008 all new TV sets sold in the United Kingdom have a built-in Freeview tuner.[8] Freeview HD requires a HDTV-capable tuner. Digital video recorders (DVRs) with a built-in Freeview tuner are labelled Freeview+. Depending on model, DVRs and HDTV sets with a Freeview tuner may offer standard Freeview or Freeview HD.

The technical specification for Freeview is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital TV in the UK which also provide the test and conformance regime for Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview HD products. DMOL (DTT Multiplex Operators Ltd.), a company owned by the operators of the six DTT multiplexes (BBC, ITV, C4, and Arqiva) is responsible for technical platform management and policy, including the electronic programme guide and channel numbering.[9]

Since the completion of the digital switch-over on 24 October 2012, there is no terrestrial analogue television being broadcast in the United Kingdom, and all broadcast terrestrial TV is delivered through digital terrestrial television.

  • 1History
  • 3Reception equipment
  • 4Services
    • 4.2Freeview HD

History[edit]

Logo used from 2006 to 2015

Freeview officially launched on 30 October 2002 at 5 am, when the BBC and Crown Castle (now Arqiva) officially took over the digital terrestrial television (DTT) licences to broadcast on the three multiplexes from the defunct ITV Digital. The founding members of DTV Services, who trade as Freeview, were the BBC, Crown Castle UK (now part of Arqiva) and British Sky Broadcasting. On 11 October 2006, ITV plc and Channel 4 became equal shareholders. Since then, the Freeview model has been copied in Australia and New Zealand.

Although all pay channels had been closed down on ITV Digital, many free-to-air channels continued broadcasting, including the five analogue channels and digital channels such as ITV2, ITN News Channel, S4C2, TV Travel Shop and QVC.[10] With the launch of Freeview other channels were broadcast free-to-air, such as: Sky Travel, UK History, Sky News, Sky Sports News, The Hits (now 4Music) and TMF (now Viva) were available from the start. BBC Four and the interactive BBC streams were moved to multiplex B.[11] Under the initial plans, the two multiplexes operated by Crown Castle would carry eight channels altogether. The seventh stream became shared by UK Bright Ideas and Ftn which launched in February 2003. The eighth stream was left unused until April 2004 when the shopping channel Ideal World launched on Freeview. There are now 14 streams carried by the two multiplexes, with Multiplex C carrying 6 streams, and Multiplex D carrying 8. It has recently[when?] been announced that more streams are now available on the multiplexes, and that bidding is under way.[citation needed]

2009 retune[edit]

The Freeview service underwent a major upgrade on 30 September 2009, which required 18 million households to retune their Freeview receiving equipment.[12] The changes, meant to ensure proper reception of Channel 5, led to several thousand complaints from people who lost channels (notably ITV3 and ITV4) as a result of retuning their equipment. The Freeview website crashed and the call centre was inundated as a result of the problems. The change involved an update to the NIT (Network Information Table), which some receivers could not accommodate. Many thousands of people could not receive some channels. This included 460,000 fed from relay stations who lost access to ITV3 and ITV4. Updates were broadcast to enable firmware changes, but in some cases the receiver must be left on and receiving broadcasts to accept the updates; not everyone was aware of this.[13][14]

2014 retune[edit]

The Freeview service underwent a major upgrade on 3 September 2014 which required 18 million households to retune their Freeview receiving equipment.[15][16][17][18][19] The changes included a reshuffle of the Children's, News, and Interactive genres.

Channels[edit]

The Freeview service broadcasts free-to-air television channels, radio stations and interactive services from the existing public service broadcasters. Channels on the service include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 terrestrial channels, as well as their digital services. In addition, channels from other commercial operators, such as Sky and UKTV, are available, as well as radio services from a number of broadcasters.

The full range of channels broadcast via digital terrestrial television includes some pay television services such as BoxNation and Racing UK. These channels, although available only to subscribers with appropriate equipment, are listed in the on-screen electronic programme guides displayed by many Freeview receivers but cannot be viewed.

The link above gives a full up-to-date list of channels, but, as of June 2018, they total 90 Freeview, 15 Freeview HD and 33 radio.

Reception equipment[edit]

Receivers[edit]

To receive Freeview, either a television with an integrated digital tuner or an older analogue television with a suitable Freeview-branded set-top box is required.

Aerial[edit]

An aerial is required for viewing any broadcast television transmissions. For all transmissions indoor, loft-mounted, and external aerials are available. In regions of strong signal an indoor aerial may be adequate; in marginal areas a high-gain external aerial mounted high above the ground with an electronic amplifier at its top may be needed.

Aerial requirements for analogue (the old standard) and digital reception in the UK are identical; there is no such thing as a special 'digital aerial', although installers and suppliers often falsely say one is necessary.[20] As the signal degrades, the analogue picture degrades gradually, but the digital picture holds up well then suddenly becomes unwatchable; an aerial which gave poor analogue viewing may give unwatchable, rather than poor, digital viewing, and need replacing, at a cost of typically £80 to £180, most of which is fitting cost. An aerial intended for external use may be fitted indoors if there is space and the signal is strong enough.[21]

Services[edit]

The Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital television in the UK, is responsible for co-ordination between Freeview and other digital services.[22]

The original Freeview was later expanded with additional facilities (Freeview+), high-definition channels (Freeview HD), and Internet connectivity (Freeview Play). All services remain available; the original Freeview equipment will work (unenhanced) in the same way it always did.

Freeview[edit]

The original Freeview service allowed a large number of digital television channels to be received on a compatible television receiver, set-top box, or personal video recorder. An electronic programme guide was available. Freeview channels are not encrypted and can be received by anyone in the UK. There is no additional charge to receive Freeview but it is a legal obligation to hold a current television licence to watch or record TV as it is being broadcast.[23]

A subscription-based DTT service, Top Up TV, launched in March 2004. The Top Up TV service was not connected with the Freeview service, but ran alongside it on the DTT platform and was included in the Freeview EPG; programmes could be received on some Freeview set-top boxes and televisions equipped with a card slot or CI slot. Top Up TV was replaced in 2006, by a service that did not run on Freeview equipment.

Freeview HD[edit]

Freeview HD comprises a number of high-definition versions of existing channels. It requires a different high-definition tuner, and does not supersede or replace standard Freeview.

Channels[edit]

With two channels (BBC HD and ITV HD) Freeview HD completed a 'technical launch' on 2 December 2009 from Winter Hill (as a full power service) and Crystal Palace (as a reduced power temporary service). It operates on multiplex BBC B (aka Multiplex B or PSB3). The service was broadcast to all regions by the end of 2012.[24]Channel 4 HD commenced test broadcasts on 25 March 2010 with an animated caption, ahead of its full launch on 30 March 2010, coinciding with the commercial launch of Freeview HD.[25][26]S4C Clirlun launched on 30 April 2010, in Wales, where Channel 4 HD did not broadcast.[27]STV HD launched in Scotland, where ITV HD does not broadcast, on 6 June 2010.[28] S4C Clirlun closed on 1 December 2012, allowing Channel 4 HD to begin broadcasting in Wales.[29]

Five HD was due to launch during 2010 but was unable to reach 'key criteria' to keep its slot.[30][31] Spare allocation on multiplex B was handed over to the BBC, two years from the date when it was anticipated that further capacity on multiplex B would revert to the control of the BBC Trust. On 3 November 2010, BBC One HD launched on Freeview HD.[32] Initially it was available in addition to the existing BBC HD channel, which continued to show the 'best of the rest' of the BBC in HD. However, BBC HD was replaced by BBC Two HD on 26 March 2013.[33]

Until 17 October 2011, the Commercial Public Service Broadcasters had the opportunity to apply to Ofcom to provide an additional HD service from between 28 November 2011 and 1 April 2012.[34] Channel 5 HD was the sole applicant,[35] with the aim of launching in spring or early summer 2012.[36] On 15 December 2011, Channel 5 dropped its bid to take the fifth slot after being unable to resolve 'issues of commercial importance'.[37] Subject to any future Ofcom decision to re-advertise the slot, the capacity will remain with the BBC and can be used by it for BBC services or services provided by a third party via a commercial arrangement.[38] The BBC temporarily used the space to broadcast a high definition simulcast of their main Freeview red button feed for the duration of the 2012 Summer Olympics,[39] followed by a channel from Channel 4 for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[40] On 13 June 2013, the BBC temporarily launched a high-definition red button stream in the vacant space.[41]

On 16 July 2013, Ofcom announced that up to 10 new HD channels would be launched by early 2014, using new capacity made available by the digital switchover. This provided additional spectrum in the 600Mhz band for additional DVB-T2 multiplexes, reaching up to 70% of the UK population.[7] At the same time, the BBC announced that they would provide five new HD channels due to the newly available capacity: BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, CBBC HD, CBeebies HD and BBC News HD.[42] BBC Three HD and CBBC HD launched to all viewers on 10 December 2013 using the capacity released by the Red Button HD service, and the other BBC channels launched in some regions, expanding to 70% UK coverage by June 2014.[43]

Channel 5 HD finally launched on Freeview on 4 May 2016

Technical[edit]

The Digital TV Group publishes and maintains the UK technical specification for high-definition services on digital terrestrial television (Freeview) based on the new DVB-T2 standard. The specification is known as the D-book. Freeview HD is the first operational TV service in the world using the DVB-T2 standard. This standard is incompatible with DVB-T, and can only be received using compatible reception equipment.[44] Some television receivers sold before the HD launch claimed to be 'HD-ready', but this usually implies that the screen can display HD, rather than that DVB-T2 signals can be received – a suitable tuner (typically built into a STB or PVR) is additionally required. Freeview HD set-top boxes and televisions are available. To qualify for the Freeview HD logo, receivers will need to be IPTV-capable and display Freeview branding, including the logo, on the electronic programme guide screen.[45] The Freeview HD trademark requirements state that any manufacturer applying for the Freeview HD logo should submit their product to the Digital TV Group's test centre (DTG Testing) for conformance testing.

On 2 February 2010, Vestel became the first manufacturer to gain Freeview HD certification, for the Vestel T8300 set top box.[46]Humax released the first Freeview HD reception equipment, the Humax HD-FOX T2, on 13 February 2010.[47]

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It was announced on 10 February 2009, that the signal would be encoded with MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4, which supports up to 1080i30/1080p30, so 1080p50 cannot be used.[48] The system has been designed from the start to allow regional variations in the broadcast schedule. Services are statistically multiplexed – bandwidth is dynamically allocated between channels, depending on the complexity of the images – with the aim of maintaining a consistent quality, rather than a specific bit rate. Video for each channel can range between 3 Mbit/s and 17 Mbit/s. AAC or Dolby Digital Plus audio is transmitted at 384 kb/s for 5.1 surround sound, with stereo audio at 128–192 kbit/s; audio description takes up 64 kbit/s, subtitles 200 kbit/s and the data stream, for interactive applications 50 kbit/s.[45] Recording sizes for Freeview HD television transmissions average around 3 GB per hour.[49] Between 22 and 23 March 2011, an encoder software change allowed the Freeview version of BBC HD to automatically detect progressive material and change encoding mode appropriately, meaning the channel can switch to 1080p25.[50] This was extended to all of the other Freeview HD channels in October 2011.

To ensure provision of audio description, broadcasters typically use the AAC codec.[51] Hardware restrictions allow only a single type of audio decoder to operate at any one time, so the main audio and the audio description must use the same encoding family for them to be successfully combined at the receiver. In the case of BBC HD, the main audio is coded as AAC-LC and only the audio description is encoded as HE-AAC.[52] Neither AAC nor Dolby Digital Plus codecs are supported by most home AV equipment, which typically accept Dolby Digital or DTS, leaving owners with stereo, rather than surround sound, output. Transcoding from AAC to Dolby Digital or DTS and multi-channel output via HDMI was not originally necessary for Freeview HD certification. As of June 2010 the DTG D-Book includes the requirement for mandatory transcoding when sending audio via S/PDIF, and for either transcoding or multi-channel PCM audio when sending it via HDMI in order for manufacturers to gain Freeview HD certification from April 2011.[53] Thus equipment sold as Freeview HD before April 2011 may not deliver surround sound to audio equipment (some equipment may, but this is not mandatory); later equipment must be capable of surround sound compatible with most suitable audio equipment.

In early February 2011, it was announced that one million Freeview HD set-top boxes had been sold.[54]

Copy protection[edit]

In August 2009 the BBC wrote to Ofcom after third-party content owners asked the BBC to undertake measures to ensure that all Freeview HD boxes would include copy protection systems as required by the Digital TV Group's D-Book, which sets technical standards for digital terrestrial television in the UK.[55] The BBC proposed to ensure compliance with copy-protection standards on the upgraded Freeview HD multiplex by compressing the service information (SI) data, which receivers need to understand the TV services in the data stream. To encourage boxes to adopt copy protection, the BBC made its own look-up tables and decompression algorithm, necessary for decoding the EPG data on high-definition channels, available without charge only to manufacturers who implement the copy-protection technology. This technology would control the way HD films and TV shows are copied onto, for example Blu-ray discs, and shared with others over the internet. No restrictions will be placed on standard-definition services. In a formal written response, Ofcom principal advisor Greg Bensberg said that wording of the licence would probably need to be changed to reflect the fact that this new arrangement is permitted. The BBC had suggested that as an alternative to the SI compression scheme, the Freeview HD multiplex may have to adopt encryption. Bensberg said that it would appear 'inappropriate to encrypt public service broadcast content on DTT'.

Tv Guide Nz Freeview

On 14 June 2010, Ofcom agreed to allow the BBC to limit the full availability of its own and other broadcasters' high definition (HD) Freeview services to receivers that control how HD content can be used.[56] Ofcom concluded that the decision to accept the BBC's request will deliver net benefits to licence-holders by ensuring they have access to the widest possible range of HD television content on DTT.

Freeview Channels In My Area

Freeview HD Recorder[edit]

Freeview HD Recorder (formerly Freeview+, originally named Freeview Playback[57]) is the marketing name for Freeview-capable digital video recorders with some enhancements over the original Freeview.

All recorders are required to include the following features in addition to standard Freeview:[58]

  • At least eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG)
  • Series link (one timer to record whole series)
  • Record split programmes as one programme
  • Offer to record related programme
  • Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
  • Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording starting early)
  • Accurate Recording (AR, 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. However, this can be circumvented by specifying a timer recording instead of a programme recording or by connecting the receiver to a traditional videocassette recorder.)[citation needed]

Freeview Play[edit]

FreeviewPlay logo

Freeview Tv Usa Tv

Freeview Play adds Internet connectivity to the existing services.

It combines catch-up TV (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 and UKTV Play), on demand and live television[59] on a variety of TV and set-top boxes, via the user’s standard broadband Internet connection. The technology is an open standard, but with prominent Freeview Play branding. The service launched in October 2015 on compliant equipment, initially 2015 Panasonic TV receivers and Humax set-top boxes, including existing models with a software update. Other manufacturers were announcing new models 'later this [2015] year'.[60] The 2017 specification for Freeview Play includes support for HDR video using Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), when playing on demand broadband content.[61]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Freeview: About us Linked 10 August 2013
  2. ^Freeview channel guide, Summer 2013 – Proposed line-up from 1 August 2013Archived 18 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Linked 10 August 2013
  3. ^a516digital, 5 August 2013: Freeview Channel Updates: August 2013 Linked 10 August 2013
  4. ^a516digital, 5 August 2013: True Entertainment launches on Freeview Linked 10 August 2013
  5. ^a516digital, 4 August: Could these channels be coming soon to Freeview? Linked 10 August 2013
  6. ^Freeview blog post, 16 July 2013: More HD channels coming to Freeview Linked 10 August 2013
  7. ^ abpublisher Ofcom, 16 July 2013: New HD channels on terrestrial TV Linked 10 August 2013
  8. ^'How can I record programmes from my new TV set?'. The Guardian. London. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  9. ^http://www.dmol.co.uk
  10. ^'UK DTT Channel List (free-to-view including yr2002 dtt trials)'. Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  11. ^'UK DTT Channel List (Freeview)'. Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  12. ^'18m Freeview homes in TV retune'. BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  13. ^'Complaints over Freeview retune'. BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  14. ^'Viewers enraged over Freeview retune debacle'. Absolute Gadget. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  15. ^'Freeview TV guide channel updates Freeview'. www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  16. ^'Advance notice: Freeview TV guide update in September 2014 Freeview'. www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  17. ^http://www.a516digital.com/2014/04/Freeview-Retune-Day-September-2014-News-Childrens-Channel-moves.html
  18. ^http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/help_and_advice/freeview_tv_guide_update
  19. ^http://www.freeview.co.uk/articles/about-us/press-releases/update-expands-freeview-tv-guide.html
  20. ^BBC: Digital switch advice 'shocking' 9 of 14 installers gave bad or misleading advice, suggesting that people are likely to need a new aerial for digital switchover .. 5 told the mystery shopper they would need a 'digital aerial', when in fact there is no such thing.
  21. ^'Frequently Asked Questions'. Confederation of Aerial Industries Ltd. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
  22. ^'DTG Objectives'. DTG. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  23. ^'TV Licensing – TV Licence Information'. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  24. ^'BBC announces timetable for Freeview HD signal availability'. BBC. 16 November 2009.
  25. ^'C4 HD begins Freeview test transmissions'. Digital Spy. 26 March 2010.
  26. ^'Freeview HD launches, gets Channel 4'. Register Hardware. 30 March 2010.
  27. ^'S4C launches new High Definition channel – Clirlun'. S4C. 29 March 2010.
  28. ^'HD television is coming to STV'. STV. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  29. ^'AMENDMENT ONE TO THE DETERMINATION UNDER ARTICLE 3 OF THE TELEVISION MUPLTIPLEX SERVICES (RESERVATION OF DIGITAL CAPACITY) ORDER 2008 DATED 17 OCTOBER 2008'(PDF). Ofcom. 2 October 2012.
  30. ^'Channel 5 set for licence for high definition programmes on digital terrestrial television'. Ofcom. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009.
  31. ^'Ofcom hands Five's Freeview HD slot back to BBC'. Tech Radar. 15 May 2010.
  32. ^'BBC One HD Channel to launch 3 November and EastEnders to go HD on Christmas Day'. BBC. 21 October 2010.
  33. ^'BBC Two HD Channel to launch 26 March'. BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  34. ^'Third Invitation to Apply for DTT Multiplex B capacity – Statutory Notice'(PDF). Ofcom. 5 September 2011.
  35. ^'Channel 5 takes Freeview HD slot'. Broadband TV News. 1 November 2011.
  36. ^'Response to Ofcom's Third Invitation to Apply for DTT Multiplex B Capacity'(PDF). Ofcom. 17 October 2011.
  37. ^'Channel 5 again ditches plans to launch HD channel on Freeview'. The Guardian. 15 December 2011.
  38. ^'Channel 5 rules out HD channel launch on Freeview'. Digital Spy. 15 December 2011.
  39. ^'More choices announced for BBC Olympic viewers'. BBC. 18 April 2012.
  40. ^'Channel 4 to offer three dedicated Paralympic Games channels'. Radio Times. 15 August 2012.
  41. ^'A BBC Red Button summer 2013'. BBC. 10 June 2013.
  42. ^'BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels'. BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  43. ^'CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD & BBC News HD launch Tuesday 10 December 2013'. BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  44. ^'More choice and new services on digital terrestrial TV'. Ofcom. 3 April 2008. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009.
  45. ^ ab'Freeview HD goes live'. Register Hardware. 3 December 2009.
  46. ^'Vestel Receives First Freeview HD Certification'. PressReleasePoint. 2 February 2010.
  47. ^'First DVB-T2 receiver in UK stores'. Broadband TV News. 15 February 2010.
  48. ^'Ofcom opts for AVC 4.0 for UK HD DTT'. The Digital TV Group. 10 February 2009.
  49. ^Whitfield, Nigel (12 August 2010). 'FreeviewHD bit-rates and file sizes revisited'. Gone Digital. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  50. ^'Software Upgrade for BBC HD on Freeview HD'. BBC. 5 April 2011.
  51. ^'Freeview HD sacrifices surround sound for World Cup scramble'. Register Hardware. 2 June 2010.
  52. ^'Questions around surround sound on Freeview HD'. BBC. 4 June 2010.
  53. ^'Surrounded by questions'. Gone Digital. 2 June 2010.
  54. ^'Digital TV service Freeview HD passes 1m sales'. Cable UK. 2 February 2011.
  55. ^'BBC wants Freeview HD copy protection'. Digital Spy. 2 September 2009.
  56. ^'HD on Freeview'. Ofcom. 14 June 2010.
  57. ^'Home Features 2007 Freeview Playback launches'. Freeview. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  58. ^DTG Functional Specification for Digital TV Recorders v1.0 (Schedule 4)
  59. ^'Freeview rebrands for Connected Future Freeview'. www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  60. ^Pocket-lint: What is Freeview Play, when is it coming, and can I get it?, 3 September 2015
  61. ^Clover, Julian (9 September 2016). 'Freeview updates for HEVC and Ultra HD'. Broadband TV News. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
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