Free satellite TV service begins

A free satellite TV service offering high-definition channels and backed by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 has launched in the UK.

Freesat is available through high street and online stores such as Currys and John Lewis and will initially offer 80 television channels and radio stations, rising to 200 by the end of the year.

Customers will pay a one-off charge for a satellite dish, a set-top box, and installation with no monthly subscriptions.

If your home already has a satellite dish, then it should be suitable for receiving Freesat according to the company.

To take advantage of the high-definition broadcasts, you will need an HD-ready TV set.

BBC Vision's head of HDTV, Seetha Kumar, promised that the BBC's High Definition channel, BBC HD, would have plenty of content in the forthcoming months, including the Olympics, the Chelsea Flower Show and Euro 2008.

As satellite broadcasting doesn't rely on TV transmitters, it will be immediately available to 98 per cent of the country at launch. This means it covers more of the UK than Freeview, which only about 80 per cent of the UK can currently access.

Sky offers a similar deal where the customer pays for the dish, set-top box and installation but doesn't incur a monthly charge.

www.freesat.co.uk