Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture
between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed
as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat
offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial
television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without
subscription for users purchasing a receiver. The service also makes use of
the additional capacity available on digital satellite broadcasting to offer
a selection of high-definition programming from the BBC, ITV plc,
Channel 4, NHK and RT UK. Freesat's main competitors are Freeview
and Freesat from Sky. History
= Background = The BBC and ITV, the two biggest
free-to-air broadcasters in the UK, make their services available digitally
through three routes: free-to-air via digital terrestrial and digital
satellite, and subscription-only via digital cable.
On digital terrestrial, the channels have always been available free-to-air
with the appropriate equipment. In 2007 Freeview was available to only 73% of
the population. After analogue TV services were replaced in the digital
switchover, this increased to 98.5% for the public service channels and 90% for
the full 'Freeview' service. To provide more widespread coverage and a larger
number of channels, a digital satellite alternative was felt necessary.
Initially, both the BBC's and ITV's channels were encrypted since the
original Astra satellites used for Sky broadcast to most of Europe but the
broadcasters' rights for premium content such as films and sports typically
covered the UK only. The use of encryption meant that anyone wishing to
view the channels had to purchase equipment from Sky and pay for a
free-to-view viewing card to decrypt the channels. Similarly, to use the
Videoguard encryption, the broadcasters needed to pay a fee to NDS Group.
= Move to free-to-air = In May 2003 the BBC moved most of its
channels from the Astra 2A satellite to Astra 2D, which has a footprint that
focuses more tightly on the UK. This move allowed the BBC to stop encrypting
its broadcasts while continuing to meet its rights obligations. It dropped the
encryption two months later. Two months later, ITV, whose channels had already
been located on the Astra 2D satellite since launching on the Sky platform some
years earlier, also made their channels free-to-air.
On 18 November 2008, Channel 5 commenced broadcasting a single channel via
Freesat, eventually adding its ancillary services 5USA and 5* three years later
in December 2011. Viva moved from free-to-view to
free-to-air on satellite on 19 March 2013, before launching on Freesat on 2
April 2013. On 2 April 2013, all seven of Box Television's channels left Sky's
subscription package, with six becoming free-to-air on satellite; on 15 April
four of the channels – The Box, Kerrang! TV, Kiss TV and Smash Hits – were added
to the Freesat EPG. This was followed by Heat and Magic on 29 April.
The free-to-air channels can be received using any standard digital satellite
receiver, although those not licensed by Freesat will need to be re-tuned
manually if/when channel frequencies are changed.
= Managed service = The Freesat project aims to provide a
managed service with an Electronic Programme Guide and interactive features
similar to the Freeview service launched three years earlier. Unlike Freeview,
however, these features are only available on approved receivers
manufactured under licence from Freesat. The initial plan was to launch the
service in early 2006. This was postponed to Autumn 2007 as approval
from the BBC Trust was only received in April 2007. However, the service was
further delayed and was officially launched on 6 May 2008.
= Launch channels = The service launched officially on 6 May
2008. From the launch, Freesat advertised all national television
channels from the BBC and ITV as being available on the platform, as well as
all national BBC radio networks. Channel 4 also managed to make most of its
channels free-to-air in preparation for the launch. In addition some channels
from other broadcasters such as Chello Zone, CSC Media Group, Al Jazeera
English, RIA Novosti and Euronews were included on the channel list.
= High-definition = BBC HD was the only high-definition
channel available on Freesat from launch day, with ITV HD added as a "red-button"
interactive service from 7 June 2008. On 2 April 2010 ITV HD changed from an
interactive service to a full-time channel called ITV1 HD, simulcasting the
main ITV1 channel. The name was changed back to ITV HD on 14 January 2013.
BBC One HD, a high-definition simulcast of BBC One, was made available on
Freesat and other platforms on 3 November 2010. Channel 4 HD also became
available on the platform on 19 April 2011. NHK World HD was added to Freesat
on 9 May 2011; it shared its channel number with its standard definition
counterpart and was therefore only listed on high definition receivers,
which were unable to access the standard definition channel via the EPG. On 23
July 2012, the BBC added 24 temporary channels to cover the 2012 Summer
Olympics, the channels share their EPG slot with their standard definition
counterpart. On 29 August 2012, Channel 4 added three temporary channels
covering the 2012 Summer Paralympics in high definition from the following day;
the three channels also share their EPG slots. On 14 February 2013, RT HD was
added to Freesat, sharing its channel number with its standard definition
simulcast. On 26 March 2013, BBC HD was replaced by
a high-definition simulcast of BBC Two. On 13 June 2013, an HD stream of the BBC
Red Button was temporarily made available on the EPG. On 16 July 2013,
the BBC announced they would be launching five new HD channels in early
2014. The five channels were in fact launched early – on 10 December 2013.
= Regional variations = Some channels are transmitted in
regional variations and the appropriate services are selected by the Freesat
receiver from the user's postcode. In March 2010, ITV altered several of their
regions from free-to-air transmission to free-to-view. As a result, a few Freesat
viewers were moved to regional variations not corresponding to their
actual location. = Future channels and recent launches =
On October 29th 2015, PBS America will become available on Freesat.
Video on demand The BBC began to roll out a beta version
of BBC iPlayer for Freesat devices in early 2010. BBC iPlayer is an internet
based service with around 2500 hours of television being available on demand.
ITV Player is available for Humax, Manhattan, and some Sagemcom devices.
In 2010, Freesat also indicated an intent to launch a receiver featuring
the YouView service and said that the video on demand services 4oD and Demand
5 were under consideration. On 28 July 2011, the BBC Trust approved
proposals to introduce the listing of pay content delivered on-demand via
broadband. The trust will allow the BBC to continue to play a part in Freesat as
the plans did not represent a significant change to the approval
previously given in 2007. There was no need for a Public Value Test or for
further regulatory process. Under the plans some pay content, such as films,
would be added to the Freesat EPG alongside the existing free-to-air
content. However, there would be no adult material or live streamed sports
coverage. Freesat itself will not supply any of the on demand content, but will
allow third parties to do so through its EPG. Some content will also be made
available through existing channels using an on-screen prompt that would
take viewers to an on demand environment. Pay-TV sales would be
handled by a third party, with Freesat operating the conditional access system
that would underpin it. The plan is to use the upcoming launch of G2 spec
receivers to add support for Digital Rights Management and where technically
possible on existing receivers. On 29 November 2011, a beta trial for
the subscription based on demand movie service BoxOffice365 was added to the
Freesat EPG. On 11 March 2013, BoxOffice365 withdrew from Freesat.
The Freetme guide also features a backwards EPG and a Showcase section
offering recommendations. HTML versions of iPlayer and ITV Player will also
launch, both services use MHEG-5 on first generation devices. YouTube
launched on Freetime receivers on 7 March 2013, the first deployment of
YouTube's HTML app in a Western European TV service. 4oD launched on Freesat's
Freetime receivers on 27 June 2013, making Freesat the first UK TV platform
to host the HTML5 version of 4oD. Demand 5 arrived on Freesat on 6 August 2013.
Reception equipment = Receivers =
At the launch of the service, there were two types of Freesat receivers available
—standard definition-only receivers and high definition-capable receivers. As of
July 2010 there are eleven companies licensed to produce Freesat boxes and
televisions. Humax launched a Freesat recorder, Freesat+, which became
available to the public in November 2008.
On 17 October 2012, Humax released the first Freetime receiver, the Humax
HDR-1000S. = Televisions =
Following the initial launch, Panasonic introduced three plasma televisions with
integrated HD Freesat receivers. At the end of October 2008, Panasonic brought
out 2 more sizes which are the 32" and 37".
In April 2009 LG launched 4 LCD TVs with built-in Freesat receivers. The LG
series is the LF7700, with screen sizes of 32", 37", 42" and 47". Sony have
released two televisions with Freesat receivers, the W5810 and Z5800 series,
available from sizes 32" up to 52" and in 100 Hz and 200 Hz alternatives.
= Satellite dish = The service makes use of the same fleet
of satellites as the subscription satellite service Sky: Astra 28.2°E and
Eutelsat 28A. This means that any satellite dish which is positioned to
receive these services will be capable of receiving Freesat, with the addition
of a suitable receiver. Providing the LNB has sufficient outputs, a single
dish may be used to receive multiple services.
For users who do not currently have a satellite dish, Freesat offers an
installation service which is made available through retailers and which is
advertised in a leaflet included with Freesat receivers. A suitable dish may
also be installed by the user or a non-Freesat-affiliated installer.
= Ireland = While Freesat systems work in Ireland,
official branded Freesat receivers are not widely or officially marketed in the
country. In 23 October 2008 several Irish retail chains including Maplin,
Tesco Ireland and PowerCity began offering modified Freesat systems from
Grundig and Alba that had their Freesat branding replaced with a Sat4free brand
name. The requirement to enter a UK postcode was removed; the systems were
instead set to use the version of the electronic programme guide appropriate
for Northern Ireland through a hard-coded Belfast postcode. Sat4free
was permanently closed down shortly after.
= Outside the UK and Ireland = Although not intended for reception
outside of the UK, it is possible to receive Freesat outside of the British
Isles, although a larger dish may be required as the footprint of Astra 2E
and Astra 2F is mainly focused on the UK and Ireland. Even residents of Eastern
European countries, however, can often have access to the Freesat UK services.
Freesat receivers, however, ask for a UK postcode during installation, to
determine where regional services are placed in the EPG and channel list.
Technical details Freesat broadcasts from the same fleet
of satellites as Sky. Channels are broadcast using DVB-S. The Freesat
electronic programme guide is broadcast from the Eutelsat 28A satellite situated
at 28.5° east. Freesat's role is not broadcasting or availability of channels
but instead providing a platform for receiving the channels and the EPG.
All of the standard definition channels on Freesat are broadcast using DVB-S;
ITV HD, NHK World HD and RT HD also use DVB-S. BBC One HD and BBC HD used DVB-S
until 6 June 2011 when the satellite transponder carrying them was upgraded
to DVB-S2. Channel 4 HD had launched using DVB-S2 but the transponder was
downgraded to DVB-S on 28 March 2012. Standard definition channels are
broadcast using MPEG-2, while high definition channels are broadcast using
MPEG-4. Interactive television is done using
MHEG-5 rather than the proprietary OpenTV platform used by Sky.
Since the channels are broadcast in-the-clear, they can also be received
by non-Freesat receivers, including Sky Digiboxes.
The specification for Freesat boxes includes having an Ethernet port on the
back. This is to allow on demand programming from services such as BBC
iPlayer or ITV Player to be viewed directly on the customer's television.
Open standards and technologies form the basis of Freesat's second generation
Freetime receivers, including those from the Open IPTV Forum, the Hybrid
Broadcast Broadband TV project and HTML5 browser technology, with the majority of
the Freetime user interface built using the latter.
The Freetime spec also includes features such as: DiSEqC 1.2 support; MoCA
support including single cable routing; HTML, JavaScript and CSS internet
technologies for broadband-delivered interactive services; DRM for online
content; and payment mechanisms for broadband services like LoveFilm. James
Strickland, Freesat's director of product and technology development,
explained that Freetime is a hybrid between HbbTV and MHEG-5.
Adoption The table below attempts to show the
quarterly and cumulative sales of Freesat equipment since the inception of
the service. Sales rose through the first two-quarters of the service and
then averaged around 120,000 per quarter while reported, leading to total sales
of 350,000 by the end of Q1, 2009. Over 80% of all sales have been high
definition receivers. In the Q4 2009 report, Ofcom reported
that Freesat had announced the 1 million mark had been hit by the end of February
2010. *Note: Ofcom stopped reporting Freesat
Penetration Cumulatively and By Quarter starting with their Q3 2010 Report. Over
80% of Cumulative Freesat Unit Sales by the last update in Q2 2010 were Freesat
HD units with the remainder Freesat SD. Upon release of the Q4 2010 data Ofcom
stated that: "The next report, scheduled for
publication in June/July 2011, will be our 30th quarterly update. We have
decided that in light of the progress that has been made towards Digital TV
conversion, it is now appropriate to move to an annual cycle of reporting,
with the first annual report being published in June 2012."
Indications are that Freesat penetration largely plateaued in late 2010. Digital
Free To Air TV penetration is shown in Ofcom Quarterly Reports with Digital
Freesat Broken Out. See also
Freesat from Sky Freeview
Saorsat – a free-to-air satellite service for Ireland
List of free-to-air channels at 28°E References
External links Official website
BBC News: Q&A on Freesat List of Freesat Channels
Radio and Telly: Freesat guide