Freeview

Freeview is a new television package, which allows you to update your television from the normal BBC1+2, ITV1 and CHANNELS4+5.
This little box is amazing it give you more of a selection of programs to choose from.
Freeview has something for everyone. Even children of all ages.

***Channels Included in Package***
BBC 1,2,3 + 4 (BBC 3 = Comedy Channel) (BBC4 = Learning Channel)
ITV 1+ 2 (ITV 2 = The only way to get this is by getting Freeview)
Channels 4 + 5
Some restricted Sky channels like:
Sky Travel, News, Sports News (Please note you can’t watch full feature games on these)
UK History
QVC
TV Travel Shop (See holidays Online
The Hits (Music Channel with videos)
UK Bright Ideas (Not during the night time there is not)
FTN
TMF (Music Channel with videos)
Bid-Up TV (Auction like TV)
Price-Drop TV (Buy products at real low prices)
CBBC - (Kids Channel)
Cbeebies - (toddlers channel)
BBC News 24 (24 hours a day coverage)
ITV News (24 hours a day coverage)
BBC Parliament (You dont get pictures on this only the voices)
F2P Games (Gaming Channel)
ITV Teletext - (A new way of searching through Teletext)
And there is also many free radio stations like:
BBC Radio 1 (Normal Radio)
BBC Radio 1 Xtra (Black/Urban Music)
BBC Radio 2 (Normal Radio)
BBC Radio 3 (Normal Radio)
BBC Radio 4 (Normal Radio)
BBC Radio 5 Live (Normal Radio)
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Xtra (Only available to Freeview holders)
BBC Radio 6 (Only available to Freeview holders)
BBC Radio 7 (Only available to Freeview holders)
BBC Asian Network (Only available to Freeview holders)
BBC World Service (Only available to Freeview holders)
The Hits Radio (Only available to Freeview holders)
Smash Hits (Pop Music)
Kiss (Pop Music)
Heat (Oldies Music)
Magic (Oldies Music)
Q
Oneword
Jazz FM (Jazz Music)
Mojo
Kerrang! (Rock Music)

***Parental Control***
This is important if you wish to BAR some channels from the kids. It is easy to do. Enter a 4-digit pin code and when you next request that channel enter the pin code and watch happily.

***Signaling***
Only some areas can get Freeview as some are out of frequency areas. (I recommend you call before you buy).

***Speed of Freeview***
Freeview is pretty fast at searching channels it found over 30 channels in less than 2 minutes on mine.

***Do I have to have it***
Yes I recommend this. Please note that at the end of last year the government has said it will be ruling out analogue TV in a few years to come.

***Other alternatives to Freeview***
There are not many alternatives to Freeview apart from the famous SKY packages. But you do have to pay a monthly subscription for the packages you select, with Freeview you dont.

***Prices of Freeview Set-top boxes***
Price can vary on these boxes. I picked up a Nokia box from Currys at around £69.98. You can get other boxes as well but some vary in what you can do with them. The Free Channels remain the same if you buy a cheaper or more expensive box. It’s the quality of the box that either makes it cheap or expensive.

***Recordable Boxes***
You can also get recordable boxes that record your programs when you cant. Sort of like SKY+. But this is quite expensive to but. Prices start at around £150.00

***What to do when you get it out the box***
When you have finally got your box you just have to attach the SCART lead into the back of the box and then put it in the back of your TV. Switch the power on and then it should come up with a first user welcome screen. The remote control is easy to use and it will do a scan when you hit the ok or select button. The only button you have to hit after it coming up with the different channels is the save settings button.
Installation is really easy as it gives you an on screen tutorial on how to use this.
Anyone can do it. It’s not rocket science you know.

***The Legal Bits***
To run the box it is free but you must have a television license to run it. On most circumstances you would not need to purchase a new Arial. But in some case you do and this can lead to alot of problems especially if you dont know how to put the Arial up.

***Why is it free***
The reason that its free is that instead of paying for extra the government said they need something more then just the normal 5 channels.
So you pay for your television License and purchase Freeview and you can use it as much as you like.

***My Personal experience with Freeview***
Time to be honest now. The first day I got this is was glue to my sofa with all that I needed around me including the Freeview remote control. Freeview have got a new top-up package coming out soon but this is going to cost you around £7.99 for life. This is not an essential part of the Freeview system as you can watch the channels, which come with whatever box you decide to purchase.
Freeview in my area is perfect and you dont get the fuzziness on the screen like analogue TV and it is much easier to see what’s on without referring to the What’s on TV guide. All the program listings come up on the channel that you select and if for some unknown reason you dont want to watch that channel you can change over.
Overall the new Freeview box offers value for money and more great channels suitable for all ages. THE NEW FREEVIEW IS A MUST BUY BUT DONT THINK OF GETTING THE BOX CHEAP.