What is Freeview?
Freeview is a free digital TV service offering over 40 TV channels including Film 4, E4, ITV2, BBC Three, Sky News and CBeebies. It only requires a one-off payment for the equipment and there's no monthly subscription
What equipment do I need?
All you need is a digital box or digital TV recorder which will work with your existing TV. Or alternatively a digital TV with the box already built in, both must run off a Digital Aerial.
What channels and services do I get as standard?
With Freeview you get over 40 free digital TV channels, over 20 free digital radio stations and a host of interactive services at the press of a red button, all in digital quality picture and sound.
You can watch previews of comedy and drama on channels like E4, More4 and BBC Three as well as catch-up editions of soaps and expanded coverage of selected shows on ITV2 and ITV3. There’s popular entertainment on Sky Three with 24, dedicated children’s channels with CBeebies, CBBC and Citv as well as 24-hour rolling world news.
You can also keep up with the latest scores and top stories in the world of sport with Sky Sports News and ITV4 which brings you live boxing, UEFA Champions League football and the Tour de France. In addition, BBCi will give you extra interactive coverage on the top sporting events such as Wimbledon, Golf and the World Cup.
With Freeview you can also access interactive games through your TV with channels such as CBeebies.
What additional services does Freeview offer?
With most digital boxes and digital TVs you can receive eight-day programme information which enables you to control your viewing and watch TV when it suits you.
With a twin-tuner digital TV recorder you can record one channel whilst watching another, pause live TV and record your favourite programmes directly onto the digital TV recorder.
Digital text and enhanced TV, including background programme information and additional live footage for events such as Wimbledon, Open Golf is also available.
Many digital boxes and digital TVs have a parental lock facility which enables you to control which channels can be viewed.