| Type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Satellite television |
| Founded | 16 May 2007 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite, free digital TV, Pay television, Pay-per-view |
| Owner(s) | BBC and ITV plc |
| Website | www.freesat.co.uk |
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom.[1] 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 and NHK.
Freesat's main competitors are Freeview and Freesat from Sky.
Contents |
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. Freeview was then available to only 73% of the population.[2] After analogue TV services are replaced in the planned digital switchover, this will increase to 98.5% for the public service channels and 90% for the full 'Freeview' service. In order 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 any viewer wishing to view the channels had to purchase equipment from Sky and pay for a free-to-view viewing card in order to decrypt the channels. Similarly, in order to use the Videoguard encryption, the broadcasters needed to pay a fee to NDS Group.
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.[3] This move allowed the BBC to stop encrypting its broadcasts while continuing to meet its rights obligations. It dropped the encryption two months later.[4][5] 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.
The free-to-air channels can be received using any standard digital satellite (DVB-S) receiver.
However, the Freesat project aims to provide a more managed service with an Electronic Programme Guide and interactive features similar to the Freeview service launched three years earlier. Unlike Freeview, however, these features would only be available to 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.[6] However, the service was further delayed and was officially launched on 6 May 2008.[7]
On November 18, 2008, Channel 5 joined Freesat.[8]
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 (excluding ITV2 +1), as well as all national BBC radio networks.[9] 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 and Euronews were included on the channel list.[10]
BBC HD was the only high-definition channel available on Freesat from launch day,[11] with ITV HD added as a 'red-button interactive' service from 7 June 2008.[12][13][14] On 12 March 2010 it was announced that ITV HD would change from a red button interactive service to a full time channel called ITV1 HD on 2 April 2010, simulcasting the main ITV1 channel.[15] 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, the channel shared its EPG slot 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 until it closed on 1 October 2011.
Some channels (notably BBC One and ITV1) 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 (because they were moved to a satellite from which transmission covers a much larger area than just the UK and content licensing means that they had to be encrypted). As a result, a few Freesat viewers (who cannot receive free-to-view, encrypted content) were moved to regional variations not corresponding to their actual location.
Freesat continues to add channels, with recent additions being (including but not limited to) Channel 5 +1, 5USA, 5USA +1, 5* and 5* +1. The BBC also 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 400 hours of television being available on demand. ITV Player and BoxOffice365 are available in beta for Humax devices, with support expected to be extended beyond over the coming months.[16][17] Freesat does also intend to launch a Freesat receiver with YouView within it and 4oD and Demand 5 are under consideration.[18]
Electric Sofa Media announced plans to launch Film GB, Sofa Screen and Sofa Stars on Freesat in 2011,[19][20] but as of November[update] no broadcasts have taken place.
On 7 September 2010, Richard Burrell - director of media operations for QVC, confirmed that QVC HD would launch on satellite in about two years (2012).[21] The standard-definition version of QVC has been available on Freesat since the launch of the service.
STV is keen to make STV HD available on Freesat and are working with them to make this happen as soon as possible.[22] In November 2008, Irish public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann announced a delay in launching its new international channel RTÉ International due to financial cutbacks. RTÉ had hoped to launch the new channel, which would possibly have been carried on Freesat,[23] by the end of 2009 but to date there has been no launch.[24]
During July 2010, Emma Scott revealed that Freesat are considering moving into pay television, and offering users the chance to subscribe to Sky Sports 1 and 2.[25] Its board is debating the option of taking advantage of the reduction in wholesale prices forced through in April on British Sky Broadcasting by Ofcom. Emma Scott said "We are looking at pay television. There is a lot of discussion around the Freesat and pay television issues taking place at board level. We haven't taken a final decision." Freesat is not however a part of the interim agreement between British Sky Broadcasting and Ofcom to supply Sky Sports 1 and 2, which only applies in respect of BT, Top Up TV and Virgin Media.[26]
On 28 July 2011, the BBC Trust approved proposals to introduce the listing of pay content delivered on-demand via broadband.[27] 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.[28]
Currently, Freesat offers a line-up of 182 television, radio, on demand and text channels.
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.[29] Humax launched a Freesat recorder, Freesat+, which became available to the public in November 2008, and which received reviews.[30]
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 (discontinued mid-2010), 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.
The service makes use of the same fleet of satellites as the popular subscription satellite service Sky: Astra and Eurobird 1. 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 (or Television with receiver built in). Providing the LNB (Low noise block-downconverter) has sufficient outputs, the one dish will be able to receive multiple services (i.e. Sky and Freesat).
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. It is also possible to buy a satellite dish and install it yourself.
Irish TV stations are not available through the Freesat platform.
While Freesat systems work in the Republic of Ireland, upon launch in October 2008 systems were not made available in Irish retail outlets even where they were UK domiciled multiples. However, on 23 October 2008 several Irish retail chains, including Maplin, Tesco Ireland and PowerCity, began offering modified Freesat systems from Grundig and Alba[31] that had their Freesat branding replaced with a Sat4free brand name. The requirement to enter a UK postcode has also been 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.[32]
Sat4free was permanently closed down shortly after.[33]
It is possible to receive Freesat outside the UK and Ireland, although a larger dish may be required as the Astra 2D footprint is mainly focused on the UK and Republic of Ireland. Freesat receivers ask for a postcode during installation, but this is just to determine which regional services to select. However, Freesat is a UK television service, designed for use in the UK, and a British television licence should be purchased if used in the UK. There is no facility for people outside the UK to purchase a UK TV licence. Overspill reception is covered by UK and Ireland MOU of TV [34] and also EU TV without Frontiers directives.
Freesat broadcasts from the same fleet of satellites (Astra 28.2°E and Eurobird 1) as Sky. Channels are broadcast using DVB-S. The Freesat electronic programme guide is broadcast from the Eurobird 1 satellite situated at 28.5° east. Freesat's role is not broadcasting or availability of channels (although the BBC and ITV are substantial broadcasters in their own right) but instead providing a platform for receiving the channels and the EPG.
All of the standard definition channels broadcasting to date are broadcast using DVB-S, ITV1 HD and NHK World HD also use DVB-S while Channel 4 HD uses DVB-S2. BBC One HD and BBC HD used DVB-S until 6 June 2011 when the satellite transponder carrying them was upgraded to DVB-S2.[35] Standard definition channels are broadcast using MPEG-2, while high definition channels are broadcast using MPEG-4. Since the channels are broadcast in-the-clear, they can also be received by non-Freesat receivers and, most commonly, Sky Digiboxes.
Interactive television is done using MHEG-5 rather than the proprietary OpenTV platform used by Sky.
The specification for Freesat boxes includes having an Ethernet port on the back. This is to allow on demand programmes provided by the BBC iPlayer or ITV Player and streaming services from the BBC to be viewed directly on the customer's television.[36]
Freesat's next-generation G2 spec will include features such as: DiSEqC 1.2 support; MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) support including single cable routing; core support for iPlayer-style hybrid TV services; HTML, JavaScript and CSS internet technologies for broadband-delivered interactive services; DRM for online content; and payment mechanisms for broadband services like LoveFilm.[37] James Strickland, Freesat's director of product and technology development, explained that G2 is a hybrid between Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) and MHEG-5.
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.
| Quarter | Quarterly Sales | Cumulative Sales | Quarterly HD Sales | Cumulative HD Sales | Quarterly HD Proportion | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2, 2008 | 39,018 | 39,018 | 23,854 | 23,854 | 61% | [1] |
| Q3, 2008 | 68,982 | 108,000 | 49,146 | 73,000 | 71% | [2] |
| Q4, 2008 | 125,000 | 233,000 | 99,000 | 172,000 | 79% | [3] |
| Q1, 2009 | 117,000 | 350,000 | 91,000 | 263,000 | 78% | [4] |
| Q2, 2009 | 98,000 | 450,000 | 77,000 | 340,000 | 79% | [5] |
| Q3, 2009 | 190,000 | 640,000 | ? | ? | 79% | [6] |
| Q4, 2009 | 260,000 | 900,000 | ? | ? | 80% | [7] |
| Q1, 2010 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 | ? | ? | 80% | [8] |
| Q2, 2010 | 250,000 | 1,250,000 | ? | ? | 80% | [9] |
| Q3, 2010* | ? | 1,250,000 | ? | ? | 80% | [10] |
| Q4, 2010* | ? | 1,250,000 | ? | ? | 80% | [11] |
In the Q4 2009 report (from the table above), 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, ( Q1 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." [38]