Freeview Tv Listings

A `fresh start' for DTT - Freeview digital terrestrial TV service to launch

Penny Williams

FREEVIEW, the new digital terrestrial TV service, is to launch on Wednesday October 30.

Backed by a consortium of the BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB, Freeview is described by BBC marketing and communications director Andy Duncan as "a fresh start for digital terrestrial television".

The launch follows what the consortium calls a "significant" boost to the digital terrestrial TV signal.

Three-quarters of the country will now be able to receive the new service (against ITV Digital's 68%), putting another 1.25 million people within reach of the digital terrestrial TV signal, although, of course, some will require aerial upgrades.

ERT Weekly understands that Freeview will run a postcode database to help retailers identify potential digital customers for the new services. Details of this and other retail ands will be announced later.

The technical or beta-test launch of Freeview will be on October 16 and from Tuesday, ex-ITV Digital subscribers are being asked to retune their old set-top boxes to receive Freeview programming.

The new service will offer up to 30 free digital TV channels, plus digital radio and interactive services (see box, right) linked to a wide range of BBC programmes.

Four new TV channels have been added to the mix--two of them music channels, EMAP's The Hits and MTV's The Music Factory, and two general entertainment channels, UK TV's UK HomeStyle and Flextech's Ftn (Flextech Television Network). The BBC is shortly to add another digital TV channel BBC3, which will bring the tally of the Corporation's digital TV channels to eight.

Freeview's radio listings have been increased, too, with commercial channels joining the BBC's digital radio networks. They are Kerrang!, Smash Hits, Kiss, Oneword and Jazz fm.

BSkyB chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein said: "Freeview is a distinctive addition to Europe's most advanced digital TV market. Sky looks forward to bringing three of our basic-tier channels to digital terrestrial television for the first time."

And at Crown Castle, sales and business development director Berwyn Roberts added: "Freeview offers something new to viewers who want more quality TV channels but haven't yet been attracted by pay digital television. We believe we're offering a great range of channels with a broad appeal covering entertainment, music, kids. documentaries and 24-hour news."

Freeview channels

ENTERTAINMENT

BBC 1; BBC 2; BBC Choice; BBC 3; ITV 1; ITV 2 Channel 4; Five; S4C Sky Travel; UK HomeStyle; Ftn

CITIZENSHIP

BBC Parliament; The Community Channel; S4C2

NEWS AND SPORTS NEWS

BBC News 24; Sky News Sky Sports News; ITN

MUSIC

The Hits; The Music Factory

FACTUAL

BBC 4; UK History

OTHER