Digital television has completely transformed the way we watch television. Not only does digital television provide good picture quality, better sound and a wider range of channels, but it also has the advantage of interactivity, allowing users to access more interactive content.
Freeview is the UK’s first digital terrestrial platform and is operated by DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. It was launched on October 30, 2002.
As of July 2020, it had 26 digital radio channels, 85 TV channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streaming channels and one interactive channel. It’s a great option if you’re on a budget and don’t want to be tied down to a subscription. Freeview can be received on a range of different devices, including VCRs. A few broadband providers also offer Freeview – they’ll give you a Personal Video Recorder so you can stop and rewind live TV and sometimes record it too.
Freeview was initially launched on October 30 2002, when the DTT licenses to broadcast on three multiplexes from the defunct ITV Digital were taken over by BBC. On October 11 2006, ITV and Channel 4 became equal shareholders and were jointly run by their five equal shareholders – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and broadcaster operator Arqiva. The Freeview model has since been copied in Australia and New Zealand. Freeview flourished, expanding to other devices and gradually adding new features.
In 2009, Freeview underwent a significant overhaul across the UK, requiring more than 18 million homes to return their equipment. The changes, which were supposed to ensure proper channel reception, led to several thousand complaints from people who lost channels due to returning their equipment. Freeview’s website crashed, and the customer care centre was flooded with complaints about the poor reception of channels. In 2014, Freeview went through another re-tuning where users had to re-tune their equipment, which meant channel shuffling and adding interactive features for children’s channels.
Freeview offers its users about 100 channels, most of which are free, and only a few channels require a subscription and a limited number of paid channels. It also offers various HD and local channels to its users.
To receive Freeview, you need either a television with a digital tuner or an older analogue TV with a suitable set-top box of the Freeview brand. With its launch, thousands of people across the UK have switched to digital with Freeview. However, an antenna is required to watch the broadcast. Since its launch, Freeview has expanded to include Freeview+, Freeview HD and Freeview Play. All services remain available; the original Freeview device will work, does not need an upgrade, and will work as it always has. In 2019, Freeview released an app for iOS and Android mobile devices. The app provides a TV guide for 23 channels and the option to watch them via BBC iPlayer.
What is Freeview play?
Freeview Play is a connected TV service that combines watching TV on services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All 4 with live TV. In the TV guide, you’ll be able to scroll ahead to see what’s coming up or go back and watch programs you’ve missed. You can get 70 TV channels and 30 radio stations with services like Freeview.
Advantages
- All modern TVs include a Freeview tuner, or you can buy a Freeview set-top box for less than £30-40.
- When connected to your TV antenna and TV, you can watch live TV broadcasts in HD digital quality.
- Without the hassle of a monthly subscription, it’s one of the cheapest ways to watch TV.
Disadvantages
- Signal coverage for Freeview is not 100% – users in some areas of the UK have complained of uneven coverage or an insufficient number of channels.
- While 70-100 seems like many channels, it’s less than some other TV services.
Conclusion
To conclude, Freeview is a TV service that allows you to watch and record live TV over the Internet. You can use Freeview on your computer, smartphone, tablet or games console. You can access Freeview without buying equipment or installing software on your computer or smartphone. All you need is an internet connection. Freeview has gone through major overhauls, particularly in 2009 and 2014. In 2019 it even launched an app for both Apple and Android users.
Muhammad Asfandyar is a lawyer having extensive experience in creative content writing, proofreading, legal and academic research writing. He can be reached at asfandyar.edw@gmail.com