Freeview (UK)

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Freeview
(DTV Services Ltd)
Type Free-to-air digital terrestrial television promotions company
Industry Media
Founded 30 October 2002
Headquarters London
Key people Ilse Howling (Managing Director)
Products Equipment to receive free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels
Revenue Not for profit
Website freeview.co.uk

DTV Services, trading as Freeview, is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the UK. The service is jointly run by its five equal shareholders, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. DTV Services is designed to market changes to the platform. DTV Services is responsible for marketing services such as Freeview+, the PVR brand and Freeview HD.

The technical specification for Freeview is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital TV in the UK who also provide the test and conformance regime for Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview HD products.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Adoption of digital terrestrial television (green) across all television sets from 2006-2009. Source: Ofcom

Freeview officially launched on 30 October 2002 at 5 am when the BBC and Crown Castle (now Arqiva) officially took over the digital terrestrial television (DTT) licences to broadcast on the three multiplexes from the defunct ITV Digital (originally called ONdigital). The founding members of DTV Services, who trade as Freeview, were the BBC, Crown Castle UK (now part of Arqiva) and British Sky Broadcasting. On 11 October 2006, ITV plc and Channel 4 became equal shareholders. Since then, the Freeview model has been copied in a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, France and Italy.

[edit] Equipment required

[edit] Receiver

To receive the services that Freeview promotes, either a television with an integrated digital tuner, or an existing standard analog television receiver (used as a display device) plus a set-top box (typically available from £15) or digital PVR is required. (New analog receivers are no longer sold as they are obsolete as of the 2010-2012 digital switchover.) DTT tuners for computers are also available from about £15.

[edit] Aerial

An aerial is required for viewing any broadcast television transmissions. For all transmissions indoor, loft-mounted, and external aerials are available. In regions of strong signal an indoor aerial may be adequate; in marginal areas a high-gain external aerial mounted high above the ground with an electronic amplifier at its top may be needed.

Aerial requirements for analog (the old standard) and digital reception in the UK are identical; there is no such thing as a special "digital aerial". Television is broadcast in four frequency bands, identified as Groups A, B, C, and D; as far as possible all transmissions receivable at any location are transmitted within the same band. Best reception is obtained by an aerial for the appropriate band pointed at the transmitting site; wideband aerials covering all bands but with lower sensitivity are available, but unnecessary except for a few regions where transmissions from more than one band are needed.[1]

In most cases digital transmissions are in the same group as the old analog transmissions, so there is no need to replace a good aerial even if not wideband. Where the received signal is weak or bad, the analog picture degrades gradually, going from perfect through increasingly grainy to unviewable as the signal worsens; a graph of picture quality as a function of signal is a line gradually sloping down. The digital signal corrects defects of a moderately bad signal, but as the signal worsens a point is reached at which the picture suddenly breaks up completely, although the analog signal is still viewable, though noisy; on a graph, quality would at first be fully maintained and suddenly fall to nothing, the graph would look like a cliff, the "digital cliff edge"[2]. An aerial which gives poor analog viewing may give unwatchable, rather than poor, digital viewing, and need replacing. Cost ranges from about £80 to £180 including fitting[3].

After digital switchover the power of digital transmissions is much increased (before switchover, powerful digital transmissions would interfere with analog transmissions); this resolves some issues of bad reception. In some strong signal areas the post-switchover signal may possibly be too strong, particularly if an aerial amplifier is used; this can be cured with a small and cheap attenuator, or by removing the amplifier.

[edit] Service costs

Freeview provides no channels at all, the promotional efforts not extending to the consortium members' premium or pay-per-view channels and no subscription channels. The name distinguishes the service from ITV Digital, cable and satellite digital TV services. Freeview channels can be received, with no charge except the annual television licence required for television reception, required for all viewers of broadcast television in the UK and must be purchased by anyone who has and uses the appropriate equipment to receive television signals.[4]

A subscription-based DTT service, Top Up TV, launched in March 2004 using unused channel space on multiplexes that were owned by parties who, at the time, were not members of the Freeview consortium. The Top Up TV service is not connected with the Freeview service; it simply runs alongside it on the DTT platform. It was possible to receive Top Up TV on selected Freeview set-top boxes or televisions equipped with a card slot or CI slot, however, this was replaced in 2006 by "Top Up TV Anytime", a service which requires a proprietary set top box—details are on Top Up TV's website

The Digital TV Group the industry association for digital television in the UK, is responsible for co-ordination between Freeview, Top Up TV, and other digital services.[citation needed]

[edit] Freeview channels

Main article: List of digital terrestrial television channels (UK)

The Freeview service broadcasts free-to-air television channels, radio stations and interactive services from the existing public service broadcasters. Channels on the service include BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five terrestrial channels as well as their digital services. In addition channels from Sky, UKTV and Virgin TV, text services from Teletext and radio stations from BBC and Bauer amongst others are available.

The full range of channels broadcast via digital terrestrial television includes pay television services from operators such as Top Up TV and ESPN. These channels, although available only to subscribers with appropriate equipment, are listed in the on-screen electronic programme guides displayed by many Freeview receivers but may not be viewed.

[edit] Freeview+

Main article: Freeview+

Freeview+, originally entitled "Freeview Playback"[5] is a consumer brand for the specification of Digital Terrestrial Recorders which is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group. It is designed to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview-capable digital video recorders". Only approved digital terrestrial recorders (PVRs, DVRs and DTRs) which meet specified quality and functionality criteria are permitted to carry the Freeview+ logo. An advantage of the scheme is the benefit of joint marketing and consumer confidence.

[edit] Freeview HD

See also: List of HD channels in the UK

With two channels (BBC HD and ITV1 HD) Freeview HD completed a "technical launch" on 2 December 2009 from Crystal Palace and Winter Hill and operates on multiplex BBC B (aka Multiplex B or PSB3) from that date in regions that switched-over on or after that date, with the service coming to all regions by the end of 2012.[6] Channel 4 HD commenced test broadcasts on 25 March 2010 with an animated caption, ahead of its full launch on 30 March 2010, coinciding with the commercial launch of Freeview HD.[7][8] S4C Clirlun launched on 30 April 2010 in Wales, where Channel 4 HD will not broadcast.[9] STV HD launched in Scotland, where ITV1 HD does not broadcast, on 6 June 2010.[10]

Five HD was due to launch during 2010 but was unable to reach 'key criteria' to keep its slot.[11][12] Spare allocation on multiplex B will now be handed over to the BBC but Ofcom intends to give the Commercial Public Service Broadcasters another opportunity to apply to provide an additional HD service from 2012. On 30 March 2010 the BBC said that it "expects and hopes" to see another high-definition channel launch on Freeview by the end of 2010 but it "might not be a BBC channel".[13] A fifth HD channel may be able to launch during 2013.[14] On 30 March 2010 Ilse Howling confirmed that there are still two more slots to be filled in Freeview HD’s line-up. “There will be two more channels, sooner rather than later” adding, “I think we know it won’t be coming from Channel 4, if you ask Five when they think they’ll be on, they’ll say the end of 2012."[15]. On 28 May 2010 the BBC announced that BBC One HD would be available in Autumn 2010 on Freeview HD.[16] It will be in addition to the existing BBC HD channel, which will show the "best of the rest" of the BBC in HD. The BBC Trust recognised that technical and financial constraints as of 2010 prevent additional variations.[17]

The Digital TV Group publishes and maintains the UK technical specification for high-definition services on digital terrestrial television (Freeview) based on the new DVB-T2 standard. Freeview HD is the first operational TV service in the world using the DVB-T2 standard. This standard is incompatible with DVB-T, and can only be received using compatible reception equipment.[18] Some television receivers sold before the HD launch claimed to be "HD-ready", but this usually implies that the screen can display HD, rather than that DVB-T2 signals can be received—a suitable tuner is still required. Freeview HD set-top boxes and televisions are available. In order to qualify for the Freeview HD logo, receivers will need to be IPTV-capable and display Freeview branding, including the logo, on the electronic programme guide screen.[19] The Freeview HD trademark requirements state that any manufacturer applying for the Freeview HD logo should submit their product to the Digital TV Group's test centre: DTG Testing for conformance testing.

On 2 February 2010, Vestel became the first manufacturer to gain Freeview HD certification, for the Vestel T8300 set top box.[20] However, Humax released the first Freeview HD reception equipment, the Humax HD-FOX T2, on 13 February 2010.[21]

It was announced on 10 February 2009, that the signal will be encoded with MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4, which supports up to 1080i30/1080p30, so 1080p50 cannot be used.[22] The system has been designed from the start to allow regional variations in the broadcast schedule. Services are statistically multiplexed – bandwidth is dynamically allocated between channels, depending on the complexity of the images – with the aim of maintaining a consistent quality, rather than a specific bit rate. Video for each channel can range between 3 Mb/s and 17 Mb/s. AAC or Dolby Digital Plus audio is transmitted at 320 kb/s for 5.1 surround sound, with stereo audio at 128 kb/s; audio description takes up 64 kb/s, subtitles 200 kb/s and the data stream, for interactive applications, just 50 kb/s.[19]

To ensure provision of audio description, broadcasters typically use the AAC codec.[23] Hardware restrictions allow only a single type of audio decoder to operate at any one time, so the main audio and the audio description must use the same encoding family for them to be successfully combined at the receiver. In the case of BBC HD, the main audio is coded as AAC-LC and only the audio description is encoded as HE-AAC.[24] Neither AAC nor Dolby Digital Plus codecs are supported by most home AV equipment, which typically accept Dolby Digital or DTS, leaving owners with only stereo output. Transcoding from AAC to Dolby Digital or DTS and multi-channel output via HDMI was not originally necessary for Freeview HD certification. As of June 2010 the DTG D-Book includes the requirement for mandatory transcoding when sending audio via S/PDIF, and for either transcoding or multi-channel PCM audio when sending it via HDMI in order for manufacturers to gain Freeview HD certification from April 2011.[25]

In August 2009 the BBC wrote to Ofcom after third-party content owners asked the BBC to undertake measures to ensure that all Freeview HD boxes would include copy protection systems as required by the Digital TV Group's D-Book, which sets technical standards for digital terrestrial television in the UK.[26] The BBC proposed to ensure compliance with copy-protection standards on the upgraded Freeview HD multiplex by compressing the service information (SI) data, which receivers need to understand the TV services in the data stream. To encourage boxes to adopt copy protection, the BBC made its own look-up tables and decompression algorithm, necessary for decoding the EPG data on high-definition channels, available without charge only to manufacturers who implement the copy-protection technology. This technology would control the way HD films and TV shows are copied onto, for example Blu-ray discs, and shared with others over the internet. No restrictions will be placed on standard-definition services. In a formal written response, Ofcom principal advisor Greg Bensberg said that wording of the licence would probably need to be changed to reflect the fact that this new arrangement is permitted. The BBC had suggested that as an alternative to the SI compression scheme, the Freeview HD multiplex may have to adopt encryption. Bensberg said that it would appear "inappropriate to encrypt public service broadcast content on DTT".

On 14 June 2010 Ofcom agreed to allow the BBC to limit the full availability of its own and other broadcasters' high definition (HD) Freeview services to receivers that control how HD content can be used.[27] Ofcom has concluded that the decision to accept the BBC’s request will deliver net benefits to licence-holders by ensuring they have access to the widest possible range of HD television content on DTT.

[edit] Coverage and reception

As of 2010 77% of the UK population can receive the full Freeview service, with more able to receive some channels before digital switchover and all channels after[28] Coverage is being increased as digital switchover takes place across the UK.[29]

Ofcom estimates that the coverage level of the three public-service broadcasting multiplexes will reach 98.5% of the population (the same as analogue television) and six-multiplex reception will cover 90% of the population once the digital switchover has been completed in 2012.[30] The full package of sixty Freeview channels (six-multiplex) will only be available via the main transmitter in each transmitter group, and a number of other Relay Transmitters that are deemed to be important in terms of the large coverage area they serve. Those who rely on a local self-help relay transmitter, or other Relay transmitters covering a small village or area will only receive around eighteen channels (three-multiplex) after digital switchover. [31]

Approximately 27% of households were in a location that could not receive Freeview broadcasts in 2006.[32] Maximum Freeview coverage of the UK while analogue and digital services were running in tandem was reached in the years before digital switchover in the UK began.[33] Digital UK, a body backed by the UK government and UK broadcasters, is switching off analogue TV services in the UK in a process ending in 2012, region by region. In June 2009 the BBC announced that high-definition TV (HDTV) broadcasts on digital terrestrial television would start in December of the same year. [34]

In 2007 the Whitehaven transmitter in Cumbria switched to digital. In 2008 viewers in the Scottish Borders had their analogue signal switched off and their Freeview signal boosted, and coverage increased to minor relays. In 2009 Freeview coverage increased: The south-west of England switched to digital between April and August; Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway and the Isle of Man switched in June. As of 2010 Wales is in the process of digital switchover, with existing analogue services being replaced by high-powered digital signals carrying the Freeview service.[35]

[edit] History

Main article: History of Freeview UK

Following the collapse of ITV Digital, the Independent Television Commission re-advertised the licenses for the three multiplexes (MUX B, C and D) that had been used by ITV Digital. On 16 August 2002, the licenses were granted to members of the Freeview consortium, with BBC getting multiplex B and Crown Castle getting multiplexes C and D.[36]

Although all pay channels had been closed down on ITV Digital, many free-to-air channels continued broadcasting, including the five analogue channels, the BBC channels and ITV2, ITN News Channel, S4C2, TV Travel Shop and QVC.[37]

Freeview launched on 30 October 2002. Sky Travel, UK History, Sky News, Sky Sports News, The Hits (now 4Music) and TMF (now Viva) were available from the start. BBC Four and the interactive BBC streams were moved to multiplex B.[38] Under the initial plans, the two multiplexes operated by Crown Castle would carry eight channels altogether. The seventh stream became shared by UK Bright Ideas and Ftn which launched in February 2003. The eighth stream was left unused until April 2004 when the shopping channel Ideal World launched on Freeview. There are now 14 streams carried by the two multiplexes, with Multiplex C carrying 6 streams, and Multiplex D carrying 8. It has recently been announced that more streams are now available on the multiplexes, and that bidding is under way.

Sky Sports News will not longer be on Freeview from 23rd August 2010 as announced by Sky on 1st August 2010 - This is in order to move to new Sky Sports News on HD.

[edit] Transmission upgrades and equipment obsolescence

The 405-line television system was introduced in 1936 and discontinued in 1985. The 625-line system was introduced in 1964; from then until 1985 dual-standard sets could receive both standards. New features, such as colour, teletext, and stereo sound, were added to the 625-line standard, but older sets could receive newer transmissions, albeit without the new features, a situation which continues until the digital switchover. A 405-line set bought in 1936 would have worked until 1985, and a 1964 625-line set until changeover.

Digital terrestrial television is a complete break: analogue receivers can only be used as displays, with signal information provided by digital set-top boxes.

Even a digital set-top box from the late 1990s would have offered impaired performance as early as 2002, and will today be completely unusable in many parts of the UK where transmission is fully digital. The increase in the number of channels (including services which broadcast only for a few hours a day, or 'interactive' text-based services which nonetheless require their own channel numbers) resulted in a requirement to alter the previous broadcast parameters of the network. In August 2008 this caused approximately 250,000 receivers (mainly 4-6 years old) to stop working altogether due to incompatibility with the expansion, due to a change in size and format of the Network Information Table.[39] Freeview had warned consumers in advance of the update, which was phased in over a three-month period.[40]

Other boxes and IDTVs have been made obsolete by the change to "8 k mode" [41] which occurs in regions once analogue transmissions have ceased. The 8k mode offers financial and technical benefits to broadcasters, but at the expense of compatibility to older receivers.

Since customers pay no subscription, there is no single entity with any obligation to ensure that old equipment continues to work or is replaced when upgrades occur, as is the case on managed platforms such as cable TV. Affected consumers are only advised to buy new set-top boxes.[42][43]

Further alterations to broadcast services are trialled on a regional basis. Viewers who experience problems as a result are advised by Freeview to contact the manufacturer of their equipment. [44].

[edit] 2009 retune

The Freeview service underwent a major upgrade on 30 September 2009 which required 18 million households to retune their Freeview receiving equipment.[45] The changes led to several thousand complaints from people who lost channels as a result of retuning their equipment. The Freeview website crashed and the call centre was inundated as a result of the problems.

The change involved an update to the NIT (Network Information Table), which some receivers could not accommodate. Many thousands of people could not receive some channels. This included 460,000 fed from relay stations who have permanently lost access to ITV3 and ITV4. Updates are being broadcast to enable firmware changes but in some cases the receiver must be left on and receiving broadcasts to accept the updates and not everyone was aware of this. [46][47].

Since the TV advertising for Freeview HD began the number of complaints about the retune doubled.[48]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ UK aerial groups
  2. ^ The digital cliff edge, graph and discussion
  3. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Confederation of Aerial Industries Ltd. http://www.cai.org.uk/asp/faq.asp. Retrieved 2006-06-22. 
  4. ^ "TV Licensing - TV Licence Information". http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp#link1. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
  5. ^ http://freeview.co.uk/freeview/Features/2007/Freeview-Playback-launches
  6. ^ "BBC announces timetable for Freeview HD signal availability". BBC. 2009-11-16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/11_november/16/freeview.shtml. 
  7. ^ "C4 HD begins Freeview test transmissions". Digital Spy. 2010-03-26. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a210797/c4-hd-begins-freeview-test-transmissions.html. 
  8. ^ "Freeview HD launches, gets Channel 4". Register Hardware. 2010-03-30. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/03/30/freeview_hd_launches_gets_channel_4/. 
  9. ^ "S4C launches new High Definition channel - Clirlun". S4C. 2010-03-29. http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=324. 
  10. ^ "HD television is coming to STV". STV. http://www.stv.tv/stvhd. Retrieved 2010-06-01. 
  11. ^ "Channel 5 set for licence for high definition programmes on digital terrestrial television". Ofcom. 2009-06-11. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/06/nr_20090611a. 
  12. ^ "Ofcom hands Five's Freeview HD slot back to BBC". Tech Radar. 2010-05-15. http://www.techradar.com/news/television/ofcom-hands-five-s-freeview-hd-slot-back-to-bbc-676901. 
  13. ^ "BBC 'exploring extra Freeview HD channel'". Digital Spy. 2010-03-30. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a211514/bbc-exploring-extra-freeview-hd-channel.html. 
  14. ^ "Now it's five channels for Freeview HD". What Satellite & Digital TV. 2009-07-14. http://blog.wotsat.com/page/whatsat?entry=five_channels_for_freeview_hd. 
  15. ^ "Freeview HD channel line-up confirmed!". Electricpig. 2010-05-30. http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2010/03/30/freeview-hd-channel-line-up-confirmed/. 
  16. ^ "BBC One HD to launch Autumn 2010". BBC. 2010-05-28. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/05_may/28/hd.shtml. 
  17. ^ "BBC One goes high definition". BBC Trust. 2010-05-28. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/may/hd.shtml. 
  18. ^ "More choice and new services on digital terrestrial TV". Ofcom. 2008-04-03. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/04/nr_20080403b. 
  19. ^ a b "Freeview HD goes live". Register Hardware. 2009-12-03. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/12/03/freeview_hd_launch_report/. 
  20. ^ "Vestel Receives First FreeView HD Certification". PressReleasePoint. 2010-02-02. http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/vestel-receives-first-freeview-hd-certification. 
  21. ^ "First DVB-T2 receiver in UK stores". Broadband TV News. 2010-02-15. http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/02/15/first-dvb-t2-receiver-in-uk-stores/. 
  22. ^ "Ofcom opts for AVC 4.0 for UK HD DTT". The Digital TV Group. 2009-02-10. http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=3270. 
  23. ^ "Freeview HD sacrifices surround sound for World Cup scramble". Register Hardware. 2010-06-02. http://www.reghardware.com/2010/06/02/freeview_hd_surround_sound/. 
  24. ^ "Questions around surround sound on Freeview HD". BBC. 2010-06-04. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/06/questions_around_surround_soun.html. 
  25. ^ "Surrounded by questions". Gone Digital. 2010-06-02. http://gonedigital.net/2010/06/02/surrounded-by-questions-freeviewhd/. 
  26. ^ "BBC wants Freeview HD copy protection". Digital Spy. 2009-09-02. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a175535/bbc-wants-freeview-hd-copy-protection.html. 
  27. ^ "HD on Freeview". Ofcom. 2010-06-14. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumer/2010/06/hd-on-freeview-5/. 
  28. ^ "reception". Freeview. http://freeview.co.uk/freeview/Help/Getting-Freeview-and-Coverage2/Freeview-reception. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  29. ^ Digital UK: www.digitaluk.co.uk
  30. ^ "Ofcom sets Digital Switchover related licence conditions". Ofcom.org.uk. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/12/nr_20061207. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
  31. ^ "Freeview TV Explained". Digitaluk.co.uk. http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/what__and__why/tv_explained. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  32. ^ "Freeview Facts: When will I be able to get Freeview?". http://gettingfreeview.com/freeview-facts.php. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
  33. ^ "Freeview FAQ: I have no coverage, what can I do now?". http://freeview.co.uk/help/getting-Freeview/q7. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
  34. ^ "BBC confirms regional Freeview HD launch for Christmas". Simplifydigital Blog. http://blog.simplifydigital.co.uk/2009/06/bbc-confirms-regional-freeview-hd-launch-for-christmas/. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  35. ^ "When do I switch". Digital UK. http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
  36. ^ "Crown Castle SEC filing, 2002". p. 4. http://www.crowncastle.com/investor/10K/Crowncast2002k.pdf. 
  37. ^ "UK DTT Channel List (free-to-view including yr2002 dtt trials)". Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/dtt/dtt.cgi?reg=UK&hist=ftv. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
  38. ^ "UK DTT Channel List (Freeview)". Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/dtt/dtt.cgi?reg=UK&by=mux&type=VRDIPTSAG&mux=12ABCD&hist=freeview&data=&col=LoNMTC&disp=1&grp=&oair=. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
  39. ^ "Thousands of Scots face TV blackout after Freeview signal change". http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/07/05/exclusive-thousands-of-scots-face-tv-blackout-after-freeview-signal-change-86908-20632202/. 
  40. ^ Sweney, Mark (2008-08-14). "Freeview upgrade leaves set-top boxes obsolete". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/aug/14/digitaltvradio.television. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  41. ^ Digital UK 8k incompatible equipment - Official List http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/2kequipment
  42. ^ "Freeview owners making their one-off purchase, twice". BBC Watchdog. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/11/freeview_owners_making_their_o.html. 
  43. ^ "TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode - ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002". http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051492. Retrieved 2009-08-01. 
  44. ^ http://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Resolutions/About-Channels/General-inc.-pay-channels/Freeview-viewers-in-Wales-technical-trial
  45. ^ "18m Freeview homes in TV retune". BBC News. 30 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8280067.stm. Retrieved 30 September 2009. 
  46. ^ "Complaints over Freeview retune". BBC News. 30 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8283452.stm. Retrieved 30 September 2009. 
  47. ^ "Viewers enraged over Freeview retune debacle". Absolute Gadget. 1 October 2009. http://absolutegadget.com/200910012671/news/television/viewers-enraged-over-freeview-retune-debacle.html. Retrieved 1 October 2009. 
  48. ^ "Complaints over Freeview retune". HD Freeview Box News. 3 March 2010. http://www.hdfreeviewbox.com/hd-freeview-box-news.html. Retrieved 4 March 2010. 

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