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Digital TV update - Q2 2010

Digital satellite - free-to-view households

3.10 There are currently four main categories of free satellite viewer:

  • those who have churned from BSkyB's pay services but have retained their satellite equipment so that they can continue to receive free-to-view channels;
  • users of BSkyB's own non-subscription services including 'Freesat from Sky', which requires a one-off installation payment of around £175 and provides access to over 240 digital TV and over 85 radio channels.
  • homes taking the freesat service offered by the BBC and ITV; and
  • those which have satellite-receiving equipment from suppliers other than Sky or freesat.

3.11 Freesat, the digital satellite TV service from ITV and the BBC, is available nationwide and provides subscription-free access to over 140 digital TV and radio channels including HD channels, the BBC iPlayer, and, planned for 2010, the ITV Player.

3.12 By the end of Q2 2010, survey results indicated that around 1,600,000 homes had access to some form of free satellite in the home. Free satellite survey results have shown an increase over the past year, with 6.3% of homes now claiming to have some form of free satellite service.

3.13 The BBC/ITV freesat service reported further growth during the period, with total retail sales reaching 1.25 million units by the end of June 2010, up from 1.07 units in Q1 2010. Set-top boxes have accounted for 65% of freesat sales so far, with the remaining 35% being televisions with freesat built in. Of all freesat receivers sold, 80% have been high-definition.


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