It is now possible to have access to more television channels than ever before due to digital television. There are also more options of how you receive the channels with programmes delivered by aerial, satellite dish, cable and phone line with broadband. Some channels are free of monthly charges and contracts and others are only available if you are prepared to commit to a monthly subscription. Many providers are also offering On Demand services where you can watch the programme or movie when ever you like sometimes at no additional cost and sometimes on a Pay Per View basis. High Definition channels are also available with and without monthly subscription.
There are free channels available from the BBCs and ITVs Freesat, Skys Freesat, Freeview, and Virgin Medias cable service if you rent a phone line. Monthly subscription services are available from Sky Digital, Virgin Media, BT Vision and Tiscali TV.
Freeview television
Freeview digital television broadcasts are replacing the normal analogue terrestrial television broadcasts received by an aerial throughout the UK. To receive Freeview you will first of all need to be in an area where it is available and then you will have to have a suitable aerial and either a Freeview set top box or a television with freeView built in. Apart from having to pay the UK television licence Freeview is free of any other charges and offers 48 channels of television and 24 channels of radio.
Up until recently there have been both the old analogue broadcasts and the new digital broadcasts in many areas of the country. The much advertised Digital Switch Over is currently switching off the analogue broadcasts area by area around the UK. This process should be completed during 2012. If you havent already opted to switch to the digital channels you will have to by the time your area switches to digital. You will need either a TV with a freeview tuner or a freeview set top box to use with your existing TV. The digital switch over will affect non digital TVs, Video Recorders and DVD recorders which will need either replacing with freeview equipped equivalents or a set top box connecting to each of them to receive freeview broadcasts. If you choose another method of receiving digital television broadcasts then you will need different equipment to connect to your TV.
If you already receive all of your TV content via Virgins Cable service, either of the Freesat options, Sky Digital, Tiscali or BT vision then you dont need concern yourself about the much published terrestrial digital switch over.
Top Up TV
Top Up TV doesnt require any other equipment other than a card that slots in to the existing slot on your PVR set top box. The only charge is 9.99 per month without any monthly contract or tie in. With Top Up TV you will have access to On Demand programmes that are stored locally on the hard drive of your PVR that can be viewed when you choose. There is also a movie channel and a sports channel. Top Up TV doesnt require broadband or a satellite dish and can be received via your existing Freeview compatible aerial
Cable TV by Virgin Media
To receive Virgin Medias Digital TV channels via cable you must first live in an area that can offer this option. You will also have to be willing to at least switch your phone line to Virgin Media to receive a basic 45 channels for free. If you are willing to pay 19.50 per month then over 165 channels are available and there are other cheaper options with less channels. Every television that is connected to cable will have to have a compatible set top box to receive the programmes. So if you have multiple televisions in your house then you will need one for each television at an additional discounted monthly cost.
A large library of programmes and films are accessible On Demand when you choose either in standard or high definition. Some of these are accessible free of charge and some are viewable by pay per view.
Sky Digital TV
Sky Digital is available by means of a monthly subscription charge. To receive Sky Digital you will need a satellite dish installing and a Sky set top box. The majority of houses in the UK can receive Sky Digital.
If you live in an apartment block or high rise flats then you might not be allowed to have a dish installed. Also some buildings have planning restrictions that dont permit the installation of satellite dishes. Also you may not be able to have satellite TV if there are any physical obstruction such as a building or Trees that prevents the required line of sight.
The satellite dish is connected to a set top box that is connected to your television set. For every television that you want to watch Sky Digital on you will need an addition set top box and you may need a further satellite dish depending on how many connectors are available on the LNB of the satellite dish. There are also extra costs for each set top box and additional monthly charges which can work out fairly expensive if you have many televisions in your house.
The starting package of over 200 channels is available from 16.50 per month which includes a free Sky Digital set top box but requires 60 for the satellite dish and installation. The full package of over 630 channels is available for a monthly charge of 46 however you will have to pay for the satellite dish and installation at a cost of 60 with a normal set top box or 30 extra for a Sky Plus set top box. On top of this there are also more channels of high definition available from Sky Digital than any other provider at a further monthly charge of 9.75.
Sky Digital also has an On Demand service that is available via the set top box and the internet. Sky Anytime is free of charge and offers a selection of films, documentaries, entertainment channels etc. Sky Box Office offers the latest films for a small charge on demand using the Sky Digital set top box. It is also possible access hundreds of films via your PC that you will have to download to your PC and then you can watch them on your PC or on your television. To watch them on your TV you will either need to copy them to a DVD Disc for playing on your DVD player that is attached to your TV or a you will need a Media Centre so that you can stream the data directly to your PC.
Freesat Television
The name Freesat is confused by the fact that there is a version provided by Sky and one by a joint venture of the BBC and ITV. Each option requires a satellite dish and set top box which you will have to purchase and both are free of monthly charges. Panasonic also have a television with a built in Freesat tuner that is compatible with the BBC and ITV option, so a set top box is not required if this is bought. Like with Sky Digital the installation of the satellite dish is subject to the same restrictions but generally Freesat is available to over 99% of homes in the UK. If your house already has a Sky Satellite Dish installed on it that is unused or it has a spare connector on it then you wont need to go to the expense of having a Satellite Dish installed.
The Freesat option from the BBC and ITV also offers a small amount of free high definition television broadcasts if the HD set top box is purchased.
Set top boxes that are compatible with the BBC and ITVs Freesat are available from around 49.99 or 129.99 complete with a dish and installation. There are in excess of 140 channels of programmes of different types that are available without any commitment or monthly subscription. If you want the HD version then you will have to pay 129.99 for the set top box or around 229.99 with satellite dish and installation. If you opt for a Freesat compatible television then you wont require a set top box just a satellite dish.
Sky's Freesat is available with an initial payment of 75 without any additional monthly payments. Whilst there aren't any HD channels available there are over 240 television channels.
BT Vision Television
BT Vision is an on demand service that offers Freeview and on demand TV shows and movies. The content is provided via broadband and requires a BT Home Hub router (which is free to BT broadband customers) which is connected to a phone line and a wireless receiver is connected to the television.
There are various options of program bundles of Kids programmes, sports, music and a number of films, that include 40 channels of Freeview, that are available from 13.70 monthly up to 19.57 monthly. However you dont have to subscribe for any of the bundles you can just use BT vision on pay per view basis each time you watch a programme or film. If you dont have BT Broadband then there is an installation charge of 29.36 for the BT Home Hub router and wireless receiver and another 29.36 for the supply of the equipment.
Tiscali TV
Tiscali television cant be accessed in all areas of the country. If it is available in your area it offers a combination of 70 digital TV programmes, digital radio channels and over one thousand On Demand channels of music, entertainment, and movies. The television programmes are received by a combination of an aerial and broadband. The basic package starts at just under 20 and includes phone line rental and 8 Mb broadband.
Fetch Television
Fetch TV is a Freeview PVR with a HD home media centre built in that can also download thousands of movies and TV shows via your PC. It has over 48 free channels of Freeview Digital TV and Radio without any subscription, monthly bills or contract tie in. The Fetch set top box interfaces with your computers hard drive to watch movies that you have downloaded to your PC. Fetch TV is available from 129.99 for the set top box.
IP Television and Television On Demand
There are many films and programmes that can be down loaded to your home computer via the internet some of which are in high definition. Some of these are free and some require a small payment. Once down loaded you can then either watch them on your computer or copy them to a DVD disc for playing on your DVD player that is attached to your television. If you have a Media Centre under your television then you can stream the content from your PCs hard drive to your television. Many programmes are available for downloading from Sky, the BBC, ITV and many other channels from all around the world.
Conclusion
Never before has there been so much choice and so many ways to receive TV content. Which one you choose will depend on the availability of Cable, Satellite, Freeview or Broadband Phone Line and how much you want to pay for the equipment, the type and quantity of programmes you want to view, and how much you want to pay a month if anything. Then to further complicate the decision you need to decide if you want HD content and are you willing to pay for it. IP TV is available now albeit a bit difficult and sometimes slow to access but this will probably be the way programmes will be received in the future. Of course you will also need a suitable widescreen HD LCD TV or HD Plasma TV to appreciate the benefits of Digital television broadcasts.
There are free channels available from the BBCs and ITVs Freesat, Skys Freesat, Freeview, and Virgin Medias cable service if you rent a phone line. Monthly subscription services are available from Sky Digital, Virgin Media, BT Vision and Tiscali TV.
Freeview television
Freeview digital television broadcasts are replacing the normal analogue terrestrial television broadcasts received by an aerial throughout the UK. To receive Freeview you will first of all need to be in an area where it is available and then you will have to have a suitable aerial and either a Freeview set top box or a television with freeView built in. Apart from having to pay the UK television licence Freeview is free of any other charges and offers 48 channels of television and 24 channels of radio.
Up until recently there have been both the old analogue broadcasts and the new digital broadcasts in many areas of the country. The much advertised Digital Switch Over is currently switching off the analogue broadcasts area by area around the UK. This process should be completed during 2012. If you havent already opted to switch to the digital channels you will have to by the time your area switches to digital. You will need either a TV with a freeview tuner or a freeview set top box to use with your existing TV. The digital switch over will affect non digital TVs, Video Recorders and DVD recorders which will need either replacing with freeview equipped equivalents or a set top box connecting to each of them to receive freeview broadcasts. If you choose another method of receiving digital television broadcasts then you will need different equipment to connect to your TV.
If you already receive all of your TV content via Virgins Cable service, either of the Freesat options, Sky Digital, Tiscali or BT vision then you dont need concern yourself about the much published terrestrial digital switch over.
Top Up TV
Top Up TV doesnt require any other equipment other than a card that slots in to the existing slot on your PVR set top box. The only charge is 9.99 per month without any monthly contract or tie in. With Top Up TV you will have access to On Demand programmes that are stored locally on the hard drive of your PVR that can be viewed when you choose. There is also a movie channel and a sports channel. Top Up TV doesnt require broadband or a satellite dish and can be received via your existing Freeview compatible aerial
Cable TV by Virgin Media
To receive Virgin Medias Digital TV channels via cable you must first live in an area that can offer this option. You will also have to be willing to at least switch your phone line to Virgin Media to receive a basic 45 channels for free. If you are willing to pay 19.50 per month then over 165 channels are available and there are other cheaper options with less channels. Every television that is connected to cable will have to have a compatible set top box to receive the programmes. So if you have multiple televisions in your house then you will need one for each television at an additional discounted monthly cost.
A large library of programmes and films are accessible On Demand when you choose either in standard or high definition. Some of these are accessible free of charge and some are viewable by pay per view.
Sky Digital TV
Sky Digital is available by means of a monthly subscription charge. To receive Sky Digital you will need a satellite dish installing and a Sky set top box. The majority of houses in the UK can receive Sky Digital.
If you live in an apartment block or high rise flats then you might not be allowed to have a dish installed. Also some buildings have planning restrictions that dont permit the installation of satellite dishes. Also you may not be able to have satellite TV if there are any physical obstruction such as a building or Trees that prevents the required line of sight.
The satellite dish is connected to a set top box that is connected to your television set. For every television that you want to watch Sky Digital on you will need an addition set top box and you may need a further satellite dish depending on how many connectors are available on the LNB of the satellite dish. There are also extra costs for each set top box and additional monthly charges which can work out fairly expensive if you have many televisions in your house.
The starting package of over 200 channels is available from 16.50 per month which includes a free Sky Digital set top box but requires 60 for the satellite dish and installation. The full package of over 630 channels is available for a monthly charge of 46 however you will have to pay for the satellite dish and installation at a cost of 60 with a normal set top box or 30 extra for a Sky Plus set top box. On top of this there are also more channels of high definition available from Sky Digital than any other provider at a further monthly charge of 9.75.
Sky Digital also has an On Demand service that is available via the set top box and the internet. Sky Anytime is free of charge and offers a selection of films, documentaries, entertainment channels etc. Sky Box Office offers the latest films for a small charge on demand using the Sky Digital set top box. It is also possible access hundreds of films via your PC that you will have to download to your PC and then you can watch them on your PC or on your television. To watch them on your TV you will either need to copy them to a DVD Disc for playing on your DVD player that is attached to your TV or a you will need a Media Centre so that you can stream the data directly to your PC.
Freesat Television
The name Freesat is confused by the fact that there is a version provided by Sky and one by a joint venture of the BBC and ITV. Each option requires a satellite dish and set top box which you will have to purchase and both are free of monthly charges. Panasonic also have a television with a built in Freesat tuner that is compatible with the BBC and ITV option, so a set top box is not required if this is bought. Like with Sky Digital the installation of the satellite dish is subject to the same restrictions but generally Freesat is available to over 99% of homes in the UK. If your house already has a Sky Satellite Dish installed on it that is unused or it has a spare connector on it then you wont need to go to the expense of having a Satellite Dish installed.
The Freesat option from the BBC and ITV also offers a small amount of free high definition television broadcasts if the HD set top box is purchased.
Set top boxes that are compatible with the BBC and ITVs Freesat are available from around 49.99 or 129.99 complete with a dish and installation. There are in excess of 140 channels of programmes of different types that are available without any commitment or monthly subscription. If you want the HD version then you will have to pay 129.99 for the set top box or around 229.99 with satellite dish and installation. If you opt for a Freesat compatible television then you wont require a set top box just a satellite dish.
Sky's Freesat is available with an initial payment of 75 without any additional monthly payments. Whilst there aren't any HD channels available there are over 240 television channels.
BT Vision Television
BT Vision is an on demand service that offers Freeview and on demand TV shows and movies. The content is provided via broadband and requires a BT Home Hub router (which is free to BT broadband customers) which is connected to a phone line and a wireless receiver is connected to the television.
There are various options of program bundles of Kids programmes, sports, music and a number of films, that include 40 channels of Freeview, that are available from 13.70 monthly up to 19.57 monthly. However you dont have to subscribe for any of the bundles you can just use BT vision on pay per view basis each time you watch a programme or film. If you dont have BT Broadband then there is an installation charge of 29.36 for the BT Home Hub router and wireless receiver and another 29.36 for the supply of the equipment.
Tiscali TV
Tiscali television cant be accessed in all areas of the country. If it is available in your area it offers a combination of 70 digital TV programmes, digital radio channels and over one thousand On Demand channels of music, entertainment, and movies. The television programmes are received by a combination of an aerial and broadband. The basic package starts at just under 20 and includes phone line rental and 8 Mb broadband.
Fetch Television
Fetch TV is a Freeview PVR with a HD home media centre built in that can also download thousands of movies and TV shows via your PC. It has over 48 free channels of Freeview Digital TV and Radio without any subscription, monthly bills or contract tie in. The Fetch set top box interfaces with your computers hard drive to watch movies that you have downloaded to your PC. Fetch TV is available from 129.99 for the set top box.
IP Television and Television On Demand
There are many films and programmes that can be down loaded to your home computer via the internet some of which are in high definition. Some of these are free and some require a small payment. Once down loaded you can then either watch them on your computer or copy them to a DVD disc for playing on your DVD player that is attached to your television. If you have a Media Centre under your television then you can stream the content from your PCs hard drive to your television. Many programmes are available for downloading from Sky, the BBC, ITV and many other channels from all around the world.
Conclusion
Never before has there been so much choice and so many ways to receive TV content. Which one you choose will depend on the availability of Cable, Satellite, Freeview or Broadband Phone Line and how much you want to pay for the equipment, the type and quantity of programmes you want to view, and how much you want to pay a month if anything. Then to further complicate the decision you need to decide if you want HD content and are you willing to pay for it. IP TV is available now albeit a bit difficult and sometimes slow to access but this will probably be the way programmes will be received in the future. Of course you will also need a suitable widescreen HD LCD TV or HD Plasma TV to appreciate the benefits of Digital television broadcasts.
About the Author:
For almost 20 years Armadeus Cornelius has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in the electronics industry. For more details on Digital TV go to his site http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk . If you want to save money then go to cheap tv uk or cheap tvs in uk