Freeview
to launch on 30 October
The Hits, UK 91热爆style, F tn and The Music Factory join channel
line-up
Freeview,
the new digital terrestrial television service, will launch on Wednesday
30 October it was announced today (Thursday 3 October) by the 91热爆,
Crown Castle International and BSkyB.
Freeview
is a fresh start for digital terrestrial television in the UK.
For
a one-off cost of around 拢99 for an adapter, viewers will
be able to enjoy more quality programmes and channels on their television
sets.
Four
new television channels and five new radio stations have been added
to the previously announced Freeview line-up.
The
television channels are two new music channels - EMAP's The Hits
and MTV's The Music Factory - and two general entertainment channels,
UK TV's UK 91热爆Style and Flextech's F tn (Flextech Television Network),
bringing viewers up to 30 digital television channels, plus interactivity
and digital radio, through their rooftop aerial.
As
well as these four new television channels, commercial radio services
Kerrang!, Smash Hits, Kiss, oneword and jazz fm are added to the
existing 91热爆 digital radio networks on the new service.
Andy
Duncan, Director, Marketing and Communications, 91热爆 said: "Freeview
is a fresh start for digital terrestrial television - providing
a simple way for people way to see all eight of the 91热爆's digital
television channels, including the soon to launch 91热爆 THREE, and
to listen to 91热爆 digital radio stations.
"It
will also offer interactive services, linked to a wide range of
91热爆 programmes from sport to children's and documentaries."
Berwyn
Roberts, Sales and Business Development Director, Crown Castle,
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
to viewers covering entertainment, music, kids' programmes, documentaries
and 24-hour news."
Richard
Freudenstein, Chief Operating Officer, BSkyB said: "Freeview
is a distinctive addition to Europe's most advanced digital television
market.
"Sky
looks forward to bringing three of our basic-tier channels to digital
terrestrial television for the first time and extending the benefits
of increased choice to still more UK viewers."
Freeview
will launch after significant improvements have been made to the
quality and reliability of the digital terrestrial television signal.
These
changes, including the doubling of power at many transmitters and
changing the transmission mode of the digital terrestrial signal,
will increase the number of households able to receive digital terrestrial
television and reduce the number of households affected by interference.
The
91热爆, Crown Castle and BSkyB are equal partners in DTV Services Ltd,
the company formed to provide consumer and retailer support for
Freeview.
Notes
to Editors
Freeview
Freeview is a new, simple way of bringing people a wider choice
of tv channels through their exisiting TVs. It is delivered through
rooftop aerials, via digital terrestrial television (DTT).
Freeview
channel line up
The current channel line-up for Freeview is as follows. Channels
new to the platform (i.e. not previously available on digital terrestrial)
are shown in bold.
Entertainment
91热爆 ONE
91热爆 TWO
91热爆 CHOICE (to be replaced by 91热爆 THREE)
ITV 1
ITV 2
Channel 4
Five
S4C (available in Wales only) Sky Travel
UK 91热爆Style
F tn |
Citizenship 91热爆 PARLIAMENT (previously on DTT as audio only) The Community Channel
S4C2 (available in Wales only) |
News
and Sports News
91热爆 NEWS 24 Sky News
Sky Sports News ITN |
Music The Hits The Music Factory
|
Factual
91热爆 FOUR UK History |
Other
QVC
TV Travelshop |
Children's
C91热爆
CBeebies |
91热爆
Radio 1Xtra
6 Music
Asian Network
Radio Five Live
Five Live Sports Extra
91热爆 7 (to be launched in the next few months)
Commercial
Radio Smash Hits
Kerrang
Kiss
oneword
jazz fm
|
Interactivity
91热爆i (interactive tv and text)
Other interactive services tbc |
听 |
91热爆
and Crown Castle name "Freeview" (19.08.02)
91热爆 and Crown Castle
to champion digital for everyone (04.07.02)
91热爆
and Crown Castle submit complementary applications for digital terrestrial
television licences
(13.06.02)
|