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ConeXionS is pleased to announce the availability in Spain of FreeSat from the BBC and ITV!

It took some time, but the service finally launched on 6th May 2008, and is now available locally.

What is FreeSat?

FreeSat is a satellite-based service from the BBC and ITV, designed to complement the existing Freeview terrestrial digital service in the UK. Whilst Freeview is broadcast locally in the UK using normal TV aerials, (meaning that it is only capable of being received by a portion of the UK population, and NONE in Spain!), FreeSat, as the name implies, is a satellite based platform. This means a far greater coverage of the UK population, as the signal is beamed from the sky above us.

The idea behind FreeSat is to offer a FREE digital service in anticipation of the big ‘switch-off’ of analogue TV signals in April 2010. Something to replace and complement the current 5 analogue channels that anyone with a TV and an aerial can receive...

What channels does FreeSat offer?

FreeSat boasts a launch line-up of around 80 TV channels, and 20 radio channels. These are in digital format, and some channels are broadcast in High Definition, allowing the millions of buyers of HD-ready TVs to finally experience live HD broadcasts, if they have held back from the pricey Sky HD so far...

So, what ARE the benefits of FreeSat versus Sky?

FreeSat has several advantages over Sky, which we will discuss in a second. However, these advantages seem better suited to viewers who currently don’t receive Sky Digital already, as most of the channels are repeats of the ones that Sky offer for free anyway. However, there are some notable differences:

1) Some HD channels are available on FreeSat. Sky charge a minimum of £10 a month extra - on top of any subscription package - to receive HD channels, but FreeSat is, and will remain, FREE. You WILL still need a suitable HD-ready TV in order to enjoy the benefits of HD. If you don't have an HD-ready TV you can still get an HD box and connect it via scart (ready for when you upgrade your TV in the future), but if you want the cheapest option, go for an SD (Standard Definition) FreeSat box, with similar picture quality as standard Sky Digital reception, which should come in at around the 130-150 euro mark, once boxes start to become available in greater quantities in Spain.

2) FreeSat boxes have their own EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) showing ONLY the channels you can receive for free - not like Sky, which shows ALL the channels, despite whether or not you subscribe to them!

3) Some models of FreeSat box contain hard-disks (similar to Sky+) allowing you to pause and rewind live TV, and record at the touch of a button or two, as well as watching one channel whilst recording another. Sky have in the past charged an extra £10 a month for this handy feature too, PLUS they also require you to have a 'Premium' package - minimum cost, £24 per month! With FreeSat, this option is, and should remain, completely FREE.

So, overall, I would say that if you already have a Sky system, the only reason to want FreeSat NOW is for the HD and recording functions - if you don’t already have Sky+ or Sky HD.

However, for customers who don't currently have Sky, FreeSat makes for a cheaper option, more suited to part-time residents and rental properties; for those who are happy with basic free channels, or for those who simply hate Sky - and there are plenty of you out there!

Can we get FreeSat here in Spain?

Yes, we can! Simply call us up for a free, no-obligation site visit and quotation to discuss your exact requirements. We have all the technical details and knowledge necessary to supply and install any FreeSat system.

What will I need in order to receive FreeSat?

To receive FreeSat you will need:

A 2.4m dish, suitably matched LNB, and good quality cable, connected to a new FreeSat box. If you have an HD-ready TV, you will also want an HDMI cable between the FreeSat box and your TV set. This is the modern, digital equivalent of scart, but with much better quality. We can supply and install all of this for you, including HD-ready TVs, should you need us to. You do NOT need an HD-Ready TV to receive FreeSat!

It has been suggested that you can receive FreeSat on a smaller 1m dish, and has even been advertised as such by local firms looking to take advantage of the general confusion out there at the moment. DO NOT BE FOOLED!!! A smaller dish WILL allow you to receive some FreeSat - about 20-30% of it. MOST of the channels on FreeSat (including BBC) continue to be broadcast from the same satellite they always have been. There has been NO change, and it is wrong of so-called ‘professionals’ to take advantage of the market ignorance at the moment. Do yourself a favour - get the installation RIGHT from day one by choosing ConeXionS to do the work for you!

How much will a FreeSat system cost?

This is the biggest question of all at the moment, and the answer depends on the type of Freesat receiver you opt for..

It is estimated that a full, new FreeSat system will cost in the region of 1,400 - 1,600 euros. This includes a 2.4m dish set in a poured concrete base with sub-terranean spikes, a suitable twin LNB, all cabling work, your new FreeSat box and all associated installation work. This price depends on the type of FreeSat box you choose - standard definition, HD (high definition), with or without PVR recording functions... Please call us for our latest info...

Are there any on-going costs?

No, there aren’t!

FreeSat have promised to keep the system free to anyone who can receive their signal. However, as happened with Freeview after it launched and settled down, there MAY in the future be some kind of pay-TV option OVER AND ABOVE what they offer viewers for free - similar in style to FreeView’s ‘Top-up TV’ option.

We will endeavour to keep this website as up-to-date and fresh as possible with all the latest information regarding Sky, FreeSat and other digital TV systems.

However, please feel free to call or email us for the absolute LATEST news on anything you have seen here so far.

Our aim is to get you watching UK TV as quickly, cheaply and painlessly as possible. People have more to worry about in life than their TV. Let us take the hassle out of it for you!