Freeview (UK)

Freeview
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryTelevision broadcasting
PredecessorITV Digital
Founded30 October 2002
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsEquipment to receive free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels
Owners
ParentEveryone TV
DTV Services Ltd
Websitefreeview.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Freeview is the United Kingdom's sole digital terrestrial television platform. It is operated by Everyone TV and DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. It was launched on 30 October 2002,[1] taking over the licence from ITV Digital which collapsed that year. The service provides consumer access via an aerial to the seven DTT multiplexes covering the United Kingdom. As of July 2020, it has 85 TV channels, 26 digital radio channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streamed channels, and one interactive channel.[2][3][4]

Delivery of standard-definition television and radio is labelled Freeview, while delivery of HDTV is called Freeview HD. Reception of Freeview requires a DVB-T/DVB-T2 tuner, either in a separate set-top box or built into the TV set. Since 2008 all new TV sets sold in the United Kingdom have a built-in Freeview tuner.[5] Freeview HD requires an HDTV-capable tuner. Digital video recorders (DVRs) with a built-in Freeview tuner are labelled Freeview+. Depending on model, DVRs and HDTV sets with a Freeview tuner may offer standard Freeview or Freeview HD. Freeview Play is a more recent addition which adds direct access to catch-up services via the Internet.

The technical specification for Freeview is published and maintained by the Digital TV Group, the industry association for digital TV in the UK which also provide the test and conformance regime for Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview HD products. DMOL (DTT Multiplex Operators Ltd.), a company owned by the operators of the six DTT multiplexes (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Arqiva) is responsible for technical platform management and policy, including the electronic programme guide and channel numbering.[6]

  1. ^ Freeview: About us Linked 10 August 2013
  2. ^ Freeview channel guide, Summer 2013 – Proposed line-up from 1 August 2013 Archived 18 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Linked 10 August 2013
  3. ^ a516digital, 5 August 2013: Freeview Channel Updates: August 2013 Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Linked 10 August 2013
  4. ^ a516digital, 5 August 2013: True Entertainment launches on Freeview Archived 5 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Linked 10 August 2013
  5. ^ "How can I record programmes from my new TV set?". The Guardian. London. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Digital UK Industry - Home". Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

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