What, in layman’s terms is Freeview HD? There’s been a lot of min-information bandied about and some people – specially older – have become fairly confused about the whole “Digital switchover” thing as well.
Basically Freeview HD does just what it says on the box. It is the name of the UK’s ““free to air” service on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform.” Five separate companies hold equal shares in the company – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. That’s why you can always see these channels free to air, some of their subsidiaries, and no others. One of the misnomers going the rounds is that a special digital TV receiver is required, but it isn’t. TV either analogue or digital needs an aerial – but not a special one.
Basically, once you’ve paid your television license you’ll be able to use your Freeview HD box for no charge at all. After your area has had the “Digital Switchover” completed, the overall power of the digital transmissions will increase. It was revealed that over a million Freeview Boxes have bee purchased, here on in the UK by February 2011. Whilst it’s always advisable to enquire if a “shop sold TV is compatible with the new Freeview HD channels broadcasting soon?”
The thing is, it’s possible to watch an HD-ready TV with built in Freeview and, if you’ve got a digital set top box it will be compatible with Freeview Channels. However, to watch Freeview HD you are now talking the need to buy a completely new television which has built in HD. It’s hard to keep up, isn’t it?
