Press Releases & Press Packs

03.10.02

ABOUT THE BBC

Freeview to launch on 30 October

The Hits, UK Homestyle, 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 BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB.

Freeview is a fresh start for digital terrestrial television in the UK.

For a one-off cost of around £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 HomeStyle 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 BBC digital radio networks on the new service.

Andy Duncan, Director, Marketing and Communications, BBC said: "Freeview is a fresh start for digital terrestrial television - providing a simple way for people way to see all eight of the BBC's digital television channels, including the soon to launch BBC THREE, and to listen to BBC digital radio stations.

"It will also offer interactive services, linked to a wide range of BBC 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 BBC, 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).

www.freeview.co.uk

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.

BBC and Crown Castle name "Freeview" (19.08.02)

BBC and Crown Castle to champion digital for everyone(04.07.02)

BBC and Crown Castle submit complementary applications for digital terrestrial television licences(13.06.02)

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