Friday 30 January 2009

FREESAT TV BRINGS HIGH-DEFINITION 6 NATIONS RUGBY TO THE UK FOR FREE.


FREESAT TV BRINGS HIGH-DEFINITION 6 NATIONS RUGBY TO THE UK FOR FREE.


GET A FREESAT HD BOX IN TIME FOR THE TOURNAMENT.

British rugby fans won’t need an expensive TV subscription to catch all of this year’s 2009 RBS 6 Nations home matches featuring England, Wales and Scotland, live and in high-definition (HD). All the home matches will be in glorious HD and for free with Freesat, the free-to-air satellite TV service.

Kicking off on Saturday 7 February, the RBS 6 Nations tournament sees top teams from across Europe battle for the coveted silverware. With the BBC HD channel on Freesat, viewers can catch every scrum, kick and maul of the home matches in vivid HD, offering pictures five times the quality of standard definition (SD).

Freesat offers over 140 other TV and radio channels, including HD programming from both the BBC and ITV, all for as little as £97 for an HD digital box.

The BBC HD channel (Freesat channel 108) will be showing all of the home matches including;

  • Sat 07/02 England vs. Italy

  • Sun 08/02 Scotland vs. Wales

  • Sat 14/02 Wales vs. England

  • Sat 28/02 Scotland vs. Italy

  • Sat 14/03 Scotland vs. Ireland

· Sun 15/03 England vs. France

· Sat 21/03 England vs. Scotland followed by Wales vs. Ireland.

Official Freesat TV Press Release.

Wednesday 28 January 2009

SKY+ TV OFFERS HD AT LOWEST EVER UK PRICE.

SKY+ TV OFFERS HD AT LOWEST EVER UK PRICE.

With viewer choice being our watch-word we feel that the Sky package today
comes close to what must be their best offer yet.
For new customers from today Sky+HD which has over 30 HD channels is now available at £49 plus free set up.
The banner on the right holds this offer.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

FREESAT ADDS MORE CHANNELS 27th JANUARY 2009.



FREESAT ADDS MORE CHANNELS 27th JANUARY 2009.

FREESAT ADDS FINANCIAL NEWS LEADER BLOOMBERG TV TO ITS PLATFORM

CLUBLAND TV AND WEDDING TV+1 ALSO TO LAUNCH ON 27 JAN

Freesat, the free-to-air digital satellite TV service today announced the launch of the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, the leading financial news and information station, on channel 208.

The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network provides news and commentary aimed at the business and financial professional. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network operates twenty-four hours a day and reaches more than 200 million homes worldwide via 11 networks, in seven languages.

In addition to the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, two other channels, dance music channel Clubland TV (channel 514) and the time-delayed wedding channel Wedding TV+1 (channel 403), will launch at the same time.

The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, Clubland TV and Wedding TV+1 will automatically be added via viewers’ Freesat digital boxes or integrated TVs, so viewers will not need to take any action to access the channel.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE.

Saturday 17 January 2009

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD. 17th January 2009.

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD. 17th January 2009.

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD was being fitted at a good friends house yesterday.

I had told them the freesat box was easy to fit and easy on the pocket. When I went there the dish was looking very bedraggled and weather beaten. Paint was peeling off in lumps - bad enough for me to see it from the ground.
I'll point out at this point my ladder climbing days are over so my thoughts must have been showing on my expression as my friend said " thought this was the bees knees". I asked when the ancient Sky dish had last been used and he told me about ten years ago with the previous owner.
I plugged in the freesat box using a simple coax length of about two metres with an f-connector on each end from the back of the Goodmans to the wall plate - silence and no signal returned a request from the Goodmans to attempt a search - after the search it requested the usual postal code.
I entered the postal code and found that it was getting a 56% signal.
I asked the box to do it's thing and it grabbed every channel - that is when I found out the signal level to the freesat box is not anywhere near the same. The BBC channels made no show including the CBB's channel I was after especially, nor the CITV channel I assured them they would get with a tin lid.
Channels that came through strong were a surprise; Simply Movies - clear as a bell, Channel 5 - clear as a bell, Russian News - clear as a bell, British Parliament - clear as a bell, all types of 4 - clear as a bell. All in all the signal strength for a new service was very disappointing - tweaked the signal strength to just under 65% and still not a complete service - the Goodmans box brand new and tested before taking it to my friends place.
My next step is to return and instruct my friend to remove and by-pass the wall plate to see if this will liven up the signal enough to pick up the BBC channels before I suggest a new dish and LNB.
This does not really auger well for those in fringe areas, and it answers a lot of questions we have been getting about lack of signals in far away places.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!

Wednesday 14 January 2009

FREESAT APPOINTS BAL SAMRA TO THE BOARD.


FREESAT APPOINTS BAL SAMRA TO THE BOARD.

Freesat has today announced that Bal Samra, Director of BBC Vision Operations and Rights is to join the board of the subscription free satellite TV service, as of 28th January 2009. Bal will replace Richard Waghorn, BBC Controller of Distribution, who is leaving the BBC.


Bal
is responsible for Rights and Business Affairs across the BBC, leading the development, financing and implementation of the BBC’s Rights and Business Affairs strategy and overseeing the relationship with external stakeholders and partners.

Bal also leads Vision Operations within BBC Vision. BBC Vision is responsible for the commissioning, scheduling and production of all video-related content for the BBC’s UK public services. Vision Operations encompasses Commercial and Business Development, Business Planning and Analysis, Commissioning Operations, Finance, and Production Operations. Together, around 1,000 staff work in Vision Operations and Rights

Bal joined the BBC in corporate finance in 1990. During his time at the BBC highlights included spearheading the business aspects of a number of BBC service launches, including launching Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 (now the BBC News channel) and BBC News Online. Prior to joining the BBC, Bal worked in commercial and finance roles at Unilever, GEC and Ford Motor Company .

As a BBC representative on the Board of Freesat, Bal will play a key role in helping to shape Freesat’s strategy, bringing his extensive knowledge of the TV broadcasting industry and his strong commercial acumen to the fore.

Commenting on the new appointment of Bal Samra to the board, Emma Scott, Freesat’s MD said; “Bal’s background and experience will be invaluable to Freesat as we enter 2009 and an exciting period for the business. I look forward to working with Bal and the Freesat Board to continue to shape our strategy in Freesat’s second year after a highly successful launch year.”

Official press release, 14th January 2009.

Thursday 8 January 2009

FREESAT SALES DOUBLE IN LAST QUARTER OF 2008.

FREESAT SALES DOUBLE IN LAST QUARTER OF 2008.

TOTAL SALES SINCE LAUNCH EXCEED 200,000 IN 2008.

(Official freesat press release.)

· Freesat subscription free offer proving popular in current economic climate

· Increasing popularity of High Definition (HD) a key driver

· Launch of Freesat+ and a pre Christmas marketing campaign saw strongest ever sales in December

By the end of 2008 Freesat, the subscription free satellite television service, had achieved over 200,000 sales since its launch in May 2008. Having reported sales of 100,000 in September 2008, total sales of Freesat doubled in the final quarter of 2008 against the backdrop of challenging times on the high street.

Freesat is seen as an excellent choice in the current economic climate, with consumers attracted to Freesat’s subscription-free offer, preferring to avoid costly monthly TV bills in return for brilliant quality TV and a wide range of free channels.

Standard Definition (SD) boxes currently sell for under £50 and with HD boxes now priced below the £99 mark, Freesat offers over 140 channels and services, including HD programming for a low one-off payment.

Emma Scott, MD of Freesat commented; “We saw consumers increasingly drawn to Freesat at the end of last 2008 and into this year. The quality and choice of channels and services available and the added benefits offered by Freesat+ have really struck a chord.”

HD in 2008

Freesat’s offer of subscription-free TV with high quality HD programming from the BBC and ITV has been a key factor in the strong sales increase of HD set top boxes, with 61% of Freesat’s ‘customer panel’ specifying HD as their primary reason for purchasing.

In the latter half of 2008, viewers were offered a wide selection of HD programming via Freesat including UEFA Champions League, England internationals and FA Cup matches on ITV HD - exclusive to Freesat. The BBC HD channel offered some firm family favourites like Strictly Come Dancing, Heroes, The Royle Family and Wallace & Gromit.

Further HD programming is due on Freesat in early 2009, including Lark Rise to Candleford, Hustle, Anne Frank and the Rugby 6 Nations on the BBC HD channel and the FA Cup and Champions League will be gathering pace on ITV HD.

Emma Scott continues; “Freesat is able to offer incredible HD with no subscription. We’re thrilled that both the BBC and ITV are investing more in HD programming in 2009.”

The future

Emma Scott concludes “As we approach Freesat’s first anniversary in May 2009, we’re in an extremely strong position to build on our early successes. Key goals in 2009 include increasing our product range and distribution by the quality and choice of channels and services available, and the anticipated launch of IPTV services, like BBC iPlayer onto Freesat later this year.”

Monday 5 January 2009

LG LF7700, LH5000 FREESAT NETFLIX-ENABLED BROADBAND VOD HDTV.

LG LF7700, LH5000 FREESAT NETFLIX-ENABLED BROADBAND VOD HDTV.




Hot on the heals of that last update here is the one we have all been waiting for the next generation of FREESAT enabled TV's will also be showcasing an worlds first in being
fully compatible with the Netflix-enabled HDTV's.

lG is the latest of the world brand names to get behind Freesat TV from the BBC and ITV in the UK.

Netflix streaming software enabled will mean VIDEO ON DEMAND BUILT-IN we have been reporting this on this Blog
long before anyone else, this also means it will have Broadband built-in which in turn means you the viewer can fully interact
with ones TV set and have complete control over what you want to watch from the remote.


Instantly streaming content from Netflix to the LG HDTVs will rely on a broadband connection.

This new type of HDTV sets will be available in both LCD and PLASMA forms and are due out in the Spring of 2009.

This will put intense pressure on Panasonic to cut its prices on their Freesat enabled TVs before the LGs release dates.

This is also great new for Freesat in general and may put downward pressures to cut prices from Freesat's satellite competition.

Is it news to you? If it is you read here first!


LG TO MANUFACTURE FREESAT PRODUCTS IN 2009.

LG TO MANUFACTURE FREESAT PRODUCTS IN 2009.

OFFICIAL FREESAT PRESS RELEASE.

Freesat today announced a partnership with leading consumer electronics company LG to produce Freesat integrated products in 2009.

The two companies have signed a deal which will see LG producing integrated digital televisions initially, with the prospect of further products in the future.

Emma Scott, Freesat’s MD comments “We’re extremely pleased to be working with LG as a manufacturing partner for Freesat in 2009. LG is world renowned for its quality products and this partnership will give consumers even more ways to enjoy Freesat as we grow the service.”

Freesat is also in talks with a range of manufacturers regarding producing Freesat products and will announce further partners in 2009.

Friday 2 January 2009

HUMAX FOXSAT HDR COPY TUTORIAL EXCLUSIVE.


HUMAX FOXSAT HDR COPY TUTORIAL EXCLUSIVE.

HUMAX FOXSAT HDR COPY TUTORIAL EXCLUSIVE from and too your Humax Foxsat HDR.

The Humax Foxsat HDR is obviously designed to play it's own type files irrespective of the file extension names they carry.
In the case of the Humax Foxsat HDR the file extensions are named;
hmt, nts and ts

The idea of copying what you want to keep for a library makes sound sense, for example T.V. company's have so much archived programmes which for one reason or another will never see the light of day.
To start this tutorial we point out that the Humax Foxsat will NOT COPY more than 4gig at one time. This means that many films cannot be stored or kept off the Humax Foxsat HDR itself. This also means many modern day films have more than the max copy permitted at this time of 4gig so to copy is a no-no.
For the purpose of this tutorial we used an 8gig pen drive but of course this is not a must.
How to;
make sure the file/s you wish to copy is LESS than 4gig.
make sure you copy EXACTLY the file/s already stored in the Humax Foxsat HDR - do not edit or change them AFTER they leave the Humax Foxsat HDR unless you know more than we are telling you here.
Insert the USB pen drive in your chosen USB slot front or rear, we chose the front(under the flap down).
The wizard will tell you a USB device is connected.
Select Media>then Opt+> File Manager> O.K. this;
The window that opens is split into two with on the right your pen drive folder named sda. The sda files in your pen drive need to be opened BEFORE highlighting the chosen file (under 4gig) on the left to copy.
The window on the left is where your already stored films/serials/etc.
For our exercise we copied the second half of the last detective, we highlighted this and at the same time the green copy button at the top glows, before you highlight it you will notice the green button is greyed out.
If you have went this far you are well advised to NOT edit anything now, but if you need to edit make sure it is all done before starting.
The copy button (green) is pressed and it then writes to the pen drive - time taken about ten minutes.
If you want to store these files you copied to your pen drive make sure you leave everything intact to allow you to transfer them back into the Humax Foxsat HDR where they play as before.
For the benefit of those who are undermining Humax efforts by banding about stories that it cannot be done, we say try, try and try again until you get it right.
We repeat - WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, and to repeat - WE FOUND IT VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH NO PROBLEMS.
To play the stored files, it is a simple reversal of the former, but make sure the files are EXACTLY as the original in it's own folder.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!