Quest TV joins freeview on the 30th Sept 2009.

Quest TV joins freeview on the 30th Sept 2009.

Quest TV joins freeview as of noon on the 30th Sept 2009. So fans of programmes such as T.J.Hooker, Ironside and Law and Order are in for a treat with these particular shows running from the start tomorrow which begins with T.J.Hooker at; 12.00 noon in U.K.
This channel looks like it will be a particular favourite channel and it seems strange that channel 38 has been selected for it's entrance into Freeview. We expected it to be well up the numbers list among some of the popular channels.
The quest TV website which is at; www.questtv.co.uk has the schedule up until the 14th October already showing.
Quest TV? will it be popular - we think it will!
To get Quest?
retune your Freeview box or TV around lunchtime tomorrow the 30th Sept 2009, the channel will also be available on Sky.

FREESAT CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY FREEVIEW RETUNE DAY ON 30 SEPTEMBER

Tuesday 29 September 2009

FREESAT CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY FREEVIEW RETUNE DAY ON 30 SEPTEMBER

Customers of subscription-free digital TV satellite service, Freesat, will not be affected by the Freeview retune day tomorrow, Wednesday 30 September, which Digital UK estimates will affect up to 18 million homes in the UK.

All Freeview set-top boxes and televisions will need retuning so that viewers can continue to receive all of Freeview’s channels and services. However, Freesat customers won’t have to lift a finger to re-scan or re-tune as updates of this nature happen automatically with Freesat channels and services.

***

Freesat Fact Check

Launch Date	6 May 2008
Number of products sold	600,000
Total channels	140+
Manufacturers	Digital boxes: Harvard International (Bush, Goodmans, Grundig) Humax Metronic Freesat+ Humax TVs with Freesat built-in Panasonic LG
Prices starting from	· A standard-definition (SD) digital box, currently priced from £48.99, providing over 140 digital TV channels and services · A high-definition (HD) digital box, currently priced from £69, providing over 140 channels, plus the BBC HD channel and the ITV HD channel · A freesat+ digital television recorder, currently priced from around £249.94, allowing viewers to pause, rewind and record up to 200 hours of freesat digital TV · An integrated digital TV (IDTV), currently priced from £489.95, a flat screen television with HD Freesat built in
Recent marketing campaigns	Easter advertising campaign
Company details	Freesat is a not for profit organisation and a joint venture between the BBC and ITV

Notes

Freesat is a satellite TV service providing subscription-free digital television to everyone in the UK. It offers over 140 TV, radio and interactive channels, including High Definition (HD) services from the BBC and ITV. Freesat is a not-for-profit organisation and is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV. For more information visit www.freesat.co.uk

To get Freesat, viewers can use an existing satellite dish, or a dish can be installed for around £80. Freesat is available from Argos, Currys, Comet, John Lewis, Maplin and many independent retailers.

BBC HD JOIN FREEVIEW.

BBC HD JOIN FREEVIEW.


Rumours abound with BBC HD going onto Freeview and along with these rumours are fairy stories that existing Freeview boxes will be obsolete - to clarify, ALL existing boxes will still be able to view as before and the over enthusiastic MP who delivered this did not have his facts accurate, rather strange that for an MP.
The true details are;
BBC HD on freesat is already encrypted for certain programmes or that should really be "Content Management", and the obvious must also apply to the new Freeview BBC HD which is expected to launch in early 2010, the World Cup in HD looks promising.
The rumours about existing Freeview boxes arose because new Freeview equipment is expected around the same BBC HD timetable.

WELCOME FOR STV SCOTTISH SIX

WELCOME FOR STV SCOTTISH SIX

LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS MUST PLAY FULL ROLE

SNP Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson Pete Wishart MP has welcomed news STV are set to outline plans for a new, hour long integrated evening news programme giving a Scottish perspective on international, national and local events to be broadcast at 6pm - but warned that any change of format must not be allowed to diminish the standard of local coverage or lead to local jobs losses.

Commenting, Mr Wishart said:

“Plans for a comprehensive Scottish six o’clock news programme are very welcome, and must build on the existing success of STV’s local news services.

“Viewers in Scotland have been crying out for a substantial Scottish news programme, drawing together international, national and local news. STV’s plans represent a welcome step towards developing a relevant and cutting edge format for people in Scotland.

“One of STV’s greatest assets is its excellent network of local correspondents who must now play a full role in delivering a successful new format.”

Ninetendo Wii test review on BBCiPlayer.

Ninetendo Wii test review on BBCiPlayer.

Ninetendo Wii is best known for multimedia which encourages owners to move off their posteriors, but knowing their rivals in multimedia boxes such as the Sony Play Station or the Microsoft X-box are continually upgrading we decided to try the Nintendo Wii's ability to view the possible internet TV and video possibilities.
The exact same wireless connection was used - ie; average speed for u.k. once again the wireless connection to the Wii was straightforward enough.
Using the search function in the Wii we started with the channel4 player - it does NOT play. Next we tried the ITV player - it also does NOT play. We then tried the demand five player and unlike the PS3 it does not play.
We then tried the BBCiPlayer and the Wii had no problems playing although unlike the PS3 it cannot upscale the picture - the Wii like the PS3 coped well with the BBCiPlayer without any line break or shake.
It is reported that the Wii's last update caused problems with the BBCiPlayer but we found no such problems.
Allowing for the time frame in connection, picture quality and hand controls the PS3 wins hands down.
Nintendo Wii is enhanced by the ability to view the BBCiPlayer.
Conclusion;
The BBCiPlayer added to both the PS3 and the Wii enhances both these multimedia entertainment systems but for our testing purposes we found that the PS3 is best to view the popular BBCiPlayer.

Strictly Come Dancing in FREE HD on Freesat.

SPARKLES, SPINS AND PERFECT TENS – IT’S STRICTLY TIME AGAIN.

Strictly Come Dancing in FREE HD on Freesat.

Live from a living room near you, or so it will seem – the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing waltzes its way back onto our screens in high-definition on the BBC HD channel – available completely subscription-free on Freesat from this Friday 18^th September at 8.30pm.

Clear your diaries and invite your friends round for the ultimate night in because this year’s Strictly Come Dancing promises to be the most exciting yet. What’s more it’s all available in glorious HD without having to pay a penny in monthly subscriptions if you’re with freesat. With 5x the picture quality and 5.1 surround sound, high definition shows up every wardrobe mishap and misstep, so the contestants need to make sure they are on top form for the cameras.

One big change this year is the format of the show, there will be two shows per weekend for the first two weeks giving viewers two opportunities to watch the fantastic new series in HD.

Former Strictly Come Dancing champion and actress Jill Halfpenny comments, ‘It will make such a difference to be able to watch Strictly Come Dancing in HD this year. It helps to make the audience really feel part of the show. It’s a shame we didn’t have high definition when I was on the show – the audience would have been able to see every spangle, twirl and tears to its full effect!”

Strictly Come Dancing continues to grow in popularity, with a finale audience of over 12million at the end of the 6^th series. With exciting big-name celebrities such as Jo Wood, Martina Hingis, Zoe Lucker and Joe Calzaghe, the 7^th series is set to be the most exciting yet.

Other BBC HD highlights available subscription-free on freesat in the coming weeks include That Mitchell and Webb Look, Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey and Dragon’s Den.

PS3 REVIEW OF BBC iPLAYER.

PS3 REVIEW OF BBC iPLAYER.

BBC iPlayer, is it any good? does it run on other multimedia devices? read on for our experience!

All the media hype of BBCiPlayer got us thinking about what multimedia boxes can pick it up and cope with it. On doing our homework we tested the other popular internet TV possibility's such as Demand Five, ITVplayer and channel4 player to see how they too performed.
For todays test we used the latest upgraded "Play Station 3" or as is commonly known the "PS3" from Sony.
The results are via a wireless connection running at U.K. average speed.
First we searched for the channel4 player and tried to view something - actually anything without any success, all we got was gobbledegook! next we tried the ITV player and once again like the channel4 player it showed us gobbledegook, so none of these are compatible at this time with this multimedia player.
We then tried the well touted Demand five from channel five who it has to be added demand monies for some viewing titles - so steering clear of these pay per view programmes we tried the freebie stuff, result; it works although very slowly and at times painfully slow - the picture was watchable,just!
It was then the turn of the well known BBCiPlayer;
we can tell you the "PS3", ticks most of the boxes for speed, sound and choice - the picture has still to be perfected, and assuming this will be our viewing future the Internet BBC iPLAYER is still miles away from HD coverage although compatible with normal terrestrial TV.
We liked the idea of the PS3 making the BBCiPlayer as important as any of the games by showing it in it's own highlighted place after first viewing it.
The iPlayer was extremely easy to set-up via the PS3 after searching for it via the www. search section on the PS3 menu system. From clicking on the iPlayer name tag until viewing took around one minute - we used a wireless set up which requested the network name and also the passkey - very straightforward and once programmed in should not need re-set.
The PS3 is a wonderful family entertainment multimedia centre which is enhanced by adding to the PS3 the BBC iPLayer.

FREESAT TV DELIVERS 600,000 SALES SINCE LAUNCH.

FREESAT TV DELIVERS 600,000 SALES SINCE LAUNCH.

RECORD 50% GROWTH IN LAST QUARTER AS FREESAT BECOMES UK’S 4^TH BIGGEST TV SERVICE

Official Freesat TV press release, from your official freesat blog.

Subscription-free digital satellite TV service, Freesat, has delivered sales of 600,000 in a little over a year.

Despite the economic downturn Freesat has had an excellent summer, increasing sales by fifty percent in the last quarter alone, from 400,000 in May to reach 600,000 sales in September. To put this into context, BT Vision has reached 443,000 customers since launching almost three years ago.

Freesat’s strong performance is more positive news for the UK TV industry despite challenging times. According to a report last month by Thinkbox, the television research and marketing body, TV viewing in the first half of this year was up on the five year average to 26.2 hours a week.

Free-to-air programming is proving especially popular with viewers. BARB figures reveal that nine of the ten top multi-channel programmes between January and June 2009 (non-sport) were available subscription-free on free-to-air TV platforms such as Freesat.

Emma Scott, managing director of Freesat comments, "To achieve this level of sales and viewing in such a short space of time is a fantastic achievement and testament to the ever-growing appeal of Freesat, both to consumers and broadcasters.”

“Great innovations such as high definition TV, Freesat+ (digital recording), and a wide range of programming have previously only been available by paying a subscription and are now proving incredibly popular with viewers. Freesat homes consistently rate the service highly, with over ninety percent saying they would recommend to a friend.”

“We’ve had a brilliant summer and are confident that we’ll continue to report outstanding growth, especially in the run up to the World Cup as we attract viewers that want to watch in high definition but without having to pay a subscription no matter where they live in the UK.”

Freesat is also working with the BBC to launch iPlayer in the near future and will be the first wholly subscription free TV platform to offer the award-winning catch-up TV service.

To get Freesat TV, you can use an existing satellite dish, or a dish can be installed for around £80. Freesat is available from Argos, Currys, Comet, John Lewis, Maplin and many independent retailers.

FREESAT TV SATELLITE DISH INSTALLATION.

FREESAT TV SATELLITE DISH INSTALLATION.

Freesat TV dish erection and installation instructions can be found on the updated website;

http://www.freesattvdish.com

Anyone who is a little bit of a DIY guru will have no problems with the tutorial, information on the website.