What is Freeview?

By Ty Pendlebury on 27 January 2010

The first that many people would have heard about Freeview was with the series of "enigmatic" ads which aired early in 2009. The service initially promised to offer 15 "new" channels in digital quality, and now offers 16, but what exactly is Freeview, and what do you need to do to receive it?

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The basics

When it boils down to it, almost all Australians are now receiving Freeview — it's essentially a rebadging of the digital service that has been broadcasting in Australia since 2001.

Digital television differs from analog in that it's able to send more information across the air without as much interference, which means clearer pictures and better sound. Current services allow for high-definition 1080i programs with up to six channels of surround sound.

The original "Freeview" began in the UK in 2002 as a digital standard-definition service, but it differs from the Australian version because as we speak there is still no high-definition content available. The name was then co-opted by New Zealand in 2006 for its digital services, and naturally Australia has followed suit.

Originally slated as 15 channels, the Freeview offering has expanded with all five major networks — ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine and Ten — broadcasting at least three channels each. Each station, bar the ABC, gets to broadcast one high-definition channel, and two standard-definition ones. The ABC currently broadcasts four channels, with the ABC HD channel due to become a 24-hour news service in the near future.

The first channel to broadcast was Channel Ten's ONE which hit televisions on 26 March 2009. The third channels from Seven and Nine are yet to be formally announced.

Why do I need it?

Depending on which area you live in, digital TV is an inevitability. If you happen to live in Mildura, for example, it will happen sooner than most, with the analog signal switching off on 30 June 2010.

From there it's a progressive switch-off until 2013, and so at some point in the next four years you'll need to get a digital tuner. The idea behind promoting Freeview now is that the networks would rather you do it sooner than later.

If you're still clinging to the analog TV tuner that came with your TV, then you'll find digital TV to be something of a revelation. Not only is the picture quality so much better, but the amount of choice greater. Even if you don't have a HDTV, you'll still be able to watch HD broadcasts on a CRT — just not in full high definition. Most networks play exclusive content on their secondary and HD channels so you'll be getting more stuff for the paltry cost of a digital tuner (about AU$60).

What stations will I get in my area?

If you live in a metropolitan area then you should be receiving all of the promised 15 stations. If you happen to live outside one of the major centres then you may not be as lucky. Unfortunately, there is no central place where you can check for coverage in your area, but the ABC and SBS offer coverage maps,

In January 2010, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that any users in coverage blackspots would be able to apply to the government for a subsidised satellite service.

Here are the channels so far, and we will continue to update this list if and when more channels are announced.

Station As of 1/1/2010 Resolution (max)
ABC ABC 1 576i
  ABC 2 576i
  ABC 3 576i
  ABC HD (ABC News in 2010) 720p
SBS SBS One 576i
  SBS HD 720p
  SBS Two 576i
Seven Seven 576i
  Seven HD 1080i
  Seven Two 576i
Nine Nine 576i
  Nine HD 1080i
  Go! 576i
Ten Ten 576i
  ONE HD 1080i
  ONE 576i
Prime (Seven regional) Prime
  Prime HD
  Seven Two 576i
WIN (Nine regional) WIN
  WIN HD
Southern Cross (Ten regional) Southern Cross
  ONE HD

What equipment will I need?

As of April 2009, Freeview-branded equipment has been available on the shelves. But what they don't tell you is that you won't actually need one to pick up Freeview television. If you have an existing SD or HD tuner, the service will continue as it always has. You'll even be able to pick up the existing electronic-program guide (EPG) so you can record future programs, or even just browse the shows for the next week on-screen.

Topfield TF7100HDPVRt

PVRs such as the Topfield TF7100HDPVRt use their own guides and won't need the Freeview EPG. (Credit: Topfield)

The only caveat is that in most cases you'll need a Freeview-branded tuner or television to pick up the forthcoming Freeview EPG. According to the Freeview people, the Freeview guide will offer exclusive content and functionality not available on the current guide.

Retro-actively making a piece of existing hardware Freeview compliant is theoretically possible, with LG claiming firmware updates should enable users of existing TVs to receive the EPG. Of course, it was only two years ago that the first EPG was released on the market necessitating a major upgrade of people's equipment.

Users of TiVo can relax though, as Freeview is working with the PVR manufacturer to release a Freeview EPG for the recorder as well. All that and pizza too!

Lastly, if you have a PVR from the likes of Foxtel, Austar or an Ice-enabled product such as Topfield, then you won't have to worry about Freeview — all of these recorders use their own EPG.

Conclusion

It could be argued that the Freeview branding is a cynical ploy to wrest eyeballs (and advertising dollars) back from Foxtel. However, Foxtel does offer quite a few more channels (about 100) — admittedly, with a lot of duplication and a high cost.

We look forward to finding out more about the Freeview service, and will watch with interest whether niche channels such as ONE HD can sustain the public's interest.

Topics: switch off, pvr, one, freeview, analog, digital tv, hd, sd, fta, free-to-air, what, is

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Comments (48)

  • Quill commented on 01/02/2010 20:53

    2 questions:

    1) is there any provision for rebates/assistance for those of us living outside the metropolitan coverage, but only requiring a digital aerial instead of satellite access

    and

    2) In the case above, who's responsible for installing the aerial/satellite - a tenant, or the landlord? (I presume the landlord, but then, is that the case only if there's an aerial connection already provided?)

  • bc commented on 01/02/2010 09:29

    The Topfield TF7100HDPVRt was a poor choice of PVR to use as an example. The machine is known to be a dog and Topfield has been offering free replacements to other models. My machine went back for repairs four times before I asked for a refund and changed brands.

  • Tom commented on 29/01/2010 17:40

    Freeview is just new channels coming out if you have a set top box.

  • Peter commented on 29/01/2010 07:48

    freeview is a crock. Why didnt you mention that for pvrs to be freeview copmpliant, they can not provide ad skipping.
    Why is it that some pvr makers still persist in selling both freeview compliant and freeview non - compliant products.
    The only argument for buying a freeview product is the thought that tv stations may change the digital signal they broadcast some time in the future.
    if or when this happens, then all non freeview compliant equipment will be obsolete and just will not work.
    freeview means nothing to me at all.
    surely it is just a matter of each station pushing there new digital stations.
    at this point, only the abc and channel 7 are making a real effort to push their digital stations.
    as i have analogue tvs, i have access to all digital stations - with my hd set top box plus 6 analogue stations. this has nothing to do with freeview.
    finally, what is going to happen to community tv stations - like c31 in adelaide. will they go to digital?

  • Dash commented on 28/01/2010 19:35

    And here in the NT we will not get any as, commercial, we get Imparja and 7Central. Promises promises and more promises that are lies.

  • paddy commented on 28/01/2010 14:50

    You would be a sucker to purchase a 'freeview' branded box.

    Use a Topfield PVR and IceTV's EPG service instead. Not only can you get access to all the freeview channels, you can skip the ads and schedule shows to record at home using your phone or computer at work.

  • Correz commented on 28/01/2010 00:02

    Freeview is entirely a marketing ploy with 2 primary objectives:

    (1) Stem the migration of viewers from Free-To-Air TV to Foxtel and,

    (2) Promote the takeup of Freeview-branded recorders by stealth which will not allow 'ad-skipping', thereby increasing the "value-proposition" (for advertisers) & "$$$" (for Freeview networks) of free-to-air advertising.

  • Expresso or Tea commented on 27/01/2010 20:18

    Freeview does appear to be a marketing exercise more than anything, but don't forget who's doing the marketing: my understanding is that Freeview branded equipment is not permitted to skip ads, and is not permitted to transfer recordings off the set-top-box.

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