Freesat High Definition on the Costa Blanca

What is Freesat?
Freesat is a brand new digital satellite TV service which launched on 6th May 2008, and is available to almost all households across the UK. For a one-off payment for a digital box, satellite dish and installation, Freesat currently offers you around 135 TV/Radio channels, including BBC, ITV, C4 and many more. If your TV is ‘HD Ready’, Freesat will also give you access to the world of ‘free’ High Definition programmes, presently BBC HD and ITV HD.

How many channels can I get?
Because Freesat is delivered via satellite (i.e. same satellite setup as Sky TV), there’s a huge range of TV, radio and interactive services to choose from with around 140 channels presently available, and up to 200 expected by early 2009.
You won’t be overwhelmed by all these channels - they’ve been organised into easy to use categories within the Freesat electronic programme guide (EPG), so you’ll easily find what you want at the press of a button.

Are there any ongoing costs?
No! Freesat is just that, a free service. Once you’ve purchased the equipment, its all free, forever.

What about HD?
Watching TV in high definition (HD) is an incredible experience. With five times as much picture detail as standard TV, HD makes a massive difference to your enjoyment of TV.
The BBC currently has one HD channel, where you can watch live sport, national events, stunning natural history, landmark drama, world-class documentaries and more. ITV had coverage of the Euro 2008 games and intend to broadcast a number of premium films and prime-time drama’s by the end of 2008. Visit our ITV HD Programme Schedule for latest programmes available. As the HD revolution progresses, more HD channels and services will be added to freesat over time.
10 million households already have HD-ready TV sets but until now haven’t been able to access HD programmes for free. Freesat will give you high definition programmes, guaranteed free from subscription.
If you have an HD-ready television, or are thinking of buying one, Freesat is for you!

Do I need an HD-ready television to watch high definition programmes?
You need an HD-Ready television and an HD digital box in order to view high definition programmes in high definition. You will need to connect the digital box to your television via HDMI (Component is somewhat of a dead technology now!). Once you have the right equipment installed, you can watch live sport, national events, stunning natural history, landmark drama, world-class documentaries and more in amazing HD.
If you haven’t yet got an HD-ready television you can still be prepared for the future by getting a Freesat HD digital box. With a freesat HD digital box you can still view HD programmes on your standard definition television but the content will be scaled down to standard definition. If you buy a Freesat standard definition box you will not be able to view HD programmes even if you have an HD-ready television.

BBC HD is available for free on Sky HD and Freesat HD receivers

ITV HD is available on both Sky HD (new HD EPG only) and Freesat HD receivers. Note that this is not a HD 24/7 service and is only on selected programmes – and ITV have a nasty habit of not publicizing what programmes will be shown in HD!!

C4HD is NOT available on Freesat, it is currently only available on Sky HD.

Freesat HD Channel Frequency Settings

BBC HD
Frequency 10847
Polarisation V
Symbol Rate 22000
FEC 5/6

ITV HD
Frequency 11426
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 2/3

Luxe HD
Frequency 12643
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27500
FEC 2/3