Freesat launches new TV guide called
Freesat, the UK’s free-to-air digital satellite television provider, today launches a new smart on-screen TV guide, available in its next generation Freesat+ boxes (originally dubbed “G2″).
Called , the service offers new features in a single, simple and easy to use guide:
– A backwards TV guide letting you turn back time and watch programmes that have already been on, but you may have missed
– An ‘at a glance’ Now & Next view to show what’s on the minute you sit down
– A new Showcase section that offers recommendations on programmes to watch tonight, in the coming week and on demand
– *On Demand TV from BBC iPlayer and ITV Player with 4OD and Demand 5 launching before Christmas
– Improved recordings that make it even easier to record TV at a touch of a button and find episodes automatically filed into series – just like a DVD boxset
The next generation Freesat+ boxes join the existing range of Freesat digital satellite HD boxes and integrated HDTVs and will be available to buy from John Lewis, Currys, Comet and other retailers and online later this month. Set top box manufacturer Humax is producing the first new box with and will
be priced at £279. Boxes from Sagemcom, Philips and Manhattan will follow.
Connecting the box to home broadband will power the backward TV guide, give access to On Demand and the full Showcase. Freesat is also planning to launch additional movie and music services in the future.
Emma Scott, Managing Director of Freesat said:
TV is a simple pleasure that technology can make even better, not more complicated. Our new boxes with give satellite viewers everything they get with freesat today and so much more in a single, simple and easy to use on screen guide. We want to help viewers find something great to watch the minute they sit down, so they can spend less time searching and more time watching the TV they love.
Having now exceeded 2.6m Freesat sales we’re thrilled to be launching today and offer satellite homes more quality, choice and value without a subscription.
Source: joinfreesat.co.uk/freesat-launches-new-tv-guide-called-free-time
Freesat’s new service was announced on Tuesday and whilst the presentation gave us a good idea what the service will do, many questions were left for us all to speculate on. I’ve worked my way through all the comments posted here and on other forums and put the best of them to Freesat.
Freesat have kindly responded with the following which should hopefully cover most of what was asked. Actually impressed with the replies, very positive on the whole and looking forward to the new service:
Q. Will the fancy new EPG run off the satellite signal if no broadband connection available?
A. Yes, although the backward guide, On Demand services and the On Demand recommendations within Showcase would not be available without broadband.
Q. Will the on-demand services/EPG run off broadband when no satellite signal available?
A. The box requires a satellite signal at all times. EPG Updates are obtained via satellite but will switch to broadband if its available.
Q. Is there a HD category in the TV Guide?
A. There is no HD genre, but the short synopsis of programmes asks if viewers would like to view a programme in HD/SD HD filter; there is an automatic HD folder for recordings.
Q. Can you record from the on-demand/Youtube services?
A. Not at launch, but we are looking at this for the future. Boxes are capable of this, but it is dependent on the external services.
Q. Are the on-demand services HTML format so full iPlayer (like on PC)?
A. IPlayer is HTML-5 but ITV player is MHEG5 – for now. The beauty of the UI is that we can switch between our new HTML presentation environment and the MHEG 5 environment seamlessly.
Q. What is the minimum broadband speed recommendation?
A. 2mb per second as defined by the on demand services.
Q. Does the Humax support SRC (one tuner full functionality)?
A. Yes.
Q. Will the HDMI port/cable carry 5.1 Dolby Sound?
A. Yes.
Q. Can recordings be transferred to USB?
A. Yes, providing the broadcaster allows it. Programmes can only be viewed back on the same device – it’s for backup purposes only.
Q. Is DiSEqC supported? Which version if so?
A. Yes. The product searches DiSEqC automatically and it supports up to DiSEqC 2.0.
Q. Any plans for the included CI slot or that just a Humax addition?
A. CI+ is part of the defined specification. We do plan to offer additional and optional, pay VOD services in the future.