DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting
Digital Broadcasting sounds complicated, but that’s because there are choices in some areas in the ways it can be received and choice can lead to confusion and confusion can lead to avoidance. For a fuller explanation of what is now available for digital terrestrial television and a list of channels available including high definition in the United Kingdom go here.
For information on digital TV switchover which is planned for 2011 in this area go here. Pay particular attention to this page on the site.
For your options on watching digital TV now in this area, see here.

WHAT ACTUALLY IS DIGITAL BROADCASTING?
Well quite simply, it is replacing analogue transmission which has been the traditional way we’ve viewed television and listened to radio broadcasts in the UK. The present date for the ending of analogue video transmissions is currently 2012.

Reception
Clearly this depends on where you are in the parish and where your aerial is situated but as a rough guide if your reception is good enough to receive channel 5 then it is an excellent indicator as to whether you will be able to receive Freeview.

Simple to use
It’s like anything new, once you’ve tried it you won’t want to go back. Just like a traditional analogue television, a remote control is used to navigate digital broadcasts. So, many of the buttons are the same, but with the addition of some extra functionality to enable the activation of the additional benefits, such as The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and interactivity. You may also want to do away with your VCR tape recorder and record onto a hard disk. Combined digital converter boxes with hard disk recorders are available and are much more convenient and simpler to use. An example of what we can expect is the Pace Twin Digital TV Recorder which is an integrated digital terrestrial receiver and hard disk recorder, giving access to digital TV and all the functionality of a VCR. You will be able to watch one digital channel and record another, and pause live TV.

Interactivity
Interactivity allows you to decide how you want to view programmes. Many programmes that broadcast digitally offer choices of different camera angles or a choice of commentary. With multi event programmes, such as a tennis tournament, you may even be able to select which match you wish to watch.

Text Service
It has a full colour Text service that is dramatically quicker than analogue. Digital Text is much more modern looking than on analogue television; there are full colour images and advanced graphics.

EPG
It has an on-screen Electronic Programme Guide which makes it easy to select channels and navigate programme selections. The on-screen Electronic Programme Guide enables not only channel selection, but also shows future programmes. The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), lists on your TV screen the programmes that you can watch on any one of the thirty or more channels. You can even create your own favourite list of your most watched channels and programmes can be grouped by type.

Programme Choice
It provides far more choice of TV programmes and also well known radio stations. Because digital broadcasting uses up far less space than analogue, it’s possible to transmit vastly more channels than the five we’ve been used to seeing.
Pay-TV compatible. TopUP TV launched at the end of March 2004, offers an extra 10 channels for a monthly subscription. If you wish to subscribe to this extra service, you'll need a set-top box with a card slot suitable for TopUp TV. For more info, see the TopUp TV Page

Better Pictures and Sound
It delivers better picture and sound quality than analogue, especially in areas of weaker analogue signal transmission. The sound and picture quality is due to the ability of digital technology and the signal itself is cleaner and much less likely to suffer from interference.

Costs
The cost of receiving digital broadcasting can be tailored to suit your budget and your channel selection. With Freeview you get all the benefits of digital for your license fee. There is no subscription charge, only the cost of suitable equipment such as a Digital Converter Box (DCB) or Integrated Digital Television (IDTV). With a Digital Satellite Box or with a suitable IDTV, you have the option of subscribing on a monthly basis.

All that is needed is a Digital Converter Box (DCB) or an Integrated Digital Television (IDTV).*
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) can sometimes be received through a standard suitable loft or roof top aerial. 75% of homes in the UK are now able to receive digital terrestrial broadcasts - Freeview. All that’s needed is a digital converter box (DCB) or an Integrated Digital Television (IDTV). A digital converter box is simply connected to your aerial and television. An IDTV already has the digital converter box technology inside it and therefore can also be connected directly to a suitable aerial. However, we do advise that you check the Freeview coverage area and the suitability of your aerial before making a purchase, by consulting one of the local aerial suppliers who has knowledge of this area or by visiting

www.freeview.co.uk

Besides the regular channels, BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5, there are numerous other channels and radio stations to choose from at no additional cost. Other providers can be found here.

*FREEVIEW channels and services are subject to coverage and an aerial upgrade may be required.