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John Cletheroe's
Freeview UK Digital Television Information |
IMPORTANT: To avoid any risk of damage to equipment, always switch off and disconnect the mains from all devices before connecting or disconnecting any signal cables (SCART leads, etc).
| Description | These are the BBC's additional channels, so-called "interactive feeds". They show a variety of ad-hoc programming on an "as and when required" basis, including frequent use for extended live coverage of sporting events.
On satellite and cable more of these BBC additional channels are available. On Freeview there are currently only two but more might be added after analogue terrestrial television broadcasts cease. |
| Access - Method 1 | Switch to any normal BBC channel which is showing programmes. Press the Text button or the Red button. If the "interactive" programme is listed on the BBCi menu, select it. In some cases you may need to hunt round the normal BBC channels in order to find a copy of BBCi which includes a link to the "interactive" programme. Sometimes no link is provided or the link is inoperative. This method of access usually has the advantage of allowing access to a small text system on channels 301 and 302 which provides information, news and results for the item being broadcast. |
| Access - Method 2 | Select channel 301 or 302 by the normal means. This method of access has the advantages of being quick, simple and reliable. |
| Programme Schedules | Schedules for the sports programmes on channels 301 and 302 are available on the BBC's web site at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/4341486.stm (external link verified Aug-07). However, that web page also lists some other programmes which may not be available on channels 301 and 302.
Schedules for music programmes on channels 301 and 302 are now available online on this page of the BBC's web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/tv (external link verified Aug-07) subject to the same comments. When a lengthy sporting event is being shown on channels 301 and 302, the small text system on those channels sometimes lists a schedule of matches, etc. The BBC does not yet publish schedules for channels 301 or 302 for the Freeview EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), BBCi's schedule listings, digital Teletext's listings, or traditional newspaper and magazine printed listings. Apart from sports programmes there is no way of knowing what will be shown except for occasionally a mention in the listing for an associated programme on a normal BBC channel. |
| Description | These are two quarter-screen channels associated with BBC News 24. One shows a five-minute roundup of the current top news stories, the other shows the top story in more detail.
Cable and satellite have more News Multiscreens than Freeview. Freeview currently only has two but more might be added after analogue terrestrial television broadcasts cease. |
| Access | Switch to BBC News 24 (Freeview channel 80). Press the Text button or the Red button. Select "News Multiscreens" from the menu. On the News Multiscreens, press the Up and Down buttons to switch between the two quarter-screens.
There are sometimes links to News Multiscreens on the BBCi menu for other BBC channels, but the link on BBCi when accessed from BBC News 24 tends to be more reliable. It is not yet possible to select News Multiscreens by means of normal Freeview channel numbers. Technically, they are on Freeview channel 303, along with BBC Parliament, but accessing channel 303 directly only results in a blank picture. |
| Description | This is a text system provided by Sky Television. It includes news items and other information. |
| Access | Switch to any Sky channel on Freeview. Press the Text button. Sometimes several attempts are required. The word "Loading" should appear at the bottom right of the screen, followed by the full Sky Text system.
The Sky Text system cannot be accessed directly via a Freeview channel number. |
| Sky Active And The Red Button | The Sky Active system is not available on Freeview. Pressing the Red button while watching a Sky channel on Freeview has no effect. |
Most recently modified 1-Aug-07