John Cletheroe's
Freeview UK Digital Television Information
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Freeview UK Digital Television System News
Introduction
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Recent Freeview Channel Changes
BBC World Service (radio)
Freeview channel 710
Multiplex B
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5-Aug-08: This radio channel has been moved from multiplex D to multiplex B. It remains on the same channel number.
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The Hits/4Music
Freeview channel 18
Multiplex D
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18-Aug-08: Channel name changed from "The Hits" to "4Music".
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Technical Change To Freeview Causes Some Older Freeview Boxes To Fail
Previously the Freeview NIT (Network Information Table) was transmitted in one section. Currently (July/August 2008) a change is being made to broadcast the NIT in several sections. This change is being rolled out one transmitter at a time across the country. The change causes some older Freeview boxes to fail, usually when they perform a rescan. The only solution is to purchase a replacement modern box. However, do not assume that any fault on a Freeview box is necessarily caused by this problem. As usual, try disconnecting the box from the mains for a few minutes, performing a full factory reset and rescan, etc, before deciding to replace the box. As far as I know, no IDTV's (integrated televisions with built-in Freeview tuners) suffer from this problem. This problem has not been widely publicised. Some information about it is provided on this page of the Freeview web site, including an incomplete list of affected boxes.
Schedules For Programmes On BBC Channels 301 And 302
Schedules for sports programmes on Freeview channels 301 and 302, the BBC's so-called "interactive feeds", are now available online on this page of the BBC's web site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/4341486.stm (external link verified Aug-07). On that web page, click the "Interactive" tab. However, some of the programmes listed may only be available on cable, satellite and the Internet, and not on Freeview.
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.
Change Of Rules Regarding Pay-TV Channels On Freeview
19-Apr-06: On 19-Apr-06 Ofcom lifted regulations that previously prevented pay-TV channels from being carried on Freeview multiplexes B, C and D. However, regulations requiring BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, S4C and Teletext be free of charge remain in effect. Multiplex B is currently operated by BBC Free to View Ltd; multiplexes C and D are operated by National Grid Wireless.
Freeview Reception Test On Analogue Text
30-May-07: Page 284 on Ceefax (analogue BBC1 and BBC2) and Teletext (analogue ITV and Channel 4) now carries a test pattern which can be used to check whether or not you should be able to receive Freeview. The test pattern alternates with a page of instructions.
The test presumably relies on the transmitter power levels of the digital multiplexes always being in the same proportion to those of the analogue channels, on every transmitter. I'm far from sure that is actually the case.
Hidden Testcard On BBCi
BBCi on Freeview has a hidden testcard, but it may not be possible to display it with older equipment. It may not be available on cable or satellite. To access the testcard, proceed as follows:
Switch to BBCi, Freeview channel 105. Wait for the text and the static picture to be displayed.
Press the Yellow button.
Switch to any other channel and wait for this to happen. According to some reports it is best if this other channel has the same aspect ratio as your television (4:3 or 16:9 widescreen).
Switch back to BBCi on channel 105. Wait for the text and the static picture to be displayed again.
Press the Green button.
The word "Secret" should now appear at the top right of the screen. After a delay, a page of text should appear with details of the receiver and the transmitter.
Press the following buttons in this order: 3 3 5 8 2 Red Green Yellow Blue
BBC Testcard W (widescreen) should appear.
To exit, press Channel+ or Channel-.
The testcard is transmitted in a heavily compressed form, so JPEG-like ghosting artifact distortions will be visible even with a perfect signal quality (thus illustrating how awful even the best possible picture quality is on Freeview). However, the testcard is still very useful for checking the general picture quality; the brightness, contrast and colour intensity settings; and your aspect ratio configuration.
Summary Of Freeview Multiplex Operators
| Multiplex 1 | BBC |
| Multiplex 2 | ITV/Channel 4 |
| Multiplex A | SDN (now owned by ITV) |
| Multiplex B | BBC |
| Multiplex C | National Grid Wireless (formerly known as Crown Castle) |
| Multiplex D | National Grid Wireless |
This summary of Freeview system news is based on broadcasts from the Tacolneston transmitter which covers eastern Norfolk. The information should be generally accurate for other English transmitters but there may be some variations, especially in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The information on this web page is likely to become out of date very quickly.
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Most recently modified 26-Aug-08