Freeview and Freesat set-top boxes: Freeview and Freesat digital TV Freeview
Freeview offers up to 50 TV channels for a one-off fee
Minimum cost £20 for a set-top box
Pros One-off payment with no subscription costs; the cheapest way to get a basic digital TV package; wide choice of set-top box options; sports fans can add ESPN
Cons No premium movie service available
What is Freeview?
Freeview is a digital TV service through your normal TV aerial. You need to buy Freeview equipment or a TV with integrated Freeview to decode the signal, but once you've got it, the TV programmes are free.
Freeview is a great choice if you're on a limited budget, don't want to get tied into a subscription package, or if you simply don’t want more than the basic channels it provides.
Freeview + and Freeview HD services are also available. With Freeview + you can record Freeview TV programmes. To get the service you will need to buy a digital TV recorder (also known as a PVR) with the Freeview + logo.
Check the Which? PVR and LCD and plasma TV reviews to see how the latest Freeview equipment does in our lab tests.
Freeview TV channels
Freeview offers up to 50 digital TV channels. It provides fewer channels than satellite or cable services, but still offers a good selection. In addition to the five regular channels – BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 (S4C in Wales) and Five – channels include the following:
- Entertainment BBC3 & 4, ITV2, 3, & 4, E4, More4, Fiver, Five USA, Sky 3, Virgin 1, Dave, Film4
- News BBC News, BBC Parliament, CNN, Sky News, Russia Today
- Children's CBBC, CBeebies, CITV
- Music 4Music, Viva
- Lifestyle QVC, Ideal World, Community Channel, Create and Craft, Teachers TV, The Big Deal
Sky 1, Gold and Discovery are not available on Freeview.
Freeview HD
Freeview HD is a relatively new HD service. Around half of the population is now able to access the service and the rest of the country will start to receive it in line with their digital switchover dates.
To get Freeview HD you'll need either a TV with the service built in or a separate Freeview HD set-top box or PVR.
HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are available on Freeview HD. Read the Which? guide to Freeview HD for more information.
ESPN is available on Freeview for a monthly fee
Sports and movies on Freeview
You may find there is enough free sport on Freeview to suit your needs, with some football, rugby and big events such as the Olympics available on free-to-air channels such as BBC.
However, if you want to watch more sport you can subscribe to ESPN on Freeview via the Top-Up TV Anytime service. ESPN shows some live Premier League games and lots of football from other European leagues, including the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A.
ESPN is only available to customers with a Freeview set-top box or integrated digital TV with a viewing card slot. A subscription fee of £9.99 per month applies for this service.
Freeview TV equipment
All you need to access the Freeview service is a digital box or a TV with Freeview built in. Digital set-top boxes start from about £20. You connect the set-top box to your rooftop aerial and your TV.
For information on how to connect appliances to your TV, see our TV connection wizard.
If you want to get the Freeview + service, which allows you to record programmes, you'll pay more for equipment. Most personal video recorders (PVRs) allow you to pause live TV and come back to watch the end of the programme when you're ready, as well as recording programmes.
Freeview HD equipment will also cost more than the basic Freeview equipment. A set-top box will set you back around £120. Some of the latest TVs also have Freeview HD built in if you prefer to not have a separate box.
Freeview availability
At the moment, 83% of households can get the Freeview signal. This is due to rise to 98.5% after the digital switchover is completed in 2012. You can check if you are currently in a Freeview area on the Freeview website.
A minority of people may need an aerial upgrade in order to get a clear picture after switchover. However, this applies to less than 10% of UK households. If your current picture is clear or if you can view Five on your normal TV, your aerial is likely to be fine. If you want to check your aerial to see if it needs upgrading, you can do this by using Teletext or check the Digital UK website for further instructions.
Which? Local lists recommendations from Which? members on traders in your local area. If you do need a new aerial, check Which? Local for recommended aerial installers close to where you live.
