One year on from the beginning of the digital TV switchover, many viewers are still confused about how to make the change. Broadband expert, James Parker explains what the switch means for you and what you need to do to be ready…

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James' otherwise great explanation nevertheless contains a howler, whichs points to precisely the confusion his article is trying to clear up! The Freesat service he mentions fails to differentiate between 'Freesat from Sky' and the satellite 'Freesat' service launched earlier this year by the BBC and ITV. The link from his article points to the latter, but this service offers none of the Sky channels and a more limited line up than he suggests.

To make it 100% clear, there are two services. The first, which includes HD channels is from Freesat (jointly set up by ITV and the BBC), which is subscription free for life (no viewing card needed) and requires the purchase of a box starting at around £45 (more for HD) and a dish (if you do not already have one) at around £60 including installation. Sky on the other hand offers a service that they have called 'Freesat from Sky'. This requires a viewing card (that you need to buy, thus giving their marketing guys all your details) and could be withdrawn by them (we have to hope with some notice!) at any time.

It is for braver folk than me to speculate on why the two services have such a confusingly similar name. Given that the BBC/ITV Freesat service has been on the drawing board for many years, it surely couldn't be that Sky have chosen to create this confusion to their advantage? If they've managed to confuse our 'expert', what hope for the rest of us!!

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your post and pointing out the confusion the article may have cause. You are completely right in the point you have highlighted. There are two version of Freesat - one provided by Sky and a second provided by the BBC / ITV.

Freesat from Sky offer's 240 digital channels for a one off payment off £150. Alternatively Sky will provide 240 digital channels and four Sky entertainment mixes on a trial four month basis for a one off payment of £75 - £20 a month to retain the four entertainment mixes after the initial four month period ends. Freesat provided from the BBC/ITV provides 130 digital channels. Freesat from the BBC/ITV is completely subscription free but has initial set up costs - freeview box (price dependent on box selected), dish and an installation fee of around £80.

Both offer a suitable solution to the digital switch over and should judged on the level TV channels you require and the initial set up costs involved.

Again, thanks for rising this point via the forum and making the other user's on moneysupermarket aware of the difference between the two Freesat services available - something that admittedly should have been made in the aritcle.

Regards

James