Smartalk Freeview Box

By 2012 the UK’s TV aerials will no longer receive analogue signals from television transmitters.

Region by region, analogue channels will have been switched off and replaced with Freeview, the free-to-air digital TV and radio services that will give consumers considerably more viewing choice than currently available.

The leap from five terrestrial TV channels to as many as 40 or more with Freeview, plus access to 20 digital radio channels and interactive services marks a boom for consumers. Further consumer benefits will be felt as the move to digital frees up the airwaves for new services which include mobile TV and ultra-fast wireless broadband.

This radical overhaul of Britain’s broadcasting services come at a modest financial cost to the consumer who will need to make sure they have the right equipment to enjoy the plethora of new content available to them.

According to Digital UK, the company set up by public broadcasters at the request of the government to lead the digital roll-out, a standard digital box retails for around £25. Freeview+ Digital TV recorders start from around £80, whilst integrated digital TVs (iDTV) that have Freeview built-in are available from around £100.