Between the 3rd and the 6th of February 2012, the subscription channel ESPN will be free on Freeview, BT Vision, Sky and Top Up TV. If you’re with Sky, you’ll also be able to watch ESPN and ESPN America in HD for free.

The promotion is to lure in viewers who’ve not opted to sign up for ESPN on one of the main services, and if any of the sporting action on the agenda tickles your sporting tastebuds, then this is a nice little freebie. Here’s a quick look at what should be available over the weekend:

The Sporting Action

Over the weekend, the following events are scheduled, and free:

Friday the 3rd:

• Bundesliga:  FC Nuremburg v Borussia Dortmund

Saturday the 4th:

• Barclays Premier League: Manchester City v Fulham
• Serie A: Roma v Inter   Milan
• NBA New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics

Sunday the 6th:

• UFC 143 Carlos Condit v Nick Diaz
• Serie A: Genoa v Lazio
• Serie A: Fiorentina v Udinese
• Bundesliga: Kaiserslauern v FC Cologne
• Serie A: AC Milan v Napoli

Enjoy the free weekend of sport on Freeview, Sky, BT Vision and Top Up TV, courtesy of ESPN.

For more information on digital TV in the UK, see our Digital TV Options page

If plans go ahead, the proposed local TV services are expected to be available on Freeview Channel 8, and each station would broadcast local programming for at least one hour a day. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is aiming to fast-track licences out across the UK to get these stations on-air as soon as possible, with the aim being for companies to be able to set these up for the cost of setting up a local newspaper.

Traditionally, there’s been little interest  in local TV services here in the UK. It’s a big thing in the US, but previous attempts at local TV haven’t always been successful, as those that remember Live TV in the 1990s can attest to. Given some of the problems being faced by the local community radio stations in the UK, you have to wonder whether there’s a) the market, and b) the money, to make local TV worth it.

Would we be in danger of seeing what’s happened to local radio, where large companies have snapped up local licences to form a network of near-national services? Or do you think there’s a need for a daily TV service broadcast from your town or city each day… and would you watch?

The UK regulator OfCom has announced a list of 65 areas that could find themselves with a local TV service as early as 2012. Here is the list, by region:

Midlands

Birmingham , Bromsgrove, Hereford, Kidderminster, Malvern, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Stoke on Trent,Stratford upon Avon and Telford

North East

Middlesbrough and Newcastle

North West

Burnley, Carlisle, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston

East of England

Bedford, Cambridge and Norwich (Alan Partridge need not apply)

South East

Basingstoke, Brighton and Hove, Dover, Guildford, Haywards Heath, Hemel Hempstead, London, Luton, Maidstone, Oxford Reading, Reigate, Southampton and Tonbridge

South West

Barnstaple, Bristol, Gloucester, Plymouth, Poole and Salisbury

Yorkshire & Humberside

Grimsby, Keighley, Leeds, Scarborough, Sheffield and York

Scotland

Aberdeen Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Elgin, Falkirk, Glasgow, Greenock and Inverness

Wales

Bangor, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Mold and Swansea

Northern Ireland

Belfast, Derry/ Londonderry and Limavady

So, are you interested in local TV? Would you be interested in local community TV? Or is the idea insane? We’d love to get your comments!

In this show, we have a lot to cover. Here’s a summary:

• News Updates: BBC Goes Full HD, Apple news round the corner, BBC Alba and fast o2
• Focus: The Future Of The Internet. The dangers of filters,TalkTalk’s new service, and Skype’s been bought
• Interview: An exclusive chat with the C.O.O of broadband firm Plusnet
• Your comments and questions on shortwave radio, short cable leads, Karotz and solar power meters

You can download Show 64 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, get shows faster by signing up to FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 64
• Filter Bubble Talk – TED.com video
• Transcript: Internet Filter Bubble
• Transcript: Full Plusnet Interview

We hope you enjoy our  June show. We’d love to get your comments on what you’ve heard.

Remember, our shows are free, and we need to you to spread the word – Please mention us on Facebook and Twitter, and tell your chums.

This is according to US research firm In-Stat. Here in the UK, we have one channel (the Sky 3D channel), and there’s a bit of a way to go, but the numbers appear to be worldwide projections, not just for us here in the UK.

According to the report’s Principal Analyst: “Pay-TV providers around the globe who have HD systems in place have jumped on the 3D content being made available to them at a faster rate than many had expected. Many took advantage of the World Cup 3D coverage to test 3D over their networks, and some of them have now launched transmission of regular 3D TV channels.”

Apparently, sports, movie, documentary, and music channels will be first in line for the 3D experience, and Europe appears to be loading the way.

Want to get the full 44 page report, which shows a 5 year projection? It’s a snip at just $3,495 – So just under £50 a page. Or alternatively, wait 5 years…

In this show, here’s a look at what we cover:

• News Updates: More YouView delays, Vodafone woes, iPlayer news and Channel 4 HD
• Focus: A look at media streaming – how to get audio, video and images around your home
• Hands-on: A first look at the new BT Home Hub, plus recorders, phones and a wireless laptop transmitter
• Your comments and questions on HomePlugs, Clean Nokias, Stoways and BT Vision

You can download Show 61 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, get shows faster by signing up to FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 61
• Transcript: Steaming Media Explored

We hope you enjoy our latest show. As always, we’d love your comments, in the space provided below!

We’d also like to remind you that without you, we’re nothing. Our shows are free, and we need to you to spread the word – Please mention us on  Facebook and Twitter, and tell your real-world friends too!

In this show, here’s a look at what we cover:

• News Updates: A busy month the news on YouView, Sky HD, Wifi Hotspots and the BBC
• Focus: By popular demand, a look at tablet computers… can the Apple iPad be beaten?
• Your comments and questions on rechargeable batteries, Virgin Media, TV in other rooms and weather stations

You can download Show 60 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, get shows faster by signing up to  FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 60
• Transcript: Tablet Computers Explored

We hope you enjoy our latest show. As ever, we’d love your comments, in the space provided below!

As ever, if you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word to your Facebook and Twitter chums…

In this latest show, here’s a look at what we cover:

• News Updates: Tablet newspapers, 3D BT, and no more Tease Me
• Focus: Broadband Suppliers – Making the right choice
• Hands-on: Big Trak Junior 2010
• Your comments and questions on Nokia’s DAB, slow Internet, HD recorders and tablet devices

You can download Show 58 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 58
• Transcript: Choosing a Broadband Provider
• Transcript: BigTrak is Back

We hope you enjoy today’s show. We’d love to know what you think.

As ever, if you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word to your Facebook and Twitter chums…

In this update, we look at BBC iPlayer, Apple iTunes, Karotz, servers, Zombies and Apple TV

The 12 minute FrequencyCast Update is attached to this blog entry, and is available free via iTunes or at www.frequencycast.co.uk/update.html

We hope you enjoy our little update…

In our latest TV and Tech show, we cover the following:

• News Updates: BBC One HD, BT Vision Powerline Recall
• Focus: Seconds Generation Apple TV
• Hands-on: TomTom Go 1000 Sat Nav
• Your comments and questions on tablets, streamers, 3D and PIN codes

You can download Show 57 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows downloaded automatically by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 57
• Transcript: Focus on Apple TV
• Transcript: Hands on with the TomTom Go 1000

We hope you enjoy today’s show. We’d love to know what you think.

As ever, if you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word!

In this latest show, here’s a look at what we cover:

• News Updates: Sky to kill top TV channels, and a book on DAB’s future
• Hands-on: TV distribution with a Triax TV Link
• Classic Tech: Our look back at the humble calculator
• Your comments and questions on the Kindle, and Freeview after the switchover

You can download Show 56 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 56
• Transcript: Focus on 3D Tech

We hope you enjoy today’s show. We’d love to know what you think.

As ever, if you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word to your Facebook and Twitter chums…

Well, those cheeky chappies and chapessess at cable company Virgin Media have pipped them to the post by today launching their 3D on demand service.

The 3D on-demand service will be available to those with a Virgin Media HD box and a 3D TV from today.

At the moment, only one 3D movie is available on Virgin’s service – StreetDance 3D , which can be rented for £5.99

Other movies including  Garfield’s Pet Force 3D , Despicable Me and A Christmas Carol 3D are expected in the next couple of months.

We’ll be featuring 3D in more detail in our next show, due on the 1st of October 2010.

Apparently, Bravo is too similar to Sky One, and Channel One is too similar to Sky Three, so Bravo and Channel One will be closed, with content merging into the main Sky channels.

The loss of Channel One will be particularly sad, as Virgin 1 (and now Channel One) offer a decent number of US shows free-to-air on Freeview.

Hopefully some shows (such as Chuck) will move from Channel One to Sky Three, but nothing’s clear. It looks like the games channel Challenge may take up the Freeview slot left by Channel One.

No news on when this will happen… More when we have it…

The rebrand should be happening on the 3rd of September 2010. Apparently, the new “Channel One” will also be carrying the recent re-boot of “V”, the eighties sci-fi classic, where friendly hamster-eating visitors come to us in peace (with hilarious consequences). Watch out for “Anna” (the evil Diana-like lizard), who’s played by Firefly’s yummy Morena Baccarin

If you’re a BT Vision customer, you can get Sky Sports 1 for £6.99 a month , or £11.99 for both Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2. Given that you can also get ESPN on BT Vision (free with a Value Pack), suddenly BT Vision becomes an attractive option for anyone into their football.

Add to that, Sky’s just announced a £3 a month price increase on their standard TV and Sports package.

With the 2010/11 season due to start in a few weeks, if you’re with Sky, it’s time to look again at whether the huge fee you’re paying to Sky is worth it. Sure, you won’t get Sky Sports in HD, but you will get a lower bill each month and still be able to watch all of the Premier League action.

With BT Vision, you also get access to their on-demand sport, movies and TV, as well as 7-day catchup from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five.

If you want Sky Sports on BT Vision, you can preorder now

If you’re not up to speed on BT, have a listen to our 15 minute hands-on BT Vision review (released yesterday), or got to btvision.bt.com for full details.

• News Updates: iPhone 4 has launched, and big changes for local radio.
• Focus: BT Vision reviewed. A cheaper alternative to Sky for TV and Sky Sports?
• Interview: Radio past and present discussed with a leading radio amateur
• Hands-on: An update on the high-tech Fitbug scheme
• Your comments and questions on Freesat, slow broadband and Slingbox

You can download Show 53 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes
• Transcript: Focus on BT Vision

Bonus Material!

• iPhone 4 Launch Special: http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/iphone4.html
• 90 Years of Radio Interview: http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/historyofradio.html

We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…

Vintage TV is set to launch on the 1st of September 2010 on Freesat and Sky.

The face of Vintage TV is set to be former Radio 1 DJ Paul Gambaccini, and the station will show material from the 50s to the 80s, including vintage musical content not anywhere else on TV, as well as archive news and entertainment material from a number of different sources.

Virgin Media has offloaded Bravo, Virgin 1, Living and Challenge to Sky, as they are looking to consolidate on their core business of cable data connectivity.

This is clearly good news for Sky, who will be rebranding Virgin 1 to be part of the Sky family and strengthening their TV content. It’s also good news for customers of Virgin Media’s TV service, as Sky will soon be offering Sky Sports 1 HD, Sky Sports 2 HD and Sky Movies HD on Virgin. These premium HD channels have previously been exclusive to Sky’s satellite subscribers, but will soon be available on the Virgin platform.

We hope to be covering this in more detail in our next digital TV podcast. Make sure you’re signed up

More on Sky Digital

Here’s what we know so far:

• Name: Humax HDR-FOX T2
• Release date: July 2010 (too late for the World Cup)
• Hard disk: 500GB (125 hours of HD)
• Price: £349
• Tuners: Twin tuner
• EPG: 8 days

The box will reportedly also support media streaming and Internet connectivity via Ethernet.

More when we have it.

Nookie TV offered a rather innovative adult content service using an Internet-enabled set-top box. The remote control had a large friendly “panic” button for use in viewing emergencies.

The Nookie TV Box Set-top box

The Nookiebox site is today stating:

“Unfortunately, due to financial hardship, we are ceasing all operations and discontinuing NookieTV broadcast service as of May 15th 2010″.

Sorry lads…

• News Updates: New iPhone details leaked, 3D TV is here, HD news and HomePlug hassle.
• Focus: How the rushed-through Digital Economy Act affects you, TV, radio and the Internet
• Hands-on: We get to go outside and play with a few sets of walkie talkies
• Your comments and questions on catch-up TV, MP3 players, ITV 1 HD and more

You can download Show 51 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes
• Transcript: Focus on The Digital Future
• Transcript: Hands On With Walkie Talkies
• Become a Facebook Fan

We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…