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

As it’s the first of the month, it’s time for a new show, and we’ve packed quite a lot into Show 68. Here’s a summary of what’s included in the show:

• News Updates: More Freeview HD on the way, we’ve hit a digital switchover milestone, plus news on the iPhone 5 launch date
• Focus: Could the future of home gaming be upon us? Carl and Pete get hands-on with OnLive.
• Featured: Google+, BT Vision, the Prospero satellite, Alan Partridge, eBook readers and Air Swimmers
• Your comments and questions on French TV, Freeview top-ups and HTC Desire S problems

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad device, you should find show 68 is available now via iTunes – See FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Alternatively, you can download Show 68 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html

We’re also available via streaming radio services and can be heard on a growing number of radio stations around the UK. Thanks to all of our regular listeners for the ongoing support!

Show Links:

• Show Notes for Show 68
• Transcript: Show 68 Transcript
• Transcript: OnLive Gaming Review Transcript

Our shows are always free, and we need to you to spread the word, to help us to build an audience.

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Got something to say about the show, please add a comment below, or leave us a voicemail message on 0208 133 4567 (London call)

• News Updates: Scotland Switch complete, mobile roaming fees reduced, plus the of the line for an awesome vehicle
• Focus: 4G Mobile Broadband is coming, but will it cripple Freeview?
• Featured: Nintendo Wii U, Sky Go, changes to SeeSaw and the laminated book’s TV channel
• Out and About: Our look at the Home Technology Show
• Your comments and questions on Freesat HD, broadband dongles, and Internet cameras

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad device, you should find show 65 is available now for free download – If you’ve not subscribed, go to  FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Alternatievly, you can download Show 65 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 65
• Transcript: 4G and Freeview Interference
• Transcript: Show 65 Transcript Part 2

We’ve changed the format of this show everso slightly, to get more news crammed into the show. We’d love to know your comments.

Our shows are free, and we need to you to spread the word – Please mention FrequencyCast on Facebook and Twitter, and tell your friends about us.

Faster mobile Internet comes as a price though, and recent reports show that three quarters of a million Freeview viewers might start to experience a loss of Freeview channels when the first 4G services start to roll out?

Why is this?

At the moment, analogue TV uses the UHF TV channels 21 to 68. Once the Digital Switchover is completed in 2012, a part of that band, UHF channels 61 to 68 (791 to 862 MHz), will be freed up. The Government will be auctioning that part of the band off to companies keen to cash in on the next generation of mobile broadband.

The risk

Here’s an extract from the OfCom report regarding possible interference from 4G:

“Existing DTT receivers and aerials were designed to receive signals across UHF Bands IV and V (470-862 MHz), including the whole of the 800 MHz band. This means that, in addition to receiving the wanted DTT signal, they may also pick up unwanted signals from new mobile base stations that could result in interference and degraded DTT reception”

The upshot, is that for those with TV aerials likely to pull in signals from the upper part of the analogue TV band, their Freeview receiver may get a bunch of unwanted interference from local 4G base stations. The unwanted signal, if powerful enough, will overload the tuner, resulting in a loss of service.

Those with masthead TV amplifiers may be the worst affected, and it will be hard for a filter to be applied to stop the unwanted, boosted noise from getting into the Freeview receiver. Particularly at risk will be those who get their Freeview signal via a communal TV aerial, as these systems typically employ an amplifier.

What’s the plan?

There are things that can be done to stop interference from 4G getting to your TV. The quickest and cheapest fix would be to use a bandpass filter, that only allows signals of between  477 to 790MHz to get through. A filter like this should cost around £10, and in many cases, will remove the unwanted signals when connected between the aerial and the Freeview receiver. It seems that the regulator Ofcom will be making sure that winning 4G bidders foot the bill for consumers looking to get filters to keep 4G out to anyone who’s hit by 4G interference.

It seems that an estimated 30,000 viewers won’t be able to use a filter to successfully screen out the interference though, and for them, satellite TV or Cable TV could be the only answer, and again, the bill for those viewers to switch to Sky or Virgin or cable may be handed to the 4G companies.

More details:

• For the OfCom report, and information about the consultation (which closes on 11 August 2011), visit the Stakeholders section of the OfCom Website

We can expect the channel “Really”, from the company that bring you Dave and Yesterday, to hit our Freeview TV sets and boxes from the 2nd of August.

Really is a channel for the ladies, offering a mix of UK and imported US shows aimed at lifestyle and reality TV. There are shows you may have heard of, such as Bridezilla, Spendaholics, Tool Academy and Snog Marry Avoid, as well as shows with more interesting titles, such as:

• 21 Year Old Baby
• Britain’s Missing Top Model
• Cut Up Kids
• Extraordinary Breastfeeding
• Sex with Mum and Dad
• Who’ll Age Worst?
• Teen Dads, and
• Spa of Embarrassing

Here at FrequencyCast, if we’re being honest, these titles don’t do much for us, but nonetheless, it’s something new for Freeview, and that can only be a good thing.

Really will replace Dave Ja Vue (the timeshifted version of Dave), on Freeview Channel 20 from 02 August 2011.

Happy viewing ladies!

Regular listeners should be on the case as we’ve covered this in recent shows, but just to re-cap:

• Sky bought Virgin1 from Virgin Media in June 2010
• Sky re-branded Virgin 1 to Channel One in September 2010 (as they could no longer use the Virgin name)
• Sky announced in mid-September 2010 that they would close Channel One and Bravo
• Channel One went-off air on the 1st of February 2011

There’s more coverage of this story, plus quite a lot of angry messages on the subject, over on our sister site: See http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/news/2011/02/channel-one-ceases-broadcasting.html

Hope that clarifies why Channel One / Virgin 1 is no longer on Freeview.

Remember, get our free podcast for the latest digital TV news – Get the FrequencyCast Podcast

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 the update, you’ll hear news about ITV1, Heart, Mac Store and the Chumby, plus lots of your feedback, and a little controversy on Internet advertising.

Our update is now available iTunes: FrequencyCast on iTunes

You can also listen online or download the update from here: FrequencyCast Updates

Share and Enjoy!

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…

Here’s what today’s free show contains:

• News Updates: Rivals to Facebook, ABC, ITV plus new TV and radio channels
• Hands-on: We’ve got a new Amazon Kindle, and we want to talk about it
• Preview: Project Canvas and Sky Anytime+ previewed
• Social Collaboration: Harnessing the power of the crowd
• Gadgets: Car reversing kits and cable tidies
• Your comments and questions on BT Vision HD, Freesat and Powerline

You can download Show 55 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 55
• Transcript: Hands on with the UK Kindle

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…

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

Some boxes from the manufacturers listed made use of the 14 day EPG known at 4TV – a service supplied by a company called InView. It seems that the contract between InView and the manufacturers has expired and the 4TV service is no longer being transmitted.

So, where does that leave customers? Those with an affected box will now find that they are no longer getting anything other than the “now and next” information, effectively rendering their hard-disk recorder barely usable. Yo record a programme in the future, the user will have to enter the start time and date manually referring to some other form of TV guide (remember them?)

If you have an affected box, you might like to sign the petition to get 4TV restored, or add your comment here.

• News Updates: BBC1 HD, Freeview HD, DAB Amnesty and new iPhone.
• Focus: Getting more from your digital photos
• Hands-on: A tech-tech keep-fit bug
• Your comments and questions on BT Vision and the BBC iPlayer

You can download Show 52 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: Get more from your digital photos
• Transcript: Get Healthy with a Fitbug

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

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.

In the race to bring out the first 3D-Ready TV, it seems that Samsung was the winner in the UK, releasing the Samsung UE40C7000 40 inch 3D Ready TV a few days back.

It’s am impressive-looking TV set, and it’s also very capable.

These TV sets use LED technology – LED lights use less energy than standard LCD, and offer more precise control of colour, contrast and clarity. The UE40C7000 has a built-in Freeview HD tuner, supports SRS Theatre Sound, offers full 1080p HD, supports streaming video (DLNA) and has Internet connectivity.

At the moment, this TV set is only available from John Lewis (online or instore). Link: Samsung 3D TV at John Lewis

Here’s Samsung’s new 3D TV commercial:

This first HD TV from Samsung uses Active Shutter technology – the 3D glasses switch on and off 50 times per second to create the 3D illusion, although you might want to check out the 3D Usage Notice issued by Samsung recently, which warns about possible side effects including seizures, strokes, altered vision ,muscle twitching, confusion, motion sickness, disorientation, eye strain and something called ‘decreased postural stability’.

3D TV is finally available for the home, it seems. Let us know your views on 3D, and we’ll cover the subject in more detail in an upcoming FrequencyCast podcast.

This Freeview HD box is available for £99.99 on pre-order, with estimated availability on 31st March 2010.

This Freeview HD box from Bush has HDMI, SCART, Ethernet, a 7 day EPG and upscales to 1080p

Available to pre-order now at Argos: Bush DVB680 Freeview HD Box

It appears that the licence for the fourth Freeview HD slot now reverts to the BBC , although it’s not clear if they’d look to launch a second HD channel, or if another broadcaster would step in. A fifth HD channel is set to become available in 2011 – and in theory, Five could try for an HD slot again – provided they’d be able to demonstrate that they could start a service in 2012.

Here’s what we look at in Show 49:

• News Updates: More Freeview HD, the end of 6 Music and a new phone from Puma.
• Focus: Getting more from your Mobile – Apps, Maps and Gadgets
• Hands-on: The latest mobile phone watch, plus the Olympus Tough
• Your podline and email questions on Freeview and Sky signal, archiving video and buying a new telly

You can download Show 49 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.

In this show, we want some interaction, so get texting on 07882 043 521!

Links:

• Show Notes
• Mobile Phone Interaction
• Focus Transcript
• Become a Facebook Fan

Share and Enjoy!

The catchily-named Panasonic TX-P42G20B is a 42″ plasma TV supporting “Full HD” (i.e. 1080p) with a refresh rate of 600Hz – and here is our first picture:

The Panasonic TX-P42G20B Freeview HD TV is available now – we’ve found it at Comet online.

Oh – If you’re quick, you can get £60 off this (or anything over £1000 at Comet) using the magic voucher code AW60 at the Comet.co.uk checkout. The £60 off code expires on the 27th Feb 2010.

More on Freeview HD

Before you get excited – it won’t let you watch Freeview from your iPhone – what it does provide, is a handy and fairly powerful TV listings service to see what’s on the 50 or so Freeview channels.

Easy-to-use, and with handy access to the Freeview Twitter feed for recommendations and news, this is a must – especially given that it’s a freebie!

The Freeview HD iPhone app is available now on the iTunes App Store

Update: Reviewed in our Feb 2010 Update – Listen to Update / Read Transcript