Are you ready for the Digital Switch?

More on Digital TV

Our podcast regularly features Digital TV - here's a summary of the digital options in the UK

What is Digital TV?

Digital offers more TV choice, less interference, and improved features, but what are the options?

The UK is slowly switching to digital TV, and the UK is set to switch everyone over to digital by 2012. Over the next few years, you'll need to be ready for digital TV.

What are the options?

In the UK, there are several main ways to get into the world of digital TV:

Digital TV

Sky Digital	The UK's digital satellite provider is Sky Digital. To get Sky, you need to sign up, then have one of Sky's engineers to install a satellite dish to your house and to connect a 'digibox' - a set-top box that into your TV. You'll also need to plug the box into your phone line, as a condition of subscribing. What's on offer: With Sky, you get the largest range of channels around. Some channels are free to watch, but most require a Sky Digital subscription, which is paid monthly. Offers: Prices start from £16 a month. For a limited time, you can also get a £5 credit when you order online. A special package is also on offer: Four "mix packages", free Sky digibox, Broadband Internet and free UK evening and weekend landline calls... all this for just £19 a month. Extras: Other extras include the Sky+ disk recorder, and a Sky HD High Definition set-top box Summary: Largest channel lineup. Needs a dish. Pricey subscription More info on our Sky Digital page. To explore the options, go to www.sky.com.
Freeview	Freeview is, as the name suggests, a free digital TV service. It uses your existing TV aerial to get its signals. All channels are free to watch, there's no installation or subscription cost and no engineer needs to visit (assuming you have a good enough aerial). What's on offer: Freeview offers around 60 channels of digital TV and radio - considerably less than Sky, but enough for many. Channels include BBC3, ITV3, ITV4, E4, BBC News, Dave, Virgin 1, UK History, Sky Three, Film Four and More4. To get Freeview, you need to check that you're in a Freeview coverage area, then buy a Freeview set-top box. These are available for upwards of £25 from Dixons, Comet, Argos and 24-7 Electrical . Summary: No subscription. Cheap startup cost (£30). Small number of channels More on our Freeview page
Cable	If you're served by cable TV operator Virgin Media (formerly Telewest and NTL), they may be able to provide you with a cable TV package, as well as phone services. Again, you'll need a set-top box to receive services, and you'll need a visit from an engineer to connect you. What's on offer: A good selection of TV channels, and access to a large collection of on-demand movies and TV shows.. To see if cable TV is available in your area, go to www.virginmedia.com Summary: Must be in Cable TV area. Good deal when combined with Internet and phone service More on our Cable TV page, and at www.virginmedia.com
BT Vision	BT Vision offers a UK-wide TV and video-on-demand service. To use this, you need a special V-Box from BT, and a BT Home Hub, and you need to be in a Freeview coverage area. What's on offer: Live TV via a TV aerial (the standard Freeview channels), plus access to on-demand movies, sport and TV shows on your telly over Broadband. Cost: The BT Vision box is free to customers of BT's broadband service - see our BT Vision page. The on-demand TV and movies are available on pay-to-view (from 29p), or on monthly subscription (from £4) Summary: Limited live TV channels (uses Freeview for live TV). Extra content is streamed over the Internet. Free high-spec digital recorder. Acceptable amount of on-demand content. No subscription required if with BT for Broadband. More on our BT Vision page
FreeSat	FreeSat launched in May 2008, offering free-to-view TV via satellite. What's on offer: 80 channels of subscription-free TV and radio, via a satellite dish Cost: Boxes £50 (standard def), or £120 (high-def). If you don't have a dish, £80 installation. Summary: Good alternative if no Freeview in your area. Free HD content. More on our UK Freesat page
Tiscali TV	This service is available in London and a number of other cities in the UK, and uses your existing phone line to deliver digital TV to your home. What's on offer: Tiscali TV offers over 80 channels of digital TV (including Sky One, FX, ITV2, Sky Sports News, Paramount Comedy). On-demand content includes 1000 on-demand movies, over 5000 music videos, hundreds of TV series, and a TV rewind service. Service starts from £19.99 including 2Meg Broadband, with free set-top box. Summary: Not available throughout the UK. More on the Tiscali TV site
Top Up TV Anytime	Essentially Freeview, but with a few extra channels and programmes. TV signals received via your TV aerial downloaded onto a special set-top box that holds 120 hours of TV content. Extra TV programmes are downloaded over-the-air overnight, building up a library of 100 hours of programmes. Channels include UKTV Gold UKTV Style and Living TV. You need to be in a Freeview coverage area. Box costs £99.99, and the service costs £9.99 a month. Summary: More channels than Freeview, plus extra stored TV shows. Set-up expensive. More on our Top Up TV Anytime page
Internet	With more and more people hooked up with high-speed Broadband, TV over the Internet (or IPTV) is on it's way.

Got a question on digital TV that we can answer in our next podcast?
Call 0208 133 4567 or send us a message

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