Free satellite TV in the UK is available from the Freesat satellite TV service. Freesat enables you to watch more channels than Freeview and it can deliver stunning satellite HDTV to your home - absolutely free! Yes that's right you can get free HDTV in your home with no subscription and no monthly bills to pay. And what's more, if you already have Sky digital and want to change to Freesat then you may not even need satellite TV installers to come round and fit the Freesat box for you.

DIY Freesat - You have a dish

If you have a Sky digital satellite TV subscription and you want to change to non subscription digital TV then Freesat is the answer.

Freesat works from the same satellites that Sky use called Astra and Eurobird 1, they are parked high up in space giving coverage to 98 per cent of the UK. So this means that you don't need to change your dish or allow satellite TV installers to make more holes in your wall. All you need is a Freesat receiver - this can be purchased online or in many electrical retailers. When you get the box home all you need to do is follow the instructions, plug it in to the existing satellite dish cables and hey presto you've got free satellite TV!

Freesat installation - You need a dish

If you don't have a satellite dish on your home then in order to get Freesat you will need to arrange installation. Freesat does two types of installation, a standard installation and Freesat+ installation. The latter is different because unlike standard Freesat which requires one cable going from your dish to the Freesat box, Freesat+ will need two cables. This allows you make full use of the Freesat+ recording facilities.
The installers Freesat use are fully approved to carry out such work and they will make sure that they position the dish in the best place possible to receive Freesat digital satellite TV.

Types of Freesat

Standard Freesat

This is the standard option. This will allow you to watch up to 140 channels free of charge. The box is a standard definition receiver and cannot show high definition pictures. The pictures will be in standard definition and even though you can still watch the BBC HD channel the picture will be downgraded to standard definition.

Freesat HD from a Freesat HD box

With this option you get not just the standard definition channels, but a host of HD channels that you can enjoy on your HD-ready TV. Included in the 140 channels are HD services from the BBC and ITV as well as other HD services due to launch soon.
To watch Freesat HD you will need to have a HD ready television to plug the Freesat HD box into.
Apart from the fact you are getting free HDTV, another benefit of Freesat HD is that if you connect your box up to a home cinema system you could enjoy amazing 5.1 surround sound in your living room.

Freesat HD through an integrated Freesat TV
You can also get Freesat HD through an integrated Freesat HD television. All you need is the TV, you don't need a Freesat HD box because the TV has a built in Freesat HD digital tuner. These televisions are now available from many high street electrical retailers.

Freesat+ HD Digital TV Recorder
This option gives you total control of the TV schedules. The Freesat+ HD Digital TV Recorder allows you to pause, rewind and record both standard and high definition television. You can also record two channels at the same time, meaning you never miss that important programme.

By choosing Freesat over Freeview you are ensuring you never have to fiddle around with retuning your digital set top box. Freesat updates automatically so there's no fuss.

The Freesat future

Freesat is adding new channels and services to its portfolio all the time. As of Autumn 2009 Freesat plans to introduce IPTV services to Freesat viewers. Many Freesat boxes include an ethernet connection to allow IPTV services to be delivered via your home broadband connection and display on your living room TV.
This means on demand TV services like BBC iPlayer and 4OD could be available on your TV, so you don't have to get a stiff neck hunched over a laptop or PC watching last nights Masterchef.

Freesat may not be for everyone, but with free HDTV and a whole host of channels and services, customers who want free satellite TV need look no further.