Many already have a HD-ready TV set, but have to pay their monthly subscription to actually enjoy high-definition. BBC and ITV have launched a new channel, Freesat, a digital satellite TV service that's totally free. Besides being free the channel offers high-definition programming and will be available to 98% of UK's homes.
Freesat will feature more than 80 TV and radio channels, but it's expected to rise to 200 by the end of this year. To watch Freesat you only have to do a one time payment for a digital box, satellite dish and installation. ITV's and BBC's chairmen will come with more news about the service later, but for now we can expect BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4. Other interactive channels, children channels and important news channels (BBC News, Al-Jazeera English) will follow soon.
For now we can only hope that this will be a growing trend, although we should understand that these channels will probably be overloaded with commercials.
