Beeb gives thumbs up to Freesat

The long-awaited Freesat service is a step closer after winning provisional approval from the BBC Trust.

BBC managers have proposed Freesat as a Freeview-style alliance available from satellite instead of through your aerial, which could help fill key gaps in the run-up to digital switchover.
The proposal will be open to the public for a 28-day consultation before the Trust makes its final decision.

"A new, guaranteed subscription-free satellite service would provide the public another option when deciding what platform to choose.
"Over half of those yet to switch fall outside the Freeview coverage area. For these homes, the new service would mean being able to access BBCdigital services they have already paid for via their licence fee butuntil now have been unable to receive on a guaranteed subscription-freebasis."Overall, we believe a "Freesat" service to be in the public interestand we hope that other public service broadcasters would join the BBCin a joint venture."

Initial proposals for Freesat have already involved ITV, although Channel 4 and Five are still tied to encryption deals with Sky.Ironically, Filmfour could be part of Freesat because it's currently unencrypted.

Like Freeview, Freesat would be a joint venture with other public service and commercial broadcasters, with its own brand, electronic programme guide and interactive TV technology. It would also be designed to accommodate hi-def and PVRs, with satellite receivers sold by independent companies working to an agreed specification.

In fact, the EPG and interactive services could be very similar to Freeview, based on the same DVB and MHEG-5 technology, but using DVB-S instead of DVB-T.
It would also give more than a hundred free-to-air channels the chance to unite under an umbrella other than Sky.

David
www.aworldofdigital.com