Freeview (Freeview)

Member Name: jane08

Product:	Freeview
Date:	13/07/08 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More channel choice

Disadvantages: Often has lots of repeats and occasional signal loss

If you're sick of having nothing to watch on TV, or simply want some more variety and choice, then Freeview is an excellent way to go. Unlike other providers, Freeview is exactly what it says in the title, free; at least when you've bought the box it is anyway. With everyone needing to convert to digital at some point in the near future, this is about the only way to keep you're costs low.


***Channels***

There will be a reasonably extensive list of channels at your disposal, starting with the basics from BBC1 to channel five. The complete range of other BBC channels is also available, such as BBC Three and Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News 24 and Parliament. The added bonus is that you also have access to the BBC interactive options which usually gives you a choice with sporting events as well as other programme options. Whilst repeats are often shown on some of these channels, they do have a range programmes that are unaired on the normal BBC options.

There is also an extended range of ITV channels. Although the majority of the programmes shown are often repeats, soap fans will be especially appreciative of this as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale episodes are repeated from the previous day, just in case you missed them. These channels do have a habit of showing very old television programmes and American reality shows like America's got talent. They are also quite fond of showing the same film several times in a week.

Channel 4's range has an often similar policy when it comes to it's variety except in Big Brother season. At this time of year you practically loose your extra channel as it becomes a permanent Big Brother show. However there is the big advantage of Film4, which shows an excellent range of old and new movies. Repeats are shown throughout the week in case you miss the one you want to watch.

Other channels available include two music channels, TMF and The Hits, as well as many radio channels. There is a documentary fans heaven in UKTV History and a new channel that's become a personal favourite called Dave, this shows old episodes of programmes like, Top Gear, Mock the Week, QI and many more. To go along with your 24 hour BBC news you'll also get Sky news, although the interactive button for that channel is not available. The rest of the channels tend to be lifestyle based, with things like bid tv and price-drop tv.

***
A standard Freeview box can be obtained from as low as £20, although obviously the quality will improve with increasing cost. Another bonus of having freeview is that there is a built in tv guide so that you can scan through to see what's on. Many box's also allow you to select a reminder on programmes which will show up when it's about to start.

If there is any downside with this product it would have to be the signal quality. Unfortunately on occasions the signal for certain channels is lost on my box. It seems that Film4, FiveUS, Fiver, ITV +1, E4+1 and the music channels are the most significantly effected by this. Sometimes these channels will jump but on many occasions the channel has lost it's signal completely which is particularly frustrating if you're watching a film.

Overall I'd recommend a freeview box. There's the added bonus of extra channels at a small one off cost. The loss of signal is frustrating but I still think the benefits outweigh the problems.

Summary: For a small one off fee you can't really complain too much, it's worth a buy