Category: Satellite TV
Sky offers Sky+HD box for under fifty quid as satellite giant pushes high definition
Sky has decided that it’s time to get really aggressive when it comes to high definition in the UK, and to that end has slashed the price of its Sky+HD box to just £49. That’s a third of the price it was early last year (£150) and is the satellite broadcaster’s hope of getting many more subscribers hooked on pay-for-HD.
In fact, thanks to a lot of enticing marketing and the lure of a variety of sports, films and other content in high definition, Sky has just had its best quarter — in the three months to the end of December, 188,000 people signed up for high-def services, taking the total number of subscribers to nearly 800,000…
Sci-fi world devastated – Patrick McGoohan and Ricardo Montalban pass away
Patrick McGoohan, made famous by his role in bewildering 60s sci-fi escapology show The Prisoner, died on Tuesday, aged 80.
He was great in Danger Man, made his name in The Prisoner, then continued to deliver entertainment beyond the call of duty by directing and starring in numerous episodes of Columbo between the 1970s and his last directorial appearance in 2000…
Five finally coming to Freesat: 18th November
Since Freessat’s May launch, one notable absentee from the channel line-up was Five.
Due to a contract with Sky, the broadcaster wasn’t able to commit to Freesat straight away, but from Tuesday 18th November it takes up residence on channel 105.
Five has advanced a lot since the early days of bad reception and seedy porn (well, the reception’s better at least). Its autumn schedule includes Paul Merton in India, 1968 Unseen, Dangerous Adventures for Boys, Unbreakable and Axe Men…
Sky and Virgin Media bury the hatchet, offer each other's basic channels
The long-running dispute between Sky and Virgin Media over carriage charges, and the dropping of channels from each other’s platform, may have finally come to an end as the two companies agree new channel carriage agreements…
Freesat announces new "plus" service coming mid-November; Humax offers first HD DVR
Freesat, keen to join the likes of Freeview+ and Sky+ in offering DVR capability on its platform, has announced that Freesat+ will be available from mid-November.
When a suitably-equipped digibox is connected to the satellite feed, full DVR functionality is offered, including pausing and recording live TV, detailed channel guides, series recording, and so on…
Freesat sells 100,000 digiboxes since launch
Freesat has announced that it has sold over 100,000 set top boxes and integrated TVs, via its various authorised manufacturers, since it launched just under five months ago.
While that means it’s still a very small player compared to the likes of Sky and terrestrial Freeview, it’s an encouraging start, particularly as there hasn’t been a huge amount of advertising for the service….
MTV launching HD music channel across Europe, from September
Staring from September 15 you’ll be able to scrutinise the skin of your favourite pop star in more detail than ever before, as MTV and its parent company Viacom launch an HD music channel for quite a chunk of Europe.
Initially shaming Britney Spears in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland and Sweden, the channel will feature “new music” and “programming for kids,” all in English…
Freesat announces six more channels, including Black Entertainment TV, launching tomorrow
Free-to-air digital satellite service Freesat has announced the addition of six more channels to its line-up.
Top of the pile is BET UK. No, not a gambling channel, but Black Entertainment Television, which is America’s leading provider of African-American cultural programmes, including music, lifestyle, and public affairs.
Also added is Zone Horror + 1 (which is probably just the Zone Horror channel timeshifted by one hour), a public service channel called Information TV, Kix! aimed at 8-15 year-old boys, and Celebrity Shop and Simply Shopping which, predictably, are shopping channels…
freesat announces 18 new channels
Nearly three months after freesat’s launch, the free-to-air satellite broadcaster has announced 18 new channels will be added to the platform in the next couple of weeks.
This Thursday, ten TV channels will launch: Zone Reality, Zone Horror, Russia Today, The Fight Network, Inspiration, PitchWorld, Gems TV, Shop on tV, Netplay TV, and Gala TV…
SelfSat Flat Antenna – free-to-air HD without the big dish
There’s one big problem with freesat – the big dish is still required. Which is where the SelfSat Flat Antenna comes in…
