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Humax have released a new software update for the Humax FOXSAT-HDR (version 1.00.13) and Humax FOXSAT-HD (version 1.00.26), which is available for download over-the-air (OTA) today.

The update for the FOXSAT-HDR is said to just resolve MHEG issues for iPlayer, whilst the FOXSAT-HD the same plus issues with loss of signal on high-band vertical channels.

Do let us know by commenting below how you get on with the update and whether it resolves any problems you have been having.

(thanks to hummy.org.uk for the information)

Latest update scan on all Freesat receivers (26/01/10)

1 Added – 692 Genesis TV
0 Removed
1 Changed – 140 BET frequency change

Sony yesterday released their latest software (1.630SA) to enable BBC iPlayer on all their Freesat built-in Sony televisions. If you have one of these televisions, you should now be able to access BBC iPlayer from BBC1 by pressing the red button followed by code 5483. (instructions on how to connect your Sony television to the Internet to receive iPlayer can be found here)

Other manufacturers will be added as and when they have carried out the initial testing with the BBCi Tech Team. All Freesat HD receivers are expected to have BBC iPlayer enabled within the next few months.

The TechniSat HDFS has been awarded ‘group test winner’ in a recent feature review in What Satellite Magazine.

The magazine tested the existing range of Freesat HD single tuner receivers against each other, including the TechniSat HDFS, Humax FOXSAT-HD, Sagem DSI86HD and Metronic SATHD100, with the TechniSat winning by some margin, though not really a surprise to most (we are unsure of the absence of any of the Harvard range – Grundig, Goodmans and Bush).

The final review scores were:

TechniSat 86%
Humax 80%
Metronic 75%
Sagem 69%

Although we allowed the release of the code a few weeks ago, Freesat/BBC have today officially release for all Humax receiver owners to take part in the final beta trial of the service.

The trial is the first time BBC iPlayer has been delivered on a subscription free TV service. It was initially limited to a small number of users, however, following positive feedback from this group and high levels of interest from Freesat users, the trial is now open to all Humax owners to give it a go.

Emma Scott, Managing Director of Freesat said;

Initial feedback of the trial has been really positive, with trial users able to make sure they didn’t miss some of the fantastic programming available over Christmas. For many, it was the first time they had accessed BBC iPlayer on the television, and there were high levels of satisfaction with the service itself as well how easy it was to set up and operate. I’m really pleased that we can now expand the number of Freesat viewers who can now access BBC iPlayer.

At the same time as releasing this statement, Emma Scott also confirmed that ITV Player would also make an appearance in the first half of this year;

With ITV Player also due to launch on Freesat in the first half of this year, we will be the only TV platform to offer catch up services from both major broadcasters on a subscription free basis and without the need to buy new equipment.

The ability to access on-demand is increasingly important to viewers, and Freesat’s exclusive ability to offer this to TV viewers without a subscription demonstrates our strategy of innovation and long term growth for the platform.

Did you know that Freesat (official – not us!) can be followed on Twitter? No, neither did we but they can, so why not visit them here @freesat_tv to follow their progress, updates and answers; they do seem to publish daily.

Freesat currently have 140 followers, let see if we can increase that in the same way as we did the BBC HD petition

Courtesy once again of AndrewM (the first!), updated sales figures/ratio’s for Quarter 3 – 2009.

Ofcom recently released their Digital Progress Report for Q3 2009 (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtv_2009_q3/).

Including the information you previously published (http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-sdhd-ratio, http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-sdhd-ratio-update and http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-figures-q2-2009), here are the updated Freesat sales figures as they stood at 30 September 2009:

Freesat unit sales – 2008

Q2 2008: 39,000 units (15,000 SD and 24,000 HD) (61% HD) [1]
Q3 2008: 69,000 units (20,000 SD and 49,000 HD) (71% HD) [2]
Q4 2008: 125,000 units (26,000 SD and 99,000 HD) (79% HD) [3]

Total sales for 2008: 233,000 units (61,000 SD and 172,000 HD) (74% HD) [3]

Freesat unit sales – 2009

Q1 2009: 117,000 units (26,000 SD and 91,000 HD) (78% HD) [4]
Q2 2009: 98,000 units (79% HD) [5]*
Q3 2009: 193,000 units (79% HD) [6]*

Total sales since launch:

643,000

As expected, Freesat sales figures showed a big increase in this quarter, with total unit sales by the end of the quarter standing at 643,000 and setting a new quarterly sales record of 193,000 units, nearly double the previous quarterly sales figure. Ofcom reports that the proportion of HD receivers is still constant at 79% (see note below). And as you reported in late November (http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-pass-750000), Freesat said that sales had by that point surpassed 750,000. Given these figures, I definitely think that Freesat is on track to pass the million mark sometime this current quarter.

[1] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2008_q2/q2_2008
[2] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2008_03/q3_2008.pdf
[3] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2008_04/q42008.pdf
[4] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2009_01/q12009.pdf
[5] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2009_02/q22009.pdf
[6] http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtv_2009_q3/dtv_2009_q3.pdf

*Note that starting in Q2 2009, Ofcom only reports the percentage of HD receivers sold, rather than giving a number of units, so it isn’t possible to give the units breakdown of SD and HD receivers. Also, it’s not completely clear if the percentage they give is for total sales or quarterly sales; I have assumed the latter.

It would appear that some channels have been removed from one of the Astra2D transponders (10921 H) today; the channels removed seem to be pay-per-view channels serviced by Sky.

Whilst not major news, it has been a long time since 2D slots have opened up so the question will be, what for?

For those not aware, UK broadcasters wishing to broadcast ‘in the clear’ (i.e. FTA) must allocate their channels a slot on the Astra2D beam which is more UK focused to limit access outside the UK; a previous post on this subject can be found here.

With any luck, Channel 4 may be able to buy one of the slots for C4 HD when it comes out of contract with Sky (again) and also Channel Five may be able to grab a few for Fiver and Five US which are presently encrypted (FTV). There may even be space for Five HD!

This is purely speculation though, for all we know, the pay-per-view channels may return or the space may still be rented by Sky and used for other channels they intend launching; but if there is any opportunity for the UK broadcasters to use as a reason to actively pursue the slots, now is the time.

Thanks Rich for alerting us to this development.

Latest update scan on all Freesat receivers (06/01/10)

0 Added
0 Removed
1 Changed – 809 JML to 809 JML Direct

A petition has been raised on the Number10 website for BBC to increase the picture quality of BBC HD back to how it was before the bit-rate reduction. The petition hasn’t been created by us but following the vote result (left hand side) showing overwhelming opinion that the rate has reduced quality we thought you might want to put your name down in support of action:

Visit the BBC HD PQ Petition