Join Freesat

Just a reminder that Dixons are still offering the exclusive 10% off Freesat receivers until the end of this month, incase you are considering a purchase soon. The Humax is probably the best buy with only the Grundig HD also in stock. Hopefully the standard-definition receivers will be available before the discount expiries!

Simply visit Dixons Online and enter discount code ‘10DIGI‘ at checkout.

Humax FOXSAT-HD was £149.99, with discount £135.49
Grundig GUFSAT01HD was £149.99, with discount £135.49
Goodmans GFSAT200HD was £119.99, with discount £108.49 (presently out of stock)
Goodmans GFSAT100SD was £49.99, with discount £45.49 (presently out of stock)

These are online exclusives, not available in the shops, but certainly the best prices currently available.

Dixons are offering an exclusive 10% off all Freesat boxes for the month of July.

Simply visit Dixons Online and enter discount code ‘10DIGI‘ at checkout.

Humax FOXSAT-HD was £149.99, with discount £134.99
Grundig GUFSAT01HD was £149.99, with discount £134.99
Goodmans GFSAT200HD was £119.99, with discount £107.99
Goodmans GFSAT100SD was £49.99, with discount £44.99

It has been some time coming, but John Lewis are finally selling Freesat digital boxes online. We always thought that in accordance with their agreement with Freesat, they should have been, so it looks like they’ve finally got there.

No sign of any standard definition Freesat receivers yet, but they are selling the premium high definition models, plus the Panasonic Plasmas with Freesat built-in. If you are a loyal John Lewis customer, then these are their Freesat products available to buy online:

Humax Freesat HD Digital Receiver - £149.00
Grundig GUFSAT HD Freesat Receiver - £149.00
Panasonic Viera TH42PZ81B Plasma, 42in with Built-in freesat - £1299.00
Panasonic Viera TH46PZ81B Plasma, 46in with Built-in freesat - £1699.00

Don’t forget that John Lewis’ Panasonic plasmas come with a 5 year warranty, which explains why they are slightly more expensive. Some have mentioned that Panasonic offer a 5 year warranty free anyway, but note this is only from selected/limited retailers.

Prices are beginning to drop on the Freesat digital boxes, with the Goodmans Freesat HD reduced from £149.99 to £119.99, and the Goodmans SD from £69.99 to £49.99.

It makes much more sense that all the Alba Group Freesat boxes are price matched against each other, considering they are all effectively the same unit with the same internals.

Expect to see the price of the Grundig Freesat HD to come down from £149.99 soon too.

As far as the Humax Freesat HD, there’s every possibility that this will also drop too, with plenty of room for movement in the existing trade price, certainly for the major retailers anyway.

If you can’t wait though, check out our price comparison on the right hand column, for the best prices online.

It still amazes us that neither BBC/ITV, nor their official website have yet given any annoucement of the launch date of their new freesat service. It amazes us further that there has been so far no advertisements, no marketing or television coverage to speak of. Considering we are now 2 weeks away from the expected official launch, it does make you wonder.

Anyway, to help you, we thought we’d give you all the information we have on where and when you can buy, to help you plan for launch. We have touched on this in a number of blogs, but thought it wise to bring it all togeather:

28th April 2008 - Grundig HD Receiver (GUFSATHD) available for delivery from Comet online at £149.99 (pre-orders now being taken)

3rd May 2008 - Grundig STD Receiver (GUFSAT01) available for delivery from Comet online at £49.99 (pre-orders now being taken)

6th May 2008 - Humax HD Receiver (FOXSAT-HD) available for delivery from John Lewis online at £149 (no sign of product available on site yet)

We are also expecting that those looking for dish installation will be able to order from 6th May 2008, but no sooner. We have no news on when these receivers will be available in store, suggestions to us are that they might be available at the same time as online, but others beleive 6th May 2008 at the earliest!

Our advice is that if you want a receiver from the very start, buy online now and get the very first batch available.

Sorry for the lack of updates, but not much is being ‘leaked’ by the BBC or ITV at this time. We have however noticed a discussion taking place on Digital Spy which has some information worth sharing, although it might just be pure speculation, but certainly generates a good talking point!

According to the information supplied, the retailers for the freesat product will be:

Phase 1 - Argos, DSG (Curry’s), Comet, John Lewis
Phase 2 - CIH Euronics, M & S, Tesco
Phase 3 - non-Euronics independents in 2009

From previous reports we beleive Phase 1 will cover 6 months from launch, followed by a further 6 months for Phase 2, then a free-for-all in Phase 3. We have been told of retailers trying to obtain the rights to sell that BBC are not yet considering ‘general’ retailers, just those already hand selected!

The target prices, which were discussed in a recent meeting suggest:

Freesat non-HD (box only) £35
Freesat HD (box only) £99
Freesat HD PVR (box only) £149

Note the absense of a non-HD PVR? As suspected its unlikely they will make one, expecting those wanting to record to pay up for the HD version.

Should you require installation, its hoped to cost around £50, which when you do the sums, is a great deal for a full setup, no matter which digital receiver you pick. We had concerns that the prices would not compete with existing Sky deals, but fortunatly it looks like if they meet these targets, they will, good news.

According to this BBC website link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7202367.stm), its suggesting that the price of freesat will start at £180, so how much truth is in that price? I think its fairly accurate, considering you are paying for a receiver and installation, but what about the competition (ahem, sky!), well they offer a similar package already for £150, called freesatfromsky (how apt!), so surely freesat are going to have to compete, if it is in fact just for a standard receiver and nothing more!