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In a discussion between Humax’s commercial director Graham North and digitalspy, he’s suggested that Humax will be the first and only manufacturer of a freesat HD receiver from the launch of freesat.

Whilst most information has been kept under wraps by the manufacturers, Graham has said that he expects the HD element of the freesat service to be the key selling point over the existing terrestrial Freeview platform.

“There are so many HDTVs being sold now and there is so much demand for HD content,” said North. “There will be quite a lot of Freeview customers who might take up Freesat, I don’t think they will drop Freeview altogether, perhaps keeping it in a different room, but they will take it. Mainly because of the HD on offer.”

Freeview current enjoys a large share of the digital market, with an staggering 27million digital set top boxes in homes across the country.

One other hint of a suggestion from Graham was that consumers negative attitude towards Sky might fall into freesat’s favour, “Also, not everyone wants to be a Sky customer for whatever reason – financial or anything else. There is definitely an opportunity in the market.”

Humax will not produce an standard receiver and it was confirmed that a HD personal video recorder would follow “in a few months” after launch (we currently believe this to be July). Humax would consider producing televisions integrated with freesat receivers in the future, he added, as it already sells similar digital satellite combinations in other countries around the world.

“We would look at it, we have done it in other markets. We have decided not to before in the UK, because there wasn’t a driver.”

North also said its set top boxes would contain DiSEqC controllers, which can be used to control equipment such as motorised dishes. An interest prospect indeed for all those consumers looking to access alternative countries channels through the one receiver.