Loading ...The BBC have released a statement to confirm that no BBC Interactive services will be available to allow “multiple match” during Wimbledon.
BBCi - the BBC’s interactive service on Freesat - currently offers News, Sport, Business, Entertainment, Lottery Results, Weather forecasts and maps. Currently no video services are available, with interactive services to be launched in a phased manner. These video services will not be ready in time for Wimbledon 2008 or any non-sport interactive services like Glastonbury or the Proms. BBCi will however be providing a full, video-based Sport Multiscreen service for the Olympics. As the BBC’s interactive services for Freesat evolve throughout 2008, further updates will be made available and publicised in due course.
The BBC Interactive services are however available on Sky and Freeview.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
That is slightly annoying…I was really hoping I could also get some interactive games through BBC HD, but maybe that’s asking a bit too much at the moment.
Still, it’s good to have some clarity regarding the BBCi services through Freesat. Seems like my freeview will remain plugged in alongside the freesat for now - this gets the most channels and interactive services…
June 24th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I was expecting it to be only the show courts with HD and not to be able to choose so it’s no great shock. I know BBC have some pretty big plans for BBCi on freesat so like David says I think it’s (especially given the launch experience) a little early to expect full video on the interactive service just yet.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I think it’s fair enough, I know the service will expand over time. I’m looking forward to a bright freesat future with lots more HD channels…..fingers crossed!.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
One of my main reasons for thinking of going to freesat is that I can’t get the interactives on Freeview. I’m not clear from the wording of the BBC statement whether a full interactive service WILL be provided for the Olympics or not. Can someone please clarify. If nothings happening I’ll save my money for a while. I’m not worried about HD and with the lack of a freesat PVR things are currently disappointing generally on the freesat scene.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I have been looking forward to Freesat for such a long time but the more I read about the service, the HD boxes, No PVR yet, No C4HD, No Fiver, Five US…plus Sky is dropping the price of their HD box to £150 on July 1st……..ummm…not sure which way to go now.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Does anyone know how to get ITV HD listings, I can’t even see them on the ITV website!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Presumably, if you’ve got the Humax box you can put it into FTA mode and get the interactive feeds by accessing the channel directly? I’ve not tried this but I don’t see why it shouldn’t work unless the BBC are encrypting them. Once Alba have got FTA sorted on their boxes then everyone else should be sorted as well. It is annoying that it’s not there though, considering it is available via a Sky box, presumably it’s a software issue.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:49 am
As I understand it, Freesat has really only had a ’soft launch’ so far, so I guess things won’t really get going until later in the year. It’s a little like the introduction of colour on BBC2 - Wimbledon went out in colour in the Summer of 1967, but not much else did; BBC2 didn’t go colour ‘properly’ until the November of that year.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’m SO disappointed..I bought freesat just so that I could watch Wimbledon interactively. Now I feel like a fool. I wish I’d waited for freeview to become available next year…
June 25th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Not only these interactive services but no subtitles on BBC HD, the SD channels do have them.
Disability discrimination strikes again.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
@ Stevie G - Unfortunately freesat doesn’t seem to work as freeview does so it’s not just a case of selecting the interactive feed’s own channel (as in freeview’s 301/302 etc) as they don’t show up on a manual search. BBc HD’s channel does but that’s about all.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Is the Nelson Mandella concert being broadcast in HD. If not ITV will have missed a good opportunity to boost demand for Freesat?