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We often get asked what changes were made when a rescan is requested on your Freesat receiver, so thought it might be a good idea for us to post the changes up as the software itself doesn’t really give much information which is a shame. We’ll try to update you on these either just before or just after they go live.

Update – 08/09/09

0 Added
0 Removed
1 Changed (810 JML Cookshop moved frequency)

Taken from a post on DigitalSpy (thanks jzee!), we thought it might be a good idea publishing here to; showcase some of the many channels available on your Freesat box via the ‘non-Freesat’ mode. These channels are FTA (free-to-air) but have so far decided not to join the Freesat EPG (electronic programme guide) for full 7 day listings and an assigned channel number.

Just switch your Freesat receiver over to ‘non-Freesat’ mode, carry out a scan, and you’ll find hundreds of channels including these worth a look. Hopefully one day they will find themselves on the Freesat EPG, but that is down to the broadcaster and whether they are willing to pay the fee for inclusion.

Films/Drama

Brit Shorts – french short film & animation
11426 H, 27500 2/3

Film24 – films, classic kids progs, film previews, interviews, film festivals.
12690 V, 27500 2/3

Movies4Men+1 – if you miss something on the freesat channel (ch 304)
12524.00 H, 27500 2/3

Movies4Men2+1 – if you miss something on the freesat channel (ch 306)
11259 V, 27500 2/3

Paranormal – classic mystery, UFO and ghost stuff, old films
11488 V, 27500 2/3

World Movies – ‘highbrow’ world cinema
12643 V, 27500 2/3

Lifestyle/Travel

Horse & Country – UK countryside stuff, horse trials fishing, farming, stately homes
12560 V, 27500 2/3

Luxe HD – french channel showing premium food, fashion, travel, art, cars; in HD
12643 H, 27500 2/3

SA Direct – documentaries on southern africa, not all travel focused
11343 V, 27500 2/3

Sky Travel – travel deals shopping channel
10876 V, 22000 5/6

Thomas Cook – travel sales
11527 V, 27500 2/3

Travel Channel – travel documentaries, sales
12560 V, 27500 2/3

Travel Channel+1 – travel documentaries, sales
12690 V, 27500 2/3

Travel Deals Direct – thomson holiday sales
12560 V, 27500 2/3

News/Documentaries/Community

Channel M – Manchester news, documentaries; some sport
11527 V, 27500 2/3

Community Channel – charity activities in 3rd world and UK
12226 H, 27500 2/3

Controversial TV – political; plus supernatural/extraterrestrial/conspiracy theory
11222 H, 27500 2/3

Press TV – Iranian 24 hour news channel
12690 V, 27500 2/3

Sky News – UK 24 hour news (award winning)
12207 V, 27500 2/3

Zone Reality+1 – if you miss something on the Freesat channel (ch 136)
11261 H, 27500 2/3

Music

Bliss – mainstream pop
11642 V, 27500 2/3

Brit Asia TV – asian pop
12480 V, 27500 2/3

Channel AKA – hip hop
12690 V, 27500 2/3

Flaunt – house, trance, disco
11642 V, 27500 2/3

Flava – hip hop, R&B, garage, drum n bass
11642 V, 27500 2/3

Music India – indian pop
12643 H, 27500 2/3

NME TV – indy rock
11642 V, 27500 2/3

oMusic TV – classical
11223 V, 27500 2/3

Starz TV – youth orientated pop
11343 V, 27500 2/3

Radio

Arrow Rock
10862 H, 22000 5/6

Galaxy
10862 H, 22000 5/6

Heart
10862 H, 22000 5/6

LBC
10862 H, 22000 5/6

Magic
11623 H, 27500 2/3

Real Radio
10862 H, 22000 5/6

Smooth
10862 H, 22000 5/6

In addition to the inclusion of Bloomberg Television, a further two channels, Clubland TV and Wedding TV+1 have joined the Freesat line up.

Clubland TV is available on channel 514 and offers the latest dance music. Wedding TV+1 can be viewed on channel 403 bringing you a whole station dedicated to weddings, on a +1 time-delay.

Channels will (or should anyway) be added to your Freesat digital box or IDTV automatically during the course of today.

With 2009 fast approaching, what can we expect from Freesat in the new year? Our poll which continues on the left hand side would suggest that more than 50% of you want C4HD as a priority, but in reality will that happen? We know that C4HD is currently tied into agreement (encrypted) with Sky so unless they can terminate early, or the contract concludes in 2009, can we expect this channel at all in the coming year! We will continue to try and find out the in’s and out’s of the contract, but if anyone knows linked to C4 or Sky, let us know.

So what is more likely to appear in 2009? Well BBC are still promising the on-demand iPlayer, directly linked to your Freesat digital box via the Ethernet port. This seems likely to go ahead around spring time, assuming no further delays. Kangaroo looks dead in the water at this point.

Will we see more manufacturers on board? Possible, talks are on-going with a number of large manufacturers although given the current economic climate, this could be a little longer than expected. It’s certain that Metronic will have their HD digital box out soon, although retailing at £150 wouldn’t result in many sales. Metronic’s PVR receiver is also due within the first quarter of 2009, although again, this could be delayed given that the HD receiver from them already has. Alba Group are said to be developing a PVR too, but no timescale as yet, and rumours of Panasonic working on a combined PVR and Blu-ray player/recorder just won’t go away, although the official PR release at this stage is that nothing is in the pipe-line.

So what about other channels? Well Freesat’s target of 200 channels has not yet been reached, so the remaining FTA channels can certainly be expected in the coming months, although will this include FTA channels such as Sky News, we are still awaiting confirmation (don’t forget Sky News and others can be added in non-freesat mode). Will channel Five manage to find space on 2D to bring us Fiver and Five US, lets hope so. As for other channels, well many still expect that the line-up should/will match Freeview, but that’s highly unlikely, as channels such as Dave, UK Gold etc are tied into subscription contracts on DSAT with Sky, so unless these channels/networks can find ways of raising revenue through advertising rather than subscription, it’s not going to happen unless Freesat’s viewing audience substantially increases.

Most will no doubt agree that ITV HD need to drastically improve the quality and quantity of HD programming, at the very least to match a constantly improving BBC HD. Would ITV HD benefit from having a separate channel than using the existing red button facility? Maybe, but the possible downside of this would be access to the channel via Sky, which in-turn could reduce Freesat’s potential viewing figures.

Rather than expected, we hope that BBC and ITV can improve the quality of sound on Freesat, with many, if not all programmes being broadcast in stereo, rather than Dolby 5.1 allowing us to enjoy films etc in surround sound quality. This must surely be a priority?

The platform thus far has been largely successful, but lets hope for an even better year ahead for Freesat, with increased popularity and exposure.

Happy new year from all involved with joinfreesat.co.uk and thanks to all of you that have contributed over the past year.

ITV4+1 was added to the Freesat EPG today, accessible via channel 118 on your Freesat digital box; now only a few short of the 150 revised channel target by the end of the year.

We are still unsure of the reasons why ITV4+1 has taken so long to be added, but suspect that channels are being queued for inclusion and that was the first available slot.

We weren’t going to post about the new channel inclusions as they are not the most exciting, but we’ve had a number of emails from readers wondering what the changes were yesterday.

They include the following new channels:

141 BET+1
308 Simply Movies
816 Ideal World

There is also the addition of ITV1 London on 977 for audio description and also Celebrity Shop has been renamed TV Shop on channel 806.

For a full channel line up, click here.

Thane Direct, a shopping channel will be added to the Freesat EPG tomorrow, 4th November 2008. Allocated slot channel # 811.

Also joining will be BEN TV, a special interest channel, allocated slot channel #664.

Just thought we’d let you know in case you wonder what’s been added and start looking for channel Five!

Smart Live Casino, billed as one of the newest and fastest growing live interactive casino’s joins the Freesat EPG tomorrow, Tuesday 14th October, on channel 852.

You can find out more information about Smart Casino Live on their website at http://www.smartlivecasino.com.

Just thought you should know, in case you wonder what the new channel added is.

Channels 9XM and 9X UK have joined the Freesat line-up. They should be immediately available and update automatically on your Freesat receiver.

9XM (channel 513) – 9XM is a music channel aimed at Hindi youth. The channel will showcase the best of Bollywood music and dance, and will broadcast 24 hours a day.

9X UK (channel 662) – 9X UK is aimed at the UK’s Hindi community. The channel offers programming with enduring universal themes with modern story-telling techniques. Big stars, beautiful sets and a real connection with life today, and deep understanding of generational and social changes that resonate with today’s viewers.

Freesat have confirmed that five channels will join the Freesat EPG on Tuesday 16th September.

Television channels include Gaelic channel BBC Alba, Asian music channel Zee Music, shopping channel Best Direct and the specialist car channel, the Audi Channel.

Award-winning music station Planet Rock will also be further strengthening the Freesat radio offering.

Commenting on the addition of the new channels, Emma Scott, MD of Freesat, said;

We are excited about the addition of these new channels to the Freesat lineup. Bolstering our specialist offering is a key part of our channel strategy, and services such as these only make Freesat a more attractive offer for the consumer.

BBC Alba – Channel 110
Audi Channel – Channel 451
Zee Music – Channel 509
Planet Rock – Channel 730
Best Direct – Channel 813