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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%

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.

ITV HD have announced their Christmas programme schedule and must say that if you are in to your films and dramas, you are going to love the content on this festive season.

Films include the sixth Star Wars films, Return of the Jedi (if you work that way around, it’s the third to me!); also on is Gorillas in the Mist, The Nutty Professor, Love Actually, Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason, Gladiator and so much more. There is also a Take That special allowing you to enjoy their sell-out ‘Circus’ tour from the past few months.

Settle in this Christmas with ITV HD, visit the full schedule of 48 programmes here.

BBC HD’s schedule for the next 9 days can be found here.

BBC iPlayer’s long-awaited beta testing is finally expected to start this November.

According to Rahul Chakkara, Controller of TV Platforms at BBC FM&T, the MHEG-5 compliant version of the interface will begin Beta deployment “by end of November” on the Freesat platform.

I expect to start a Beta deployment by the end of November using capable Freesat devices.

As we had suspected, it seems that BBC might have been holding back to introduce the service across both the Freesat and Freeview platform at the same time, though Freesat is still expected to be the first to offer in HD.

The DTG (Digital Television Group) supported by BBC R&D, has extended the MHEG-5 standard to use the interaction channel for handling Internet video. This standard has been adopted by Freesat and incorporated into the DBook 6.1 used in Freeview HD devices. Finally now the resulting MHEG-IC service will allow both platforms to access additional AV content via the Internet. This will include BBC iPlayer of course, as well as other VoD (Video On Demand) and Catch-up TV services, plus much more in the future including real-time programme interaction.

This message is a direct press release from Freesat

Jump aboard the Millennium Falcon and prepare to fight the Death Star as the entire Star Wars movie franchise is coming to a living room near you, in High Definition and subscription free, on the ITV HD service from Freesat, starting 24th October.

Running throughout the month of November and December, the entire series will be airing on ITV HD in consecutive order, beginning with Episode I: The Phantom Menace on 24th October, culminating with Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in December, and including the terrestrial premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. A favourite of film fans of all ages, this franchise has to be seen in digitally remastered HD.

The Star Wars have generated a universe of their own, from books to video games and has made stars of actors such as Harrison Ford. Originally released in 1977 with Star Wars, followed by The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, director George Lucas returned to Star Wars in 1999 with The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, prequels to the original series.

Other ITV HD highlights on Freesat include films such as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Champions League and FA Cup football.

Courtesy once again of AndrewM (the first!), updated sales figures/ratio’s for Quarter 2 – 2009.

Ofcom today published their Digital Television Update for Q2 of 2009 (news release: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/9/nr_20090929). Including the information you previously published (http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-sdhd-ratio and http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-sales-sdhd-ratio-update), here are the updated sales figures:

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]*

Total sales since launch

448,000

So a drop in sales from Q1 to Q2 (the impact of the recession and poor availability of boxes?), however given the recent announcement of 600,000 units sold (http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-achieves-600000-sales-since-launch), it looks like Q3 sales are on track to set a new quarterly record of more than 150,000 units (even higher than the quarter which included last Christmas!). As for the percentage of HD receivers sold, it looks like it has reached a plateau for the moment at almost 80%.

[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

*Note that for this quarter Ofcom 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.

It would appear that a few days ago some of the major retailers decided to increase their retail price of the Humax FOXSAT-HD from £119.99 to £149.99.

The retailers involved in the price hike include John Lewis, Dixons, Maplin, Argos and Currys, with a lesser increase also by Amazon.

We have checked the trade price for this Freesat high-definition receiver but it hasn’t changed, suggesting that the major retailers have some how determined that the demand for this product is increasing, or available stock is about to become very short. We cannot imagine it would be due to lack of sales, as these big retailers would typically drop the price to trade values just to sell stock.

Very interesting, and odd at the same time; wonder if the same will happen with any other Freesat product.

Speaking exclusively to DigitalSpy, James Atkins, Freesat Trade Marketing Manager has said that providing more HD channels is without doubt on the agenda for Freesat, citing high-definition as a “key benefit” of the platform.

Freesat has been running since May 2008 initially launching with just BBC HD, and since adding ITV HD on an exclusive red button service. Now realising there is a huge call for more high-definition content, Freesat are urging broadcasters to consider launching HD channels. James Atkins said;

So we are very much actively building with our channels to say ‘come on guys, 80% of our sales are for HD products, there are 15 million HD TVs sold in the UK and there is a big appetite for HD. You guys need to be stepping up to the plate and putting some stuff on in HD’. So that is something that we are actively getting involved in.

When asked about the recent announcement of ITV1 HD launching on Freeview by the end of the year, James stated that whilst ITV have not confirmed their channel will be available on Freesat (we had been told differently by another member of Freesat’s team) as a replacement service to the red button, they would expect it to be so given ITV is an public broadcaster;

I think that we would expect to receive a full simulcast of ITV1 in high definition, although there is no commitment at this stage, [...] But as it’s from a public service broadcaster then we would expect it to become available.

Read more on this story over at DigitalSpy.

Just a quick mention for our ITV HD Schedule page, which provides up to date listings on all programmes available in high-definition on ITV HD’s red button service. The latest schedule includes:

Wednesday 5th August 2009 (7.30pm) Grimefighters (documentary)
Thursday 6th August 2009 (9.00pm) The Bill
Friday 7th August 2009 (10.35pm) The Bill (repeat)
Friday 7th August 2009 (11.35pm) Ned Kelly (film)
Saturday 8th August 2009 (11.35pm) Blue Crush
Tuesday 11th August 2009 (7.30pm) Grimefighters
Thursday 13th August 2009 (9.00pm) The Bill
Friday 14th August 2009 (10.35pm) The Bill (repeat)
Saturday 15th August 2009 (3.40pm) The Scorpion King (film)
Saturday 15th August 2009 (6.50pm) King Kong (film)
Tuesday 18th August 2009 (7.30pm) Grimefighters
Wednesday 19th August 2009 (7.30pm) Champions League (tbc)
Thursday 20th August 2009 (9.00pm) The Bill
Friday 21st August 2009 (10.35pm) The Bill (repeat)
Friday 21st August 2009 (11.35pm) Family Plot (film)

Visit the ITV HD Schedule page for the updated version

Press release from Freesat – 27th July 2009

ON YOUR MARKS…GET SET…GO! Introducing IAAF World Athletics Championship in HD on Freesat

Reach for your running shoes and sprint to the sofa, because this year’s World Championships in Athletics is coming to Freesat in high definition and subscription free. From Saturday 15th to Sunday 23rd August, the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championship airs on the BBC HD channel.

Olympic Champion Michael Johnson will join the BBC commentary team to report on the nine days of athletics action – disciplines ranging from Relay to Triple Jump and Javelin Throw to 5,000 Metres. Some of this year’s hopefuls include British runner Christine Ohuruogu, as well as American-born Allyson Felix and LaShawn Merritt.

Berlin Olympic Stadium is the host of these prestigious games and for the first time in its history the marathon and walking competitions will take place in Berlin’s city centre – all in brilliant high definition.

HD is perfect for watching all the high-speed athletic action, with a picture that is five times the quality of normal digital TV. This amazing event in pin-sharp HD has a staggering 1,800 athletes, 47 competitions and 24 disciplines, there should be no need for photo finishes. Freesat + also enables you to record, fast forward and rewind live TV, in case you want to re-live any of the best moments.