With Freesat expected to announce the G2 specification and range of receivers in September, I thought it would be a good opportunity to ask what functionality would be most important to you in deciding to buy.
The functionality I’ve included based on information I’ve received so far are:
On-demand services
All 4 of the major UK broadcasters, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD and 5 Demand.
Pay-tv options
Access to subscription channels (sports, movies, entertainment) via a pay-as-you-go type scheme.
Interactive (games, youtube…)
Web inferfaces such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and games.
Netflix/Lovefilm access
Subscription service to download/rent films.
7-day EPG rollback
Missed a programme, simply go back 7-days through the EPG and click to watch (linked with on-demand).
SCR LNB function
Designed to allow twin tuner access through a single cable, providing your LNB has the SCR facility.
DiSEqC function
Steerable dish commands from your G2 receiver to access channels from other satellites.
Simply vote below (use the left hand column if the one below doesn’t work for you):
Loading ...(if you receive a “Please choose a valid poll answer” message, just vote using the left hand column – I am working on it!)
August 9th, 2012 at 9:56 am
I think the one thing that is most important – and which is not covered by any specifications – is that the machine receives the continued support of the manufacturer after it has been sold. Too many satellite receivers have limited functionality or have stopped working altogether, because the maker hasn’t kept pace with broadcasting developments with appropriate software releases.
Why can’t Freesat impose a minimum 5 year software support requirement as part of the spec?
Back on topic, the one thing that’s important to me with any machine is the ability to archive programmes to external storage devices. I notice that this isn’t part of the specification either…
lawrence PearceQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 10:05 am
Is G2 really just YouView for satellite with a few bits and bobs added?
Thing is most smart tv’s and blu-rays already have lots of connected tv and pay to watch film options so there is nothing that would make you want to shell out £300 for imho. Perhaps a Premier League footy option would be good if it undercut $ky BT and VM’s prices. After all $ky would be nowhere without the footy fans paying their subs.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 10:23 am
I would like to see a customizable EPG so I dont have to scroll down miles to find the HD channels.
SteveQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 10:51 am
I’d like to be sure the machine has Wifi support out of the box, like my PS3
I’d also like the EPG to be held locally and incrementally refreshed when the guide button is pressed, rather than download in its entirety every time
And a basic record function to a data stick would be good on non-HDR machines…
BobQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 10:54 am
There is expected to be a HD category to save this hassle.
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Personally I’m not interested in any of the G2 features. But I would like my HDR to have a working ‘record from buffer’ capability.
chrissafQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 11:39 am
i think the g2 spec should have all of them without them i think freesat will start to be falling behind some of the other settop box’s options and tv content providers
stigbeaterQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 11:51 am
None of the above. The only thing to me that would be mildly useful would be the scroll back EPG and even then, I wouldnt even use it once a month.
Pay TV will be will overpriced thanks to skys monopoly.
SLQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Not the slightest bit interested in anything G2 has to offer!
CliveQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Have added that to the poll, don’t forget to vote
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
What about allowing us to set recordings over the Internet? I would love a Freesat app on my phone to do that. You could even do it sat down in front of the TV, so you didn’t have to interrupt the program you’re viewing.
AllenQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
What about sharing of recordings between boxes? So if I own one recorder satellite receiver and several non-recoding units I can view my recordings anywhere in the home. This should need no technical knowledge to use. They would be connected using Ethernet, could auto detect each other and it should appear as if the recordings are just available regardless of which box is being used.
TimQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
For me it has to have the functions of the freeview humax boxes. in terms of iplayer/youtube etc but also allow for lovefilm.
interactive epg for missed programs is also a must.
what would also be good is if the non recorder version allows you to contect a hardrive to it to make it a recorder same as the freeview one.
currently i use freesat hd to watch and freeview hd for all my recording, and iplayer type activities.
richQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Would like to see USB 3.0 or eSata connections so that archiving to external HDD was faster.
MikeQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Off topic, is it my imagination or is it real, but since the Olympics channels were added, picture quality has improved a lot. Perhaps the Beeb has upped the bit rate for the Olympics, hope the picture quality remains once the games are finished.
Wifi would be good for G2 and HD channels all lumped together.
ShaneQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Shane, BBC increased their res prior to the games. Definitely better.
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
I am a Sky subscriber and waiting for this G2 spec to be released before I buy. I watch so few subscription channels but I also have motorised equipment and view a lot of non-UK content. I have also been in the satellite game for a good 20 years easily now.
What this has taught me is the move I make from Sky has to give me ‘something’ that I didn’t have before to make up for the few channels I’m going to lose. The big thing for me is the BBC iPlayer, Sky is on a big loser here not having it. Equally I am a bit daunted that I’ll make the switch then regret it because of poor content. That’s why my biggest desire is to have a satellite receiver that can support things such as Netflix and Lovefilm as these are cheap as chips streaming services, they’re on demand and they’re growing in size.
I don’t think I will ever watch pay per view TV and I’m not convinced it would take off. PPV is entirely different to pay services and to me it makes no sense paying a couple of pounds for one event when I could watch lots of events for little more than a fiver on a monthly charge.
The LNB/DiSEqC services aren’t really relevant to me. DiSEqC would be nice but then it would need to be properly controllable by input – I have a motorised dish in the garden with one output, and a fixed dish on the wall with several outputs, so the receiver inputs would need to be customised to have different LNB types.
I think the G2 spec has a lot going for it, and I am waiting for it before I buy, but it has to be a realistic price. If the starting price is £300 when I can get a G1 receiver for under £200 then that’s likely to make me think twice.
StuartQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
My partner I’ve recently started seeing has Sky but never watches any subscription channels, just loves the ease of use of the STB. I told her that her £21.50pm is being wasted and agrees, then reminded her a Humax HDR would pay for itself in 9.5mths
She uses the Sky+ record app and I think if Freesat added something similar to G2 it would be a fantastic add on. Bandwidth-wise it wouldn’t use much with the recording requests from the app sent to a server and then carried on a data carousel via a data SID on the Freesat home Txp as per the Sky method.
Adding pay per view services would also be an advantage and I think Freesat need to have a quiet chat with BT about adding PPV Premier League matches, on to a winner there me thinks
NeilQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Why, when I select On demand Services and press the VOTE button, do I get a response asking me to choose a valid poll answer? (Firefox 14.0.1, Windows 7 64bit)
brambleQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
I would also think remote record setting directly from guides via smart-phone apps as a most important feature. Can you add this to the poll?
Keith (original)Quote
August 9th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Because there is an error in the current poll, as per the mention of this. Just use the left hand column to vote.
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
This isn’t a wish list, but planned inclusions (at the start or during).
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
It would be fantastic if there was an API so that developers could code their own apps and publish on an app store. Was hoping Youview would have one too but doesn’t seem so.
RowanQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I agree with Clive, i don’t need anything else from my freesat box apart from maybe more HD channels.
Andy DowQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
The production of boxes is a commercial enterprise, to maintain a product after launch costs money, if your product sells well then you can continue to support it and if not supporting it might damage your brand then you support it. Otherwise you have little incentive to support an aging product which brings you no revenues. Humax has managed to support products long after the team has been disbanded and reassigned because the products continue to sell well and our management are sympathetic to the interests of our customers. That said, eventually you do get to a point where it is economically unviable to continue added value development and you have to do the minimum. Without such criteria the business would not be viable. Set top box makers aren’t hoarding vast sums of money, lighting Cuban cigars with £50 notes, it is a relatively difficult market, so I understand why our competitors struggle to get the enthusiasm to release updates.
Bob HQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Bob H, as always, thanks for your opinion. How are Humax progressing with G2? Are they looking to launch a product this year or still waiting on YouView feedback?
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
I recall there being talk of an option to develop apps for G2, so maybe that will still happen; it is a good suggestion.
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
I like Bob agree would like to see Wi Fi included as standard .
ExpostieQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
It is important for everyone to bare in mind that whilst Freesat create the spec, if they expect too many functions to be included, no manufacturers would get on board as they will have to fund the cost of R&D (research and development) to incorporate them within the receiver, then longer term support. Despite what many will believe (and as Bob H confirmed), manufacturers don’t make much and quite often it takes hundreds of thousands of sales before they even break even…not many achieve this.
Also don’t forget that Freesat run not-for-profit and are currently feeling the squeeze like many; they couldn’t even afford to promote the Olympics coming to Freesat which says a lot.
adminQuote
August 9th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
I’m sure that everyone will “bear that in mind”!
DaveQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 1:14 am
Wireless networking is something that was missing from G1 receivers. It CAN be done because my sony bluray has wireless N. so yeh, include wireless networking.
KlippQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 7:40 am
It would be nice if it didn’t clip the ends of recordings which my Humax Foxsat HD often does!
DeanQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Change the recording buffer and it shouldn’t.
adminQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 8:28 am
That
cotswoldredQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 8:54 am
All the ‘smart’ functionality of a ‘smart’ tv. Smart Sat.
KevG.Quote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:09 am
None of the above.I would like to have a hopper function to get rid of the plague of adverts that ruin tv programs.
glynQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:13 am
A speedy delete function for stored programs on the receivers. My Humax box takes a long time to delete a program so if you have a series to delete it takes forever. Or what about folder delete to remove all the stored programs in it at one go.
Brian McNaughtonQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:21 am
I have been watching many hours of the Olympics, the commentators have been promoting the red button service on Freeview, but unfortunately no mention of Freesat from them neither.
No doubt $ly pulling the strings again.
RussQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:50 am
I would have thought that at this stage (past original due date) that the G2 spec would be finalised.
Is this poll to help inform Freesat or just a bit of fun for Join Freesat?
Personally I’m still hoping that Freesat may make good on the one press release that suggested they may get 4OD and Demand5 for current receivers.
MPDQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:52 am
+1
+2
– Number of times I watch something I wasn’t interested in recording then suddenly 10 minutes in wish I had as it turns out more interesting than expected.
Also, would really like to see:
1. Some way of integrating Freesat & Non Freesat Modes so you don’t have to switch out of Freesat Mode to view the non Freesat options or channels
2. The facility to custom add NON Freesat channels to the Freesat EPG (it can be done – there is unofficial firmware out there that allows this on Humax Boxes) but it would be nice to be able to do it without risking 3rd party downloads
3. A box that preserves custom added and NON Freesat channels between Freesat channel re-scans so they’re not lost every time and need re-adding
4. Some way of adding an epg to NON Freesat programming so that any NON Freesat programmes added to the Freesat epg can be recorded and also viewed for programming content – that info is out there as most NON Freesat programmes ARE in the Sky EPG. The ability to select a Non Freesat programme then either view it in the standard epg or enter a Non Freesat epg to view it with 1 click would be good.
Al (Original)Quote
August 10th, 2012 at 10:16 am
“1. Some way of integrating Freesat & Non Freesat Modes so you don’t have to switch out of Freesat Mode to view the non Freesat options or channels”
Manhattan have already done that with their 8 favourite lists that can contain both freesat and non freesat in the same list.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Yes please!
SimonSQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Most of these features are already redundant with latest smart tvs.
What I want to see is more acceptance for existing Freesat HD amongst smart tv manufacturers and more number of HD channels compared to Freeview HD.
Please don’t make us buy both a new smart tv and a new freesat hd box.
It just gets too expensive for something we don’t need.
DiSEqC function :
Now why would I want to add this functionality when this means moving away from freesat and how many of us have a motorised dish?
SCR LNB function & 7-day EPG rollback could be useful but won’t be missed.
MKBobQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
DiSEqc isn’t just for motorised dishes but also for switching LNB’s. If you are into Formula 1 you can get all the races live on 19.2 east if you add a second LNB to your existing dish.
No need for a smart TV a smart Blu-ray player will do and it’s very much cheaper. Got all the apps I need on my Samsung eg LoveFilm, YouTube, AOL HD, Picassa, Facebook, Shoucast Radio etc and it also acts as a media server (using Samsung AllShare) for all the computers in my house. Also you can plug in a USB hard drive to play all your archived films, photos, music etc.All for less than £100.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
I agree with Clive and Andy Dow.
Keith CobbyQuote
August 10th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
I choose Freesat because I do not want PPV or subscription channels, why are they even being considered. Do not allow this type of broadcasting to come to FREESAT.
BodgerQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 9:27 am
They are talking about streaming via the web not broadcasting as such. The broadcast channels will stay free so no change for you if you don’t want it but why deny people who may want it?
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
As Richard says, these services are streamed and complement freesat’s offering for those wanting to dip their toe in the water to buy the odd PPV event. I don’t see an issue with this and anything that prevents people having to venture over to the dark side to get this (and be tied in to a 12mth subscription) sounds good to me!
NeilQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
With companies such as BT and TalkTalk who are one of the biggest providers of broadband in the UK – subsidising YouView boxes, existing customers will be switching to this if there is already an aerial for freeview in place. I can only see existing Freesat customers or the odd Sky customer switching or upgrading to G2 as the infrastructure is already in place. I expect G2 will be offering the same sort of Hybrid internet/tv technology YouView already has on offer. From the reviews i’ve seen of the Humax YouView box, G2 needs to be as intelligent and perhaps offer a little bit more in terms of originality if it is to succeed in next generation tv.
Lee SQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Ask the people to look at the computer in front of them to view the streaming
BodgerQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
The label says Freesat not Paysat.
BodgerQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
I think the thing that most of us want, and most of us already have the equipment, is more HD. Why can’t new channels like 4seven be exclusively HD, like NHK.
BodgerQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
You can already do a folder delete by entering edit mode.
William KayQuote
August 11th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
As far as I see it there is no change, it is still Freesat even if subscription services are offered. You are not obliged to have them and therefore can just choose to use the core product. TV is changing and surely by Freesat offering an enhanced service develops the platform overall making it more attractive to more people, resulting in more sales of boxes in turn making Freesat more attractive (due to more users) to future channels. Or perhaps I am just viewing this simplisticly?
Mark WhiteQuote
August 12th, 2012 at 1:25 am
Not a ‘Do Want’ more ‘I Don’t Want’
I dont want ‘Pay TV’ as part of FreeSat.
I never wanted ‘Top Up TV’ as part of Freeview either.
The whole ethos of ‘freesat’ is non-subscription TV
Cheers, daveac
daveacQuote
August 12th, 2012 at 9:46 am
Couldn’t agree more there Mark, well put. There’s no obligation to pay or subscribe but for those who want the PPV/subscription option it’s there! It doesn’t even take up any satellite bandwidth as it’s all streamed too so, unlike TopUpTV, won’t compromise channel offerings in any way.
NeilQuote
August 12th, 2012 at 11:36 am
That would be foolish from the broadcaster – there are still far more SD set top boxes out there than HD and will be for many years.
RoscoQuote
August 12th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Access to all UK on-demand services should be a given.
Technical features like DiSEqC and SCR LNB support likewise.
EPG rollback coupled to on-demand would be nice.
Pay-TV, Games, Pay films? Don’t see anything “free” about them. If I wanted to pay through the nose for niche programming, I’d go to $ky.
This is just Freesat losing the plot.
I’m supposing there’s going to be a spec for recording? I’ve an old analogue LiteOn HDD/DVD recorder that has excellent editing features, allowing unwanted material to be lopped off and segments to be rejoined to form a complete programme. Its a feature I’ve missed on other HDD/DVDs and PVRs. A G2 recorder with that provision would be high on my list!
RogerQuote
August 12th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Some European TV channels would be good, if the rights issues could be sorted. Even if it was only the daily or evening national and regional news programmes, some of which are available on the internet and have beeen for some time.
NewsboyQuote
August 13th, 2012 at 1:17 am
I think there’s a big difference between pay-TV and demanding a long term subscription to $ky. For example, LoveFilm has many customers who pay for their on-demand viewing service. Adding this as a “channel” to Freesat seems like a logical evolution to me. It’s just like Box Ofice 365…. And if instead of old movies, the provider was streaming live sports (for example) where is the difference?
For me, the “free” in “Freesat” meant subscription free. Not necessairly free of charge. After all, if you’re watching in the UK, you still have to pay for that TV license…
Brian DamageQuote
August 13th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
More HD channels and no going back to 1440 HD lite BBC.
The Sat part of Freesat will alway be free (apart from the TV licence) but some streaming services via your phone line will cost if you want them.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 13th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
All I can say is that every Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder has been able to edit like that. They have RGB inputs and I get great results recording from a Freesat HD box via RGB scart. OK it only produces an SD recording but the quality is much better than the SD off-air signal. The analogue connection doesn’t seem to affect it at all.
DaveQuote
August 13th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Can I ask some people to bear this in mind when talking about pay services. I am a Sky customer right now. I want to leave Sky because I do not watch most of their channels. However sometimes there is content I’d like to watch but it is only available at a price.
Freesat are set to offer the best of both worlds. Free by satellite, so it’s easily achievable to maintain the ‘Free – Sat’ ethos. Then options to allow pay services for those who want them, i.e. people like me.
I can understand some people not wanting to pay for the streaming services – if not most people – but surely you want Freesat to grow as a brand, encouraging more channels (particularly the UK-TV channels such as Dave) to join the platform. Surely an incentive to this is to give buyers more options?
I am not buying Freesat until G2 is released so I can have the option to pay for some streaming services. This isn’t Freesat going nuts, it’s sound business sense and should improve its position in the market on a long term basis. Please bear that in mind.
StuartQuote
August 13th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
err sounds good if it ever happens
im sure joinfreesat promised details out april or may
dave wQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 9:19 am
All this G2 and streaming stuff is all very well, but I think quality HD content should be the core Freesat offer.
Now that the extra Olympic HD channels have been removed we are back to the five HD channels.
I think it is rather pathetic that all BBC and Channel 4 content at least is still not HD.
A couple of days ago I watched a programme on climbing the Eiger on NHK – this is a channel who show what can be done.
Keith CobbyQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 11:00 am
At least the Manhattan HDR-S is finally available.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
i to have a humax foxsat hd box about 1year and 1mounth old , when i first had the box it was fine updated properly red button worked ok. but after a few mounths it stopped receiving updates of channels,so i had to rescan alot of times then it kept telling me there were no channels. and it keeps sticking alot and now its so slow worse than my old sky box thats 14 years old. if freesat say its upto the manufacture for software updates not freesat and the manufacture wont release any new software updates then theres no hope i carnt even do updates the hd keeps sticking
richardQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Channel updates are automatically sent to your receiver over night (typically 3am) when required; it isn’t the same as software updates which is coding within the receiver itself. Freesat are responsible for the channel updates and Humax for receiving them via the software in the receiver.
If you can’t receive channel updates and the unit has slowed down considerably, try a factory reset or failing that, contact your supplier to see about a replacement.
adminQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Seems that the BBC have turned down the resolution now the Olympics is over, a shame I was really enjoying watching with the extra resolution, it was like having a new tv.
ShaneQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Makes perfect sense to me. I’m NOT a $ky customer, but sometimes there is $ky content I’d like to watch. And I’d be happy to pay for this – just not pay for a 12 month subscription to a bunch of channels that I know I WOULDN’T watch. It’s a win-win scenario (2012?!) $ky get some extra revenue, Freesat gets additional viewers, viewers get to see what they want to see… Struggling to see the issue with this…
Brian DamageQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Back to 1440 HD lite is it? Nothing on worth watching anyway.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 14th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Linowsat’s still reporting 1920x1080i. There was a general consensus with the fifth HD stream up and running on DTT and being used during the Olympics (with all other HD services now at full res) they’d got the new Encoder algorithms effective enough to run full res on DTT with five HD streams – all us DSAT users could breath a sigh of relief at the improved quality therefore?
NeilQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 4:36 am
Although I dont think PayTV belongs on a free service, I personally think itd be a fantastic edition, if some providers sold ‘channel’ packs, consisting of say Sky1, FX, Comedy Central, few kids channels like Disney for families, and say Discovery, for a fiver or something a month.
Think we’re more likely to see Watch, Gold, and a few other premium channels like that sold in packs if it comes.
MatthewQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 8:41 am
My Technisat confirms that BBC HD is still 1920×1088 so what Shane is seeing is the difference between live transmissions and VTR. Certainly the live pictures looked superb on my full HD projector.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Whereas I can understand your financial thinking on this, integrated tv’s are a bit of a nightmare really.
Sat boxes only seem to last a few years (presumably tv tuners are the same – I’ve certainly heard of failures), so an integrated tv = a potentially very expensive repair further down the line.
It’s far better to my mind to have a tv and a set top box as then you only need to repair / replace the box if anything goes wrong. Probably far cheaper than paying someone to open up a hugely complex tv plus when you have to change the set top box, you also get all of the latest features.
I couldn’t agree more Dave.
Freesat isn’t here to provide a cheaper pay service for ex Sky customers, it’s here to provide a FTA tv service.
Introducing Pay TV is the thin end of the wedge. Once channels realise they can go encrypted and charge for content, many of the current free channels will potentially go that way. The result is you end up with a poor man’s Sky.
One or two main and all the naff channels FTA and all the better channels only available via Pay TV or Top up TV.
Al (Original)Quote
August 15th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Sorry this is off subject. ITV Player is now available on Samsung D8000 series via smart hub. Your TV will need a firmware update from Samsung web support, using a USB stick.
RussQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Hi I know this has noting to do with the topic below but i will say The olympics was pretty epic and ya freesat did not advertise the red button channels but at least they got a good deal
My Question is can you get youview in ireland i dont see why not i all ready tweeted but no tweet back so this is the last place i looked 
The g2 spec sounds pretty cool 
robert o mahonyQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
“One or two main and all the naff channels FTA and all the better channels only available via Pay TV or Top up TV.”
Like it is now you mean. If you want the good stuff you have to pay extra it’s a fact of economic life. So now if I want to watch anything that’s the least bit exciting I have to get another set top box and pay that awful Murdoch fellow? That’s not going to happen in my house so why cant we have something optional extra on Freesat?
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
I was actually looking at the BBC news broadcasts on BBC One HD and whilst the Olympics were on, the picture just looked sharper. After the Olympics, the news seems to looked scaled down in resolution. It may have been my imagination, but I don’t think so.
ShaneQuote
August 15th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
hi is the Pay-tv option like the top up tv thats on freeview if anyone can help
i am hoping its the best of both worlds away from dodgy sky tv but with a few pay tv channels
daveQuote
August 16th, 2012 at 9:09 am
The BBC news broadcasts on BBC One HD were live from Olympic park during the Olympics so would have been in HD. Not the case now.The regular news is not broadcast in HD so it will be upscaled on BBC One HD now. Yes you are correct in that.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 16th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Freesat does not use encryption on the satellite channels so any pay options will be for broadband delivered services only.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 17th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
I certainly think the addition of IP services/channels and a 7 day historic EPG will help drive uptake, also a bit more work could go into the look and feel / usability of the actual GUI as whilst it’s by no means the worst GUI in the history of STBs it is still far from as polished as it could be.
NeilQuote
August 18th, 2012 at 9:14 am
Far from it.
If Freesat went Pay to View, I reckon you’d lose all the ITV’s, potentially all the 4 and certainly 4HD, Film 4, probably channel 5 and its channels and many others.
In a pay to view scenario I imagine only the BBC would stay fta of the main channels and any decent minor channels would go as well.
If you really think Freesat is naff now then why are you on it? You’ve said above the best things in life are pay and you’re willing to pay so why haven’t you joined Sky?
I and many others actually think Freesat is very good now. Sure it could be better and hopefully it will get better over time but I certainly don’t think it’s naff.
All I can say is you’re watching the wrong stuff. There are some great series coming through on Four and Five at the moment the latest of which is “Person of Interest” on 5 USA.
Al (Original)Quote
August 21st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Any help …… I have seen listing that sky sports news FTA
And few other channels
Can these be added to guide on the new freesat g2 boxs
Dave wQuote
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
If all the ITV’s etc went pay they would have to go pay on Freeview as well. It aint going to happen. Ch4 is a PSB and gets a share of the licence fee so they can’t go PPV.It’s just scaremongering. No one in their right mind would pay to watch ITV, CH5 and similar mind numbing dross.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
The 7 day historic EPG would be absolutely pointlless in my view. There are more than enough repeats of repeats of repeats on TV already and also standalone streaming catchup players and PVR’s so don’t see the need. A seven day future EPG for non live programmes would be of some interest.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 22nd, 2012 at 2:30 pm
I believe ITV were reported to be talking about going PFV not so long ago, when their revenues were at their worst but then decided just to take ITV2 and 3 HD PFV instead. However, we could have easily lost all the ITV channels. I believe that at some point it was also reported that 4 were considering PFV options. How much truth in any of this, I wouldn’t like to say as I don’t want to get sued. It could just have been rumours.
However, make no mistake, once you offer free money to broadcasters its tempting for them especially if the money offered is more than their advertising revenue.
The only way to prevent that is to keep the Freesat system FTA.
BTW, you mention Freeview, nothing to stop channels going PFV on Freeview given that it’s already set up for it. The only thing stopping it at the moment is the fact that those channels are FTA on Freesat. Introduce PFV to Freesat and you’ve removed the only barrier stopping many FTA channels from going PFV.
Al (Original)Quote
August 26th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
We already pay to watch commercial tv by buying products advertised during programs.So why would we pay twice. I just don’t think non $ky people will pay again for so so gameshows and medium grade reality stuff as purveyed by many commercial channels. Connected is a different matter. I would pay a couple of quid a month for the new BBC Sport app just launched on Tivo or a decent advert free film channel but don’t want a bundle of
low grade channels to go with the them. In other words I want Freesat as it is now but with an option for one or two special extra channels not available via my Blu-ray Smart Hub box.
Richard CrichtonQuote
September 1st, 2012 at 9:31 am
Al (Original)Quote
September 1st, 2012 at 9:32 am
Sorry my replies appear quoted along with your text, please read all of the above text!
Al (Original)Quote
September 4th, 2012 at 9:45 am
I have just purchased a freesat box in May this year Samsung SMTS7800 which is a good box despite not having ITV-player and saying ‘coming soon’ doubt it will on this box, G2 the next generation freesat box is now due to come out but is it fair for people who just purchased a box, why can we not have this upgrade.
Freesat is a good platform but too many providers of boxes and little support from box developers.
SamQuote