Loading ...Jul 17 2012
Latest update scan on all Freesat receivers:
1 added – 821 High Street TV
0 deleted –
0 changed –
Join Freesat
Want the latest Freesat news?You should subscribe to our RSS Feed, as you'll get all the latest Freesat news, reviews and information!
July 18th, 2012 at 1:50 am
Another addition, always good for Freesat, if the viewers don’t like it then don’t watch it (or moan about it.)
roger mellieQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 5:50 am
There can’t be many of the shopping channels left not on the platform now I guess?
NeilQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 8:13 am
i agree with @1 probably wont watch it but, its always there if i do.
steven.wQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:26 am
I see $ky are cashing in on the BBC Olympic coverage – saw an ad last night saying basically that the Beeb will have 24 channels of Olympics coverage and you can watch them all on $ky – why aren’t FREESAT doing likewise?
Al CatrazQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:35 am
It is believed that as part of Sky paying for the entire service, that no other platform can advertise it. Obviously if Freeview are advertising it (haven’t noticed myself) or there isn’t such an agreement in place, it is a poor show by Freesat.
adminQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Pitty its NOT Channel5 hd what are channel 5 thinking and what is the encryption for as its no longer needed. High street tv not one of the most popular shopping channels this country has to offer.
Ian VallenderQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:50 am
How have Freeview found the space for 24 additional channels? Isn’t the platform bursting at the seams as we are always told?
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Do CH5 show anything in native HD or is it nearly all upscaled SD?
They are thinking additional cost versis potential additional profits (or not).
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 10:54 am
Maybe they don’t have them, might just be my lack of research
adminQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 11:01 am
So Sky are paying for the advertising as well as the satellite costs. That’s good then because everyone knows the Beeb is platform neutral and anything Beeb on $ky will also be available on the FTA platforms so is there really any advantage for Freesat to spend millions advertising the obvious for little or no benefit to Freesat.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Its an interesting question. I don’t know if they do or not. google
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2012/04/since_the_start_of_our.html
Looks like 2 on freeview then admin.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Personally I think Freesat pushing marketing/advetisement for the Olympics would have been a great success to encourage customers over from Freeview. A strong advert for the Tesco Manhattan/Install deal would have worked very well as a cost effective way of switching over.
adminQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I tend to agree. Looks like Freesat/Beeb have done a deal with Sky not to advertise their availability on Freesat.
in return for Sky picking up the satellite costs. That shouldn’t stop retailers advertising so why aren’t they I wonder unless they are getting backhanders to stay stum (pure speculation on my part btw).
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 11:19 am
So why aren’t the retailers advertising? Even if the BEEB have told Sky they will keep stum that shouldn’t affect them as well.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I would say that rather than “everyone knows”, only a small percentage of the population would even understand the term “platform neutral” when applied to broadcasting, and only a subset of them are aware that the BBC are platform neutral.
PaulQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
So do the public think the BBC would put 24 Olympic channels on the Sky platform but keep them off Freesat? It seems the BBC are no longer platform neutral in this case as they are not putting 24 Olympic channels on Freeview.
The telling thing about Sky advertising the 24 channels is what they don’t say not what they do but whether Joe Public would pick up on that is another matter. They don’t say only on Sky.
This site gets thousands of hits a month so presumably most people who visit know the situation regarding the 24 Olympic channels on Freesat. Keep up the good work admin.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
I agree too there, to me it’s very disappointing they’ve not gone for a marketing push but if there was some deal for these channels to be carried and paid for by Sky for no marketing elsewhere then it makes sense that was the offer on the table. VM haven’t made any noise about them either and are carrying all of them too so that might be the reason we’ve heard nothing from freesat either.
NeilQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Yeah – on Freeview, it’s one 24-hour channel and a HD simulcast (301 and 301 HD), and one part-time SD channel (BBC Three’s old hours – 302). They do of course also have the 24-hour BBC Three, BBC One and BBC One HD and BBC HD.
MuzerQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
We’ll have to see if the beeb keep BBC1HD and BBC HD all at 1920x1080i res once the 5th HD (Olympic) stream appears on Freeview otherwise they’ll drop them down again on Satellite. There should be one big update scan the week after next when all these HD Olympic feeds and a full time BBC Three get on the EPG.
On the subject of unit sales, admin, have you heard the latest on any numbers closer to the 3m mark? I see the Humax HDR’s are still selling well on Amazon.
NeilQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Humax HDR’s are absolutely flying out the door everywhere at the moment and Humax cannot keep up with demand!!! No publically available update on sales figures sorry; they’ve been tight lipped for quite a while now.
adminQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
They will have to keep it at 1920 if there is any 3D broadcasts.
Could Humax’s sales boom have anything to do with the availability of hacked firmware I wonder or is it more to do with all the connected services working.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Humax’s have always sold well, it’s good to know they are doing well for the freesat market too. I guess with people tightening up their belts the platform’s attracting more and more Sky churners and good too!
I guess, as you say, they’ll keep the res at 1920 for 3D during the Olympics and I’m hoping all the DTT HD services remain at 1920 too as it means DSAT HD ones will stay at that as well!
NeilQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
There is no indication as to why Humax are selling so well at this present time; maybe customers upgrading to Freesat+ to record the olympics; who knows!
Lets not forget that the Humax is a cracking receiver, but so is the Echostar, even if you don’t want the additional functionality and can cope with the odd look!!!
adminQuote
July 18th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Yep, your right there. I’d have thought over time the Manhattan HDR-S may sell a fair few unit sales. I wonder if freesat have concentrated their efforts on in-store and online targetted advertising?
NeilQuote
July 19th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Freeview had a pretty good advert regarding the “summer of sport/olympics etc” on tv this morning. Pity Freesat don’t seem to be pushing their platform.
roger mellieQuote
July 19th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Admin
Any chance of adding a facebook link page at anytime?
digiwatcherQuote
July 19th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I don’t do Facebook
adminQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
But neither are the big retailers Curry’s,Comet etc. It’s always tucked away in a corner. That’s what I don’t get.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Come to think of it I think they are all scared to push Freesat until the G2 big push happens which may be in time for the winter holiday period (hopefully). Or they don’t want the hassle when people find out they can’t get ITV Player, The Space etc on their brand new box.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Was in pub other evening and talking to a pal, he hadn’t a clue what Freesat was, same with a few others who seem to believe Sly to be the “be-all-and-end-all” in viewing choice! If you ask me Freesat must the best-kept secret in broadcasting!
roger mellieQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Indeed it is but they only have themselves to blame for that. They refuse point blank or have a policy not to promote Freesat on their own Channels. I was down at Asda and there was one pathetic Goodmans SD Freesat box for sale amidst about two dozen Freeview boxes. Also there is only one HD box that works with all the connected services and loads that don’t so the retailers don’t want to get their fingers burnt and who can blame them.. An omnishambles in other words.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I have to agree, even the TV magazines heavily promote Freeview and Sky with hardly any mention of Freesat. I think its time someone else stepped into the shoes of moving it forward, the interaction between them and the customers is in the least ‘minimal’ and for the advertising, they don’t actual give an understanding of what Freesat actual is.
digiwatcherQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
There is news of a firmware upgrade for the Manhattan Plaza HD-S and a link here http://www.avforums.com/forums/freesat/1524926-manhattan-hd-s-owners-thread-2.html#post17328720 which allegedly gives you ITV player and addresses the auto stand by bug. I have not tested this and am merely passing on the news.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
It looks like there is going to be a firmware upgrade for the Manhattan HD-S soon if a comment on the AV forum is true.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Yep, was originally announced on here; they are waiting final approval from Freesat.
adminQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Manhattan have already given out the new firmware to a customer who phoned support and he has had it working for a week with no problems.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Yep, I got my fingers burnt here. Bought a Panasonic Freesat PVR at the end of last year.It doesn’t support ITV player and now I find I can’t get the new space channel either, also not supported. SO I can understand retailers not pushing the such items, after all they don’t want them being returned as ‘not fit for purpose’.I guess we all got to go the Humax route?
peterhbQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
I’ve just upgraded the firmware of my Manhattan HD-S to version 1.44 via the rear USB.
Supports ITV Player which can be launched via freesat channel 903.
• Fixed an issue where the SCART audio left/right outputs would only
output audio in mono.
• Fixed an issue with Auto Turn Off, Auto Turn On and Auto Standby timer
functions that would cause them to work intermittently.
• Fixed an issue where pressing back to cancel the programme reminder
prompt would not work correctly.
• Increased HDMI audio output level to bring it level with the sound from
most TV’s internal analogue/digital tuners.
If you live in Scotland you need to be using a borders postcode during box setup to get ITV Player on 903. I forgot about that.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
SO WHERE IS THE HDSR 400 AVAILABLE FROM ?
TRIED THE STATED LINKS AND ALL IT DOES IS ‘TIME OUT’.
ANY HELP ?
Revolting Pensioner !Quote
July 20th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
No idea what the HDSR 400 is, but if you mean the Manhattan HD-S, then the link to Tesco works just fine.
adminQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
So ITV player works Richatd with the update, what about The Space?
Mark WhiteQuote
July 20th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
I notice on the Freesat website there are a number of senior jobs advertised, perhaps this is what will really push Freesat forward?
Mark WhiteQuote
July 21st, 2012 at 2:20 am
If you use a Borders postcode i.e. TD1 1AA you will receive ch977 ITV 1 London (HD via red button press), ch103 ITV1 Borders, ch119 ITV1 Granada HD. 3 regional variations of ITV to choose from. Handy option
roger mellieQuote
July 21st, 2012 at 11:23 am
I’m assured that it does work (see AVForums Manhattan owners thread) but can’t confirm as I’m in Scotland so its not on my EPG.
The Space dosen’t work.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 21st, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Re:ITV player,
I get a message saying THE SERVICE IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER. (10001)
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 21st, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Can confirm ITV player works with the new Manhattan Plaza HD-S 1.44 firmware.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 22nd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
IT LOOKS LIKE THE G2 SPEC IS NOT COMING
it seems every other company is ahead of freesat at the moment
whats up ………
i have just seen in new argos book there selling a freeview hd+ box with built in youview …and what i have read freesat was suppose to be similar to youview ????
daveQuote
July 23rd, 2012 at 2:45 pm
That s fine if you have £300 to spend. Think I’ll wait to see what develops.
Richard CrichtonQuote
July 24th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Youview” It’s a carcase of a service” Humax box review.
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/digital-tv-recorders/youview-1087919/review/page:2#articleContent
Richard CrichtonQuote