Why Digital TV?
Digital TV is currently being provided by a number of specialist digital providers & services:
When the big digital switch over happens the you will have to choose one of the available options. You will need to sign up to digital tv in order to watch your latest programmes, soaps, news or what ever you watch.
Lots of Digital TV providers offer different packages meaning you have a larger selection of channels then most. The package deals often vary in price depending on what selection you like.
All of the Digital TV providers will offer different deals, Digital Scout have highlighted the following three areas to make it clearer:
Subscribe to Monthly services:
A monthly subscription to your digital TV offers you a massive selection of channels – the two providers who specialize in this service are Sky and Virgin Media. All the of the packages from these two companies vary – you can have sports channels, movie channels, kids channels or even the whole lot!
The different between Sky and Virgin Media is that Sky requires a satellite dish placed on your property – usually on the roof out of the way. Sky sends a signal via satellite straight to your TV via a set top box. Sky will install the dish and set top box in your house – this usually takes around 30 mins (depending on the property and installation choice).
Virgin Media also provides broadband and phone services. The difference with Sky is that Virgin Media will install the system via Cable – this is a direct feed into your home via your telephone link – not satellite will be installed.
Prices on both of these networks depend on the set top box and your viewing package.
TV on Demand
This service is a bit like selecting your films / programmes from a box office. From the touch of a button you can stream the channels you want to view. This service relies on your internet connection pulling all of the data down and displaying on your TV.
Some providers will require you to have a broadband connection with the too in order to download their data. This is the case with BT Vision.
Most digital TV providers will advertise this services a Pay Per View, some of the select services you will need to pay to watch, for example a game of Football with Sky Sports.
Free View TV
This does exactly what is says on the tin. With most new LCD TV’s these days you will notice a FreeView sticker on it. What this means is once the TV is plugged in and the digital aerial connected you will get a selections of channels free. These usually include BBC Three, E4, History Channel etc.
If you do not have an LCD TV you can pay a one off fee for a FreeView box. This will sit next to your TV and convert the signal to digital and you will receive the free channels.
This service is by far the cheapest but it is restrictive with what channels you receive.
