| Not so long ago there were only four channels for | | | | available. There is only one provider in the UK and |
| viewers to watch on television, now we have a | | | | that's Sky. At least 7.5 million viewers now |
| choice of over 350 digital channels! There are also | | | | subscribe to the minimum package from Sky |
| several different ways of accessing them. | | | | offering over 100 channels, and it's available to |
| On traditional land based or terrestrial television, | | | | 99% of the population. You can increase the |
| you are only able to access the five channels - | | | | number of channels you receive by purchasing |
| BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5. To | | | | one of their packages, such as the sports or |
| receive them, all you need to do is pay the | | | | movie channels, and purchase 'pay to view' films |
| television licence; there is no additional monthly | | | | not long out of the box office. The most popular |
| cost or equipment required, apart from a TV of | | | | and expensive package ' Sky World' offers the |
| course. This is the basic package that everyone | | | | full 'works' - 350 channels including all the sports |
| requires in order to watch any UK television. In | | | | and movie channels. |
| addition to this, there are three main ways to | | | | To be able to receive satellite TV you need to |
| increase the number of channels available to you. | | | | have a satellite dish and receiver installed. The |
| Freeview | | | | cost can vary with who does the work, and |
| I remember when Freeview was first introduced | | | | where you live, but by far the cheapest option is |
| it was a set-top box costing approximately | | | | to wait until Sky offers one of their installation |
| £99 and provided free sattelite TV. This | | | | deals when the charge is as little as £1. If |
| was a one-off price with no monthly contract or | | | | you can't wait, it could be as much as |
| extra cost involved. It enabled viewers to receive | | | | £500! |
| a further 30 digital channels such as the extra | | | | For an explanation of how sattelite TV works |
| BBC channels (BBC 3, BBC4 and Cbeebies) and | | | | take a look at the article |
| other newcomers such as E4. These boxes have | | | | How does sattelite TV work exactly?. |
| reduced in price and increased in facilities. It is now | | | | Cable Television |
| possible to have a box that will let you freeze the | | | | The number of people able to receive cable is |
| programme or save it to watch later. With some | | | | growing all the time. The main providers in the UK |
| boxes it is also possible to purchase cards that | | | | are Telewest and NTL. Although more expensive |
| allow viewers to watch extra channels. The | | | | than satellite TV, providers offer packages to |
| cheapest box available is now only about | | | | include broadband access to the Internet and |
| £30 with the most elaborate at over | | | | discounted telephone calls. You don't need to have |
| £100. | | | | a TV satellite dish stuck on the outside of your |
| Another option is to buy an integrated digital | | | | house either! However, at the moment only 50% |
| television although these tend to be more | | | | of the population is able to receive cable and they |
| expensive than buying a set-top box and plugging | | | | are likely to be living in major towns and cities. |
| it in to your existing television. However, if you | | | | And Finally... |
| are about to buy a new television anyway, this | | | | So, cable TV is possibly the best option if you |
| might be worth investigating. | | | | want to take advantage of packages to include |
| On the down side, Freeview is received using the | | | | Internet access and telephone. Satellite television |
| traditional roof aerial, and adequate reception is | | | | is probably best for just receiving television |
| only available to 75% of the UK population. Before | | | | programmes. Now there is one more option - |
| buying a set-top it would be a good idea to check | | | | receiving digital television through existing BT |
| with the store whether you can return the box if | | | | telephone lines. |
| reception is poor. Nevertheless, according to | | | | Only available in London at the moment, |
| OfCom (Office of Communications) the watchdog | | | | HomeChoice offers the same options as cable, |
| for the television industry, about 5.5 million | | | | but by using existing telephone lines. There are |
| viewers have chosen this option. | | | | 'bolt-ons' available too for more television channels |
| Satellite Television | | | | if required. This service has been available for |
| More expensive than the price of Freeview but | | | | nearly a year, but availability is still limited, which is |
| not quite as expensive as cable, sattelite television | | | | a pity for those people who would like to be able |
| is an option, especially if you live in an area where | | | | to have a choice other than cable or satellite |
| there is poor land reception and cable is not | | | | television. |