What is a freeview tuner?

Answer 1

Freeview is the British digital terrestrial broadcasting platform and was originally introduced by On Digital in the early 90s. On Digital ceased trading after only a few years and the service was then supported by BBC and others with a change of name to Freeview at the same time. On Digital was a subscription service but the change of operator brought free digital viewing using standard analog aerials. A Freeview tuner is the digital tuner to receive the broadcasts. It started as a set top box but most televisions on sale in the UK now have integrated digital tuners, removing the need for stand alone tuners. Set top receivers are still commonly available to support analog televisions without digital receivers. Prices are as low as £15 ($23)for a tuner, rising to £100 or so ($150) for more advanced models with built in recorders. At the time of this answer (2009), analog television is still widely available throughout the UK but the analog transmitter switch off has begun. By 2012, all analog television broadcast will cease and every viewer will need either a digital television or a set top box to receive terrestrial broadcasts. Freeview is only broadcasting in standard definition. Alternatives to terrestrial television are cable services, currently offered by Virgin Media throughout many cities in the UK and by BSkyB, the satellite service that covers the whole of the British Isles. Both are subscription services. Recently introduced is a further satellite service called Freesat. As its name implies, this provides free reception and the viewer needs to purchase and install a satellite dish and a receiver to benefit from it. Both satellite services and the cable service offer a mix of standard definition and high definition broadcasts.