Less Freeview channels than on Freesat?
Ray Oliver asked us the following question:
“I live in a small village called great Bedwyn in Wiltshire and we have completed the two phases of switchover. Freeview signals are good, but the channels I am receiving compared to those at my mother’s home near the Isle of Wight on the south coast is very disappointing. I have 18 tv 11 radio and 2 text. I cannot receive Film 4. Why are my channels so restricted compared with the Freesat I have?”
Freeview vs Satellite TV
There are two parts to this question:
1. Why are there more channels on Freesat than on Freeview?
This all comes down to something called ‘bandwidth’. The satellite TV system has more bandwidth (space), and so more TV channels can be transmitted. Just as a three-lane motorway can carry more cars at the same time, compared to a single carriageway road.
2. Why can I get satellite TV when I can’t get Freeview TV?
In a lot of cases, the answer to this is geography.
Freesat uses satellite technology, and signals are received from orbiting satellites using a satellite dish. On the other hand, Freeview uses land-based TV transmitters. Objects such as hills, mountains and concrete structures can all affect reception of signals from land-based transmitters, and if you’re overshadowed by a mountain, or live in a valley, your TV aerial may not be able to get a signal from the TV transmitter.
This isn’t such an issue with satellite TV, as there is a clear line-of-sight to the satellite – no hills or concrete in the way. The following rather crude image may help to explain the point.
Terrestrial TV vs. Satellite TV
Relay Transmitters
Unfortunately, not all Freeview channels are available everywhere in the UK, and the problem is worse in rural areas, as well as in areas with lots of hill, mountains or valleys. For that reason, relay transmitters are used.
For more on relay transmitters, see our “I don’t get all the Freeview channels from my relay transmitter” question.
What are my options?
If you’re not able to get all (or any) Freeview channels, then satellite TV may be the answer.
Freesat is available without subscription, or for a greater choice of channels, you can get pay TV from Sky.