Launching Picnic on terrestrial TV would have seen Sky’s current free channels on Freeview replaced by Sky Sports 1, Sky Movies and with Sky One sharing space with offerings from channels such as Discovery and Disney. Sky also planned to use MPEG-4 compression to offer Sky News 24 hours a day. The channels would have been viewable on a subscription basis using a Sky Picnic set top box.

The delay in launching Sky Picnic has happened because Ofcom has yet to approve the Sky Picnic service while it is still awaiting the results of an investigation into the pay TV market. These results are expected to be published in 2009.

Soon to be shown football matches during September are:

• Andora Vs England – Setanta Sports 1 at 7pm Saturday 6th September

• England Vs Croatia – Setanta Sports 1 at 8pm Wednesday 10th September

You can now save £6.49 each month on your subscription for the first 3 months by using Setanta Sports Offer Codes.

To keep up-to-date with the latest live football matches on TV visit www.live-footballontv.com 

Ofcom has announced that it’s allowing high definition TV channels to be transmitted on the Freeview terrestrial TV platform next year, in 2009. The new channels, 3 in total, will be available to any viewer with adequate reception, a HD ready TV and an additional Freeview set top box or receiver. There will also be a further 4th channel available by 2012 – just in time for the Olympics.

There is only one downside to this announcement, if you can call it that, you will have to wait until conventional analogue TV is switched off/switched over to digital TV in your area. This means viewers in the Wales, Granada and Borders regions will be able to access the HD TV channels whilst those yet to be switched to digital will have to wait until their area is digital TV only.

Switchover By Region

If you are unsure which TV Region you come under it is the same as your ITV regional news, and analogue ITV Teletext on page 106.

More information on when your area switches over is available at the Freeview website.

Technical insights into the new high definition channels are being kept quiet at the moment, but it looks like the current main BBC multiplex will be moved/reshuffled to make room for the new channels; and it would seem likely the BBC will have one HD channel with the other slots being offered for bidding between the regular commercial TV channels.

BabelTV are due to launch their new service on the 6th November 2007, combining Freeview and Internet TV in one .

What is BabelTV?

• It is an uncomplicated device combining a Freeview set-top box, digital TV recorder and broadband connection all in one. Best summed up as a Set-Top-PC.

Who is it suitable for?

• The technological challenged to the technical but time short person, basically anyone requiring that little extra from their TV.

What does it do?

• BabelTV works as a PVR (personal video recorder) allowing you to pause and record live TV.

• Receives all Freeview channels through your TV aerial and TV programmes from the internet.

• Allows you to email and make cheap internet based phone calls.

• Records your favourite programmes and stores data such as emails and photos; even manage your iPod or mp3 player.

For more information on this exciting new service please visit BabelTV.

Well this great article from Brian of UK Free TV shows how this is possible without the need for extra multiplexes (channel space), and unearths a whisper or two.

For those wishing to read more visit The Secret Ofcom Plan- HDTV DVB-T2.

The latest news on Freeview HDTV

Viewers will initially experience the switch off of analogue BBC2 through their aerials, followed shortly by the switching on the digital multiplex carrying BBC1, BBC2, BBC Three, BBC News 24 & CBBC. The remaining analogue stations will be switched off over the following 4 weeks and by 14th November residents in the Copeland area will have access to around 20 of the most popular Freeview channels.

Digital UK have made the area aware of the switchover via various media campaigns and there is a financial help scheme to help people with the switch to digital. There are also Digital Help Centres, running this week, for anyone needing advice.

For further information about the Digital Switchover and how it will affect you, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk

The new and improved predicted reception checker gives you a better idea of your Digital TV reception now and after Digital Switchover: together with information on what channels you can receive, your date of switchover, local transmitter information and whether a TV aerial upgrade may be required.

The new postcode checker is also great for aerial installers and trade personel alike. Giving more in-depth information such as the future frequencies of digital multiplexes, and when frequencies may change post switchover to coincide with fringe transmitter changes.

Should adequate Freeview Reception not be attainable the site will also give you information on other TV service platforms to help you make an informed choice.

To use the postcode checker and for all the latest news on the Digital Switchover visit www.digitaluk.co.uk

Features include:

• Twin tuner. Watch one channel and record another.
• 160Gb hard drive with up to 120 hours record time.
• Pause live TV.
• Add on extras services such as Setanta and Picture Box

TopUp TV runs through your TV aerial and is subject to adequate digital reception.

To find out more about TopUp TV visit www.topuptv.com

Get ready for the Premiership Season.

Visit below for the Setanta Sports Conditional Access Module for Digital TV.
Setanta Sports CAM is now available online.

Empire Direct at £39.99 Now only £29.99!

Argos currently have a stock of Setanta ready Freeview boxes that come complete with Setanta card and the 1st months viewing included for £49.99.

Reduced to £39.99 for a limited time!

To get your Setanta Freeview Box in time for the start of the football season visit here: Sagem ITD68 Set Top Box with 1 Month Setanta.

Over the next year Setanta will be showing:

• More than 60 Australian NRL games
• 60 exclusive live SPL football matches
• Live Golf coverage from the US PGA Tour
• Live Magners League Rugby
• Barclays Premier League football matches
• American sports exclusively live

If you already have a box with a card slot Argos have the
Setanta Sports Starter Pack.

Through your TV aerial Setanta Sports is available on Freeview channel 34 and subject to adequate digital reception.