menuMENU    UK Free TV logo Archive (2002-)

 

 

LIVE 16:59 New UK Free TV articles 10 new Your latest comments 18 new Popular pages 10 new Read about new trends 20 new TV network faults 2 new 
LIVE 16:59 New UK Free TV articles 10 new Your latest comments 18 new Popular pages 10 new Read about new trends 20 new TV network faults 2 new 

Where are the public service (Freeview Light) transmitters?

Whilst 8.5% of the population of the UK will have only the public services after switchover, this ranges from 6% in England to 34% in Wales.

Whilst 8.5% of the population of the UK will have only the publ
published on UK Free TV

There are many TV transmitters in the UK, but only 81 of them carry all the services including the three commercial multiplexes. The other 1,036 transmitters will only carry the three public service transmitters, sometimes called Freeview Lite.

The commercial operators, SDN (originally S4C Digital Networks, now part of ITV plc) and Arqiva (originally as Crown Castle International, the privatized BBC Engineering) declined the invitation from Ofcom to extend their transmission network, see No new full Freeview transmitters.

As the transmitters can cover millions of homes down to less than 100, this means that:

In England, there are 54 full service transmitters and 583 public service transmitters, but the three-multiplex transmitters only serve 7% of the population.



The main reason for the commercial operators not extending their networks is the uneconomic nature of these sites. It is not simply a question of being allocated frequencies by Ofcom (these were freely available to the operators) - the cost of installing the three antennas on each mast, the considerable capital expense of providing the transmission equipment and the ongoing network, power and monitoring costs.

In Scotland, the 14 main transmitters cover 85% of the population with full Freeview, but those in the mountains and islands are again uneconomic. Indeed, the Black Hill transmitter alone covers 40% of Scots.



Looking to Northern Ireland, the Divis transmitter provides services to 67% of the population, with two other full service transmitters providing the next 13%. However, again 20% of the population are provided by the other 43 and these will provides just the public services.



TV viewers in Wales stand the most chance - one in three - of being short of channels. Nine main transmitters cover 66% of the population, and in the mountains and valleys the other 196 transmitters cover very small populations each.



Map showing public service only areas in England, Wales, NI and Scotland.



Help with Freeview, aerials?
How do I get a test card with Freeview1
I would like to know if it is possible to receive UK terrestrial Freeview servic2
I have been told I would receive too much singal from my Freeview tansmitter as 3
Can my Freeview box receive more than one BBC and ITV region?4
Is it true that my 87 year old mother is entitled to a FREE upgrade when the ana5
In this section
Should the UK close down the TV networks to allow for more mobile broadband? 1
UK Digital switchover ends - Northern Ireland completes on 24th October 20122
The last day of analogue television in the UK - goodbye PAL3
2 days left of analogue television - goodbye teletext4
3 days of analogue to go - goodbye to NICAM 7285
Changes to Saorview frequencies and power levels, 24th October 20126

Comments
Thursday, 23 February 2012
J
John Robinson
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

11:06 AM

John: I don't see anything on the site about anything happening in 2012 - DSO's already happened across Scotland. The Digital UK tradeview estimator suggests you might be able to get the commercial muxes from Angus already with a good group C/D aerial with horizontal polarisation pointing approximately ENE (a bearing of 59°) in place of your current group B aerial with vertical polarisation pointing south. I wouldn't like to make any guarantees - maybe there are some hills in the way? - but if you already have a half decent wideband aerial you could go up on the roof with a compass and re-orient your aerial and see if you can get any sign of any signal on channels 53 and up (PSB muxes included) before you go buying a good group C/D aerial.

link to this comment
John Robinson's 43 posts GB flag
G
Greebo
11:13 AM

John, the Digital UK postcode checker shows this: Postcode Checker - Trade View

Angus looks like your best bet, with a little improvement due from March 6th on the commercial muxes.

link to this comment
Greebo's 13 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
J
Jo
8:13 PM

Help don't have a clue! I like to watch tv in bed but since moving into my new-build house 2 years ago, husband put up aerial in loft (from b and q) in loft and has tried and tried and can't get a signal with tv we have no aerial on roof but we have sky downstairs but not looking to have sky upstairs is there a way we can sort this?

link to this comment
Jo's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:28 PM

jo: Its impossible for anyone to offer advice without them having knowledge of your location, this preferably in the form of a post code for purposes of greater accuracy when assessing the signal levels expected in your area.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Saturday, 31 March 2012
E
ELAINE BAYES
6:31 PM

I have a HumaX BOX. AND AM TRYING TO GET CHANNEL 12 (YESTERDAY). kEY IN 12 AND PRESS ENTER. nOTHING HAPPENS. pLEASE ADVISE

link to this comment
ELAINE BAYES's 1 post GB flag
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

8:11 PM

ELAINE BAYES: This is likely because you are not receiving the multiplex that's used by programme Ch12 (Yesterday), which could either be caused through having poor reception or alternatively by being located in a Freeview "light" transmitter area, exactly which impossible to verify without knowledge of your post code.

link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
Monday, 23 April 2012
P
Paul Murphy
12:51 AM
Bourne End

How are the channels on 'Freeview Light' decided upon?

We've just finished the Digital Switchover and using the Wooburn relay we get just the 'Freeview Light' channels. This is a big let down but its exacerbated by the fact that there are '+1' channels using up valuable space that standalone channels could (should) be using instead ie ITV 1 +1 instead of ITV 3 (or 4), Channel 4 +1 instead of Film 4. Surely the delayed channels must be considered a 'luxury extra' that should be made available only if there is sufficient multiplex capacity after the main 'live' channels are provided.. How was this decided upon and who is responsible?

We may not be able to get more multiplexes (for cost/benifit reasons) but I can't see why they shouldn't try to please more customers with more distinct channels. If people really need '+1' channels, that's what video recorders/time shift TVs are for. My TV Tuner equipped Windows 7 HTPC does this perfectly but even the best of such devices won't get additional 'commercial' Freeview Channels in such locations. We already have a new (professionally installed) aerial and receiving directly from Crystal Palace is not an option (the guy checked) so it's important to make the most of what multiplexes we do have access to! Who can I write to?

link to this comment
Paul Murphy's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

2:23 AM

Paul Murphy: There are different regions for ITV1+1, thus the multiplex that it is carried on must have different regional variants.

The SDN Commercial multiplex which carries ITV3 has two variants: Wales and everywhere except Wales. Putting ITV1+1 on it would mean quite a few more variants would be needed, pushing up costs.

Also, I expect that consideration will have been given to what will bring in the most revenue from advertising.

I wouldn't waste my time writing to anyone; it is as it is. It looks as though you will have to go down the Freesat route if you want these extra channels.

There are some differences between Freesat and full Freeview:

Compare Freeview and Freesat TV | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
P
Paul Murphy
8:17 AM
Bourne End

Dave Lindsay: Thanks for the swift and clear answer. In the case of ITV 1 (+1) what they've done does make alot of sense for the reasons you've given but does the same apply for Channel 4 (+1) do you know? I thought there was just the one Channel 4 all around the country - the same as Film 4 (rather than there being regional variants). Although many people may watch the +1 channels, I suspect if they weren't there such people would either be watching the original broadcast (or recording it for playback later) and watching another channel instead so I don't see how the commercial argument would be strong in the long run.
ps when I put my postcode into your 'My Freeview page, it incorrectly gave High Wycombe Transmitter details rather than Wooburn. I'm in an area not covered by the High Wycombe transmitter (and the map shows this) so maybe you can fix this on your system? A generally very helpful and informative website BTW!

link to this comment
Paul Murphy's 6 posts GB flag
Paul's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 18 May 2012
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:03 PM

Paul Murphy: Please see Macro Map | Interactive Map of Our Regions with Data - Channel 4 has regions for adverts, but not programmes.

link to this comment
Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Select more comments

Your comment please
Please post a question, answer or commentUK Free TV is here to help people. If you are rude or disrespectful all of your posts will be deleted and you will be banned.







Privacy policy: UK Free Privacy policy.