Well I am writing this in mid May and at last the weather seems to be Spring like! Hasn’t this year been an odd start – one off, global warming or what! Anyway one good thing seems to be that the water reservoirs are quite full. On my extensive travels to install satellite systems I always note the reservoir levels and at the moment they seem to be well up. I am no expert and I would urge you all to use water wisely but just maybe the threatened cuts and restrictions will at least be a minimum.
TV news – I am going to make no apology for concentrating on one main subject.............over the past couple of months I have mentioned the word in the industry about the mainstream UK channels going it alone with their own satellite system and what that may mean down here. Well on Monday April 30th the following press announcement was made. I have abridged and cut it a bit otherwise it would fill the magazine!
“The BBC and ITV will launch a free satellite TV service in early 2008, after the BBC’s proposal won formal approval. The BBC Trust has asked management to get Freesat running as soon as possible and have insisted that it supports both high definition and PVRs. (At last a SKY+ type unit for all you non SKY subscribers!) It will be based on the FREEVIEW model with an umbrella company set up to manage the service and a guarantee that there will be no subscription. The transmission system will also be regulated so that “one box of tricks will do all”. That box will be made by various licensed manufacturers but to the Freesat specification – similar to the SKY boxes that are made by all sorts of manufacturers but all do the same thing. BBC and ITV are taking the lead but are hoping to transmit more than 200 channels. Significantly Channel 4 has asked Ofcom for an “easy” way out of its contract with SKY so that it can join the new FREESAT.
One of the main reasons for this move is that the old analogue signals will start to be switched off next year and there are still significant areas in the UK that cannot get FREEVIEW so the broadcasters must make provision for these homes to still get TV. There is a way existing already – the way we all get our TV down here in Spain – the SKY satellite system – but it is well known that SKY and the other broadcasters just don’t get on so this new system is being proposed (probably at some millions in costs when the system is actually already there!)
So I expect the above has “bored the pants” of most of you but the significant bit is that the new system has not announced how it will transmit the new FREESAT system. Will it be on the satellite that all our dishes are aligned to or will it be on some other satellite and to get it we will either have to move our dishes or put up a second one? Will the transmissions be tightly focused on the UK and thus not available down here or will sense prevail and be accepted that this is 2008 in the EEC and we will only need small “minidishes” – just as the French, German and Italians do. How can this community we live in justify being able to work, live, buy property, vote, get medical treatment but not watch our national television legally?
If you are considering installing Satellite TV I would not let the above worry you unduly about either holding back or thinking ‘Will I get no TV in the next years?’ Whatever happens SKY will continue broadcasting and you will get a selection of UK TV.
One last unrelated subject is that SKY has been renegotiating their agreements with their main UK dealers. As ever in business, margins are being cut and as ever, that means the end user consumer (YOU!) will have to pay more. Expect digibox prices and contract cards to be more expensive, together with dishes, as world metal prices have risen dramatically.
Lastly, don'’ forget the 1.35 to 1.45 dish upgrade offer we have. Reception is so much better and whilst not perfect, it does get over most of the 1.35 problems you may be having.
Article sponsored by Rainbow Satellites who can help with all your UK TV requirements in the Murcia region. Call Alan or Matt on 686 358 475 for free friendly advise or email rainbowsats@terra.es and our web site www.rainbowsats.org offers some good basic information for any new property purchasers who may be thinking of satellite television.