UK Freeview homes surpass 11 million

Freeview homes surpass 11 million as BBC Two HD launches on Freeview’s HD service today

FREEVIEW, the UK’s biggest digital television provider, has announced an increase in the number of households using the service on main-set televisions to over 11 million – its highest figure ever. The number of homes with Freeview on a main or second TV set to almost 20 million — 76% of UK television homes.

Today also marks a change to Freeview’s HD channel line-up as BBC Two HD launches on channel 102, replacing the existing BBC HD channel. Subject to regulatory approval, a further ten HD channels could launch on the Freeview platform by the end of next year.

This is welcome news as the latest sales figures confirm a strong appetite for high definition. Three years since launch, cumulative Freeview HD equipment sales stand at 7.6 million(2) and the total number of homes with Freeview HD on their main set has reached 3.53 million, making Freeview HD the second biggest HD platform in the UK.

Month-on-month, HD penetration has increased to its highest share of sales to date; Freeview+HD represented 60% of total Freeview+ sales and Freeview HDTVs accounted for 41% of total iDTV sales in January. Freeview+HD box sales have increased 24% year-on-year(4).

Ilse Howling, Managing Director of Freeview, said: “The last 12 months have been a landmark year for Freeview. For the first time, the whole of the UK was able to receive Freeview and Freeview HD following the completion of digital switchover.

“We’re delighted that people continue to choose Freeview as the main source of television and we believe our offer, giving people access to over 95% of the most watched TV programmes in the UK, is a strong alternative to pay TV.”

1. BARB Establishment Survey, Q4 2012. Quarterly Freeview main set figures have an error margin of +/- 290,000
2. Lektrak, January 2013
3. BARB ES Survey, Q4 2012
4. GfK sales (end Nov 2011 to end Jan 2012 vs end Nov 2012 to end Jan 2013)