Direct broadcast satellite: Encyclopedia II - Direct broadcast satellite - Free DBS services

Direct broadcast satellite - Free DBS services

Germany is likely the leader in free-to-air DBS, with approximately 40 analogue and 100 digital channels broadcast from the SES Astra 1 position at 19.2E. These are not marketed as a DBS service, but are received in approximately 12 million homes, as well as in any home using the German commercial DBS system, Premiere.

The United Kingdom has approximately 90 free-to-air digital channels, for which a promotional and marketing plan is being devised by the BBC and ITV, to be sold as "Freesat". It is intended to provide a multi-channel service for areas which cannot receive Freeview, and eventually replace their network of UHF repeaters in these areas

India's national broadcaster, Doordarshan, promotes a free-to-air DBS package as "DD Direct +", which is provided as in-fill for the countries terrestrial transmission network.

While originally launched as backhaul for their digital terrestrial television service, a large number of French channels are free-to-air on 5W, and have recently been announced as being official in-fill for the DTT network.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Free DBS services", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki