UK TV Channel Frequences for Sky TV and Freesat TV digiboxes and other UK TV Help and Problems Solving

UK TV Channel Frequences for Sky TV and Freesat TV digiboxes and other UK TV Help and Problems Solving

UK TV Channel Frequences for Sky TV and Freesat TV digiboxes

BBC TV in SpainThe BBC1 TV channel is available on various frequencies, due to the various BBC1 local regions. BBC channels, like BBC1, BBC1HD, BBCHD, BBC2, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBeebies, CBBC, BBC News are Free to air TV channels and available for free without any subscription or without a Sky card.
BBC TV Satellite Frequency Settings

ITV TV in Spain The ITV1 channel is available on various frequencies, due to the various ITV1 advertising regions. Most ITV channels are Free to air TV channels and available for free without any subscription or without a Sky card.
ITV Satellite Frequency Settings

Channel 4 TV in Spain Channel 4 group of channels are available on various frequencies. The free to air channel 4 channels, C4, C4HD, E4, More4, Film4, 4Seven, are Free to air TV channels and available for free without any subscription or without a Sky card. If you have a Sky viewing card, Irish versions of the Channel 4 channels are on frequency 12480 V 27500 2/3 - the Irish version of the Channel 4 group of channels.
Channel 4 Satellite Frequency Settings

Channel 5 TV in Spain The Channel Five group of channels are available over two frequencies. Five, Fiver and Five USA are Free to air TV channels and available for free without any subscription or without a Sky card.
Channel Five Satellite Frequency Settings

Sky TV in Spain Sky TV is available in Spain. Its channels are spread over many frequencies. Many frequencies also carry channels available on Freesat
Sky TV and Freesat TV Channel Frequency Settings

Irish TV Channels In Spain Irish TV channels are spread over many frequencies. The main Irish TV channels, like RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TG 4, TV 3 are available on frequency 10744 H 22000 5/6. Irish TV channel 3e is on frequency 11261 H 27500 2/3. All the main Irish TV channels require a Sky veiwing card registered at an Irish address to view. You cannot use a Sky card at a UK address to view Irish TV channels.
Irish TV Satellite Frequency Settings


"Extra" and "Secret" channel frequecies for Sky TV diboboxes in Spain

To see how to add the "secret" and additional ITV, Chanel 4, and Five channels insructoins can be found at Extra Secret Additional Sky and Freesat Frequencies

Frequency Asked Questions about receiving UK TV in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions - UK TV in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions - Freesat TV In Spain
Frequently Asked Questions - Freeview TV in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions - Sky TV in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions - TDT in Spain

Default Transponder Frequency Settings for Sky Digiboxes in Spain

Resetting your Sky box after a power cut andyou are receiving a "No Satellite Signal" messages

Sky Satellite Transponder Settings Spain - Default Transponder Frequency Settings for Sky Digiboxes in Costa Blanca

Sky Satellite Transponder Settings Spain - Default Transponder Frequency Settings for Sky HD Digiboxes in Costa Blanca

If a specific question is not answered on these pages then you can always try our forum - http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/

The Sat and PC Guy - your local expert installer for Satellite TV and Digital TV in the Costa Blanca and Valencia areas of Spain

We supply, install and provide upgrades and servicing for Satellite TV systems and Digital TV systems for areas of the Costa Blanca and Costa Azahar, between Calpe to Valencia and inland.

For reception of Sky TV and UK TV in these areas please see the links below:
Sky TV in Calpe. UK TV in Calpe. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Calpe.
Sky TV in Denia. UK TV in Denia. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Denia.
Sky TV in Gandia. UK TV in Gandia. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Gandia.
Sky TV in Javea. UK TV in Javea. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Javea.
Sky TV in Lliria. UK TV in Lliria. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Lliria.
Sky TV in Oliva. UK TV in Oliva. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Oliva.
Sky TV in Ontinyent. UK TV in Ontinyent. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Ontinyent.
Sky TV in Valencia. UK TV in Valencia. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Valencia.
Sky TV in Xativa. UK TV in Xativa. Sky Satellite TV Reception Help in Xativa.

Sky TV in Spain and Freesat TV in Spain - installations and repairs for the Valencia area of Spain

For Sky TV and Freesat TV in the Valencia area and the surrounding areas of Spain The Sat and PC Guy is your local satellite Tv installer

The Sat and PC Guy is a UK satellite TV and Sky TV satellite TV installer based in Gandia. This means we have excellent local knowledge of reception characteristics of Sky TV and UK TV in the Communidad Valencia.

We supply and install satellite dishes, from 80cm satellite dishes to 2.4m satellite dishes - including the popular Portuguese Famaval 2.4m satellite dishes.

We supply and install a wide range of digital satellite receivers, including Sky, Sky+, Sky HD and Sky+HD digiboxes, Freesat and Freesat HD receivers and a range of "generic" satellite receivers.


We can help resolve poor reception issues, perform satellite dish realignments, replace LNBs, and upgrade your satellite TV systems.

"No Satellite Signal is Being Received" messages for Sky digiboxes in Spain - help to resolve this problem here.

How to change the Default Frequency Setting for Sky digiboxes in Spain - help to resolve this problem here.


To receive Sky TV in Spain , you will need a Sky card, and Sky monthly subscription.


The BBC channels, ITV channels, and Channel Four channels do NOT require a Sky viewing card. Theya re avaialbel on a Sky digibox ro a Freesat box.

The Sat and PC Guy can supply install and problem solve your satellite TV systems. We cover many areas of the Valencia area, including Alzira, GAndia, Oliva, Denai, Calpe, Pego, Ontinyent, Javea, Jalon, and Xativa.


How to receive Sky TV in Valencia. UK Freesat TV in Valencia
How to receive Sky TV in Calpe. UK Freesat TV in Calpe
How to receive Sky TV in Gandia. UK Freesat TV in Gandia
How to receive Sky TV in Oliva. UK Freesat TV in Oliva
How to receive Sky TV in Denia. UK Freesat TV in Denia
How to receive Sky TV in Javea. UK Freesat TV in Javea
How to receive Sky TV in Ontinyent. UK Freesat TV in Ontinyent
How to receive Sky TV in Xativa. UK Freesat TV in Xativa

We also cover many of the Urbanisations in the area including Monte Pego Urbanisations, Monte Pedgreguer Urbanisations, Las Basettes Urbanisations, Cumbre de Sol Urbanisations, Montgo Urbanisations, and many more.

We do not currently install Sky TV and UK TV in Gran Alacant, Torrevieja, Murcia, Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Tenerife, Barcelona, Madrid, The Costa Del Sol, Costa Calida, Andalucia, Gibraltar, Almeria, Granada, Marbella, Malaga, Cadiz, Huelva, Portugal, France, Germany or Italy!

Is Freesat as good as Sky in Spain?

Is Freesat TV in Spain as good as Sky TV in Spain?

Freesat digiboxes receive the same "free to air" satellite television channels as a Sky box.

Free to air channels are those channels that do not require a Sky viewing card to watch.

So a Sky box with no viewing card receives the same channels as a Freesat box.

Freesat boxes in Spain use the same satellites and sa,e frequencies for the channels as a Sky box in Spain uses.

There are no seperate Freesat satellites, or special Freesat frequencies that can be used that are any different than a Sky box in Spain uses.

So if you are in Spain, and want UK TV in Spain, then if you are in an area of Spain that requires a 2.4m Portuguese satellite dish for reception of BBC TV for a Sky digibox in Spain, then you will still need a 2.4m Portuguese satellite dish for reception of BBC TV using a Freesat box in Spain.

There are some differences between using a Freesat box in Spain and using a Sky digibox in Spain. Obviously, a Sky box will be able to read and use a Sky card, where are the Freesat box cannot, which is useful for the few "free to view" channels like Sony TV, Motors TV and Viva TV. A Freesat HD PVR is able to record onto its built in hard disk drive, yet to record using the built in hard disk drive on a Sky+ or Sky+HD digibox you need to be a Sky TV subscriber. These differences ar the same whether you are watching UK TV in Spain, UK TV in France, UK TV in Italy or in England.

Don't get confused between 'Freeview' and 'Freesat'

Don't get confused between 'Freeview' and 'Freesat'


Freesat is a free digital service broadcast from the Astra 2 satellite. It needs a dish mounted on the outside of your house to receive the service, and a digital set-top box or a TV with an integrated satelliter receiver.

Freeview is the name of the free domestic digital terrestrial service in the UK, brodacast from a network of land- based masts, and is received on a normal aerial, as found on most homes. It needs a digital set-top box or an integrated TV. Most modern TVs have digital terrestrial built in. A UK digital TV or Freeview box will work in Spain but will receive Spanish digital services in place of UK ones.


For more information please visit:

The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

or the forum

The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

UK TV In Spain Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive Freesat in Spain?
Can I watch Sky TV in Spain?

These and many more questions are always being asked as people try to decide what is the best way to receive UK TV channels in Spain on the various satellite and digital terrestrial services.

With this in mind, we have created a number of pages which tries to answer all your UK TV in Spain questions.

Frequently Asked Questions - UK TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Freesat TV In Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Freeview TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Sky TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - TDT in Spain

If a specific question is not answered on these pages then you can always try our forum - http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/

UK TV Channel Frequences for Sky TV and Freesat TV digiboxes

UK TV Channel Frequences for Sky TV and Freesat TV digiboxes

BBC TV in Spain
The BBC1 TV channel is available on various frequencies, due to the various BBC1 local regions. The best or strongest region is BBC1 Channels Islands.

The frequency for BBC 1 Channel Islands is 10847 V 22000 5/6.
This is also the same frequency setting for the BBC HD Channel, available on HD satellite receivers.

Other regions are available by searching on other frequency settings
BBC TV Satellite Frequency Settings

ITV TV in Spain
The ITV1 channel is available on various frequencies, due to the various ITV1 advertising regions. The best or strongest free (ie no sky viewing card is required) regions is ITV1 Channel Islands. The frequency for ITV1 Channel Islands is 10905 V 22000 5/6.
If you have a Sky viewing card, the best or strongest ITV regions are on frequency 12402 V 27500 2/3 - including Tyne Tees South (TTS) and Meridian SE (Mer SE)


Other regions are available by searching on other frequency settings

ITV Satellite Frequency Settings

Channel 4 TV in Spain
Channel 4 group of channels are available on various frequencies.
The free to air channel 4 channels, on Sky chanel 104, are on ,frequency 10714 H 22000 5/6. On the Costa Blanca, this frequency may not be available all day. This is the same frequency for Film 4.
Channel 4+1 (and E4 and More4) are avaialble on 10729 V 22000 5/6, which should be available most of the day on a "big satellite dish"

If you have a Sky viewing card, the best or strongest Channel 4 channels frequency 12480 V 27500 2/3 - the Irish version of the Channel 4 group of channels.

Channel 4 Satellite Frequency Settings

Channel 5 TV in Spain
The Channel Five group of channels are available over two frequencies.
Five, Fiver and Five USA are available on frequency 12422 H 27500 2/3 - with a Sky viewing card.
Channel Five, the Freesat version avaialble without a Sky card, is on 10773 H 22000 5/6 - the same frequency as BBC2, so reception of this version of Five will be as per BBC2.

Channel Five Satellite Frequency Settings

Sky TV in Spain
Sky TV is available in Spain. Its channels are spread over many frequencies. Many frequencies also carry channels available on Freesat

Sky TV and Freesat TV Channel Frequency Settings

Irish TV Channels In Spain
Irish TV channels are spread over many frequencies. The main Irish TV channels, like RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TG 4, TV 3 are availabel on frequency 10744 H 22000 5/6. Irish TV channel 3e is on frequency 11261 H 27500 2/3.

All the main Irish TV channels require a Sky veiwing card registered at an Irish address to view. You cannot use a Sky card at a UK address to view Irish TV channels.
Irish TV Satellite Frequency Settings


To see how to add the "secret" and additional ITV, Chanel 4, and Five channels insructoins can be found at
Extra Secret Additional Sky and Freesat Frequencies


For more information please visit:

The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

or the forum

The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

Can I use Freesat in Spain?

Can I use Freesat in Spain?

Many people have ask me about Freesat and Freesat channel availability in Spain, and the Costa Blanca. So hopefully this page will answer this availability question.


Yes Freesat TV is available in Spain.

To an extent.

Many of the main UK TV channels available on Freesat are available in Spain, but, as you would with a Sky receiver, you may still need a big satellite dish to receive the weaker Freesat channels in Spain.

Technically Freesat is only an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), and receives its data from the Eurobird satellite. Therefore the Freesat EPG should be available to people with an 80cm dish and be able to be received in Spain.

HOWEVER

To receive the main channels provided via the Freesat EPG on the Costa Blanca you will still require a big satellite dish. This is because Freesat uses the same satellites (Astra 2 and Eurobird) and (similar) frequencies as the Sky satellite systems.

So if you require a 2.4m satellite dish to receive BBC channels on a Sky receiver, you will still need a 2.4m satellite dish to receive BBC Channels on a Freesat receiver.
There are various Freesat receivers available: a basic receiver, a HD receiver (the Humax Freesat HD being the best Freesat receiver for Spain), and a hard disk recorder recevier (the Humax Freesat HDR or Freesat HD+)
 
If you have been quoted for a Freesat receiver, a genuine Freesat receiver will have the Freesat logo (as above) on the receiver. If the receiver does not have the Freesat logo, then you do not have an official Freesat receiver.
 
Some non Sky and non Freesat receivers are also able to receive the same channels as a Freesat receiver, but one of the disadvantages of this is that you will not ahve access ot the Freesat 7 day programme guide, or the specifi Freesat reciver software that allow access to some of the UK TV interactive features, like BBC Interactive Teletext services.
 
 
Also note that UK Freeview is not the same as Freesat. You cannot receive Freeview in Spain. Freeview is a UK only digital television service, transmitted from landbased transmitter sites, and only available to receive via a TV aerial. There is a similar service in Spain, Digital Television Terrestrial, also known as TDT, or sometimes as Spanish Freeview.
For more information please visit:

The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

or the forum

The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca

TDT / Freeview in Spain / GOL TV /Premier League Football

TDT (Television Digital Terrestrial) is the Spanish version of the UK's Freeview digital TV service.
With TDT you can get around 30 free digital TV channels, all depending on your location on the Costa Blanca.
All you need are a good TV aerial, a good amplifer system, and a TDT receiver - either a set top box of a TDT intergrated digital TV.

And this last week the Spanish Government have given the go-ahead for PAY TDT - pay channels on TDT

And in light of this one channel has recently been launched.
GOLTV is currently free, and is a dedicated football channel. In fact this wekend there were 3 live Premier League games shown...for free.
However reports suggest that GOLTV will become a full subscription service by the end of August - just in time to take advantage of the Spanish football season!

With the next analogue swicth off approaching (December 31st!) make sure you are not one who leaves the installation of digital TV until the last minute. Many programmes on the TDT system can be changed from Spanish into English!

The Sat and PC Guy can install these systems for you.

For more information visit
http://www.satandpcguy.com/
or
www.satandpcguy.com/forum

British UK English TV In Costa Blanca Spain (Freeview Freesat TV Freesatfromsky Sky TV UKTV)

English / British / UK Television in Costa Blanca Spain

This page gives a summary of all the details within my main website (http://www.satandpcguy.com/) with respect to receiving UK Television within Spain, and the various other services available, such as TDT - Spain's version of Freeview.

FREEVIEW
"Freeview" is the brand name of a UK Digital TV service ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE UK. It is available via TV aerials on the houses, and is only transmitted from TV transmitters in the UK. You will need either a Freeview "set top box" or a TV with Freeview built in. Again, Freeview is not available in Spain.
There are channels on the Freeview system that you have to pay for on via satellite - like Dave, UK History.

TDT
Spain has its own version of "Freeview" called Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT). There are approximately 30 digital Spanish TV channels via a TV aerial...many channels / programmes you can change the programmes into their original audio...not always English as a few German programmes have cropped up...you will need a TDT "set top box" or a TV with TDT built in. Your existing television aerial may be ok for this but it may need to be reconfigured, and you may also require some signal amplifiers.
You can use a UK Freeview set top box to get TDT, but there are some limitations - language change options may be limited to English, Welsh and Gaelic, TDT uses frequency 69, UK Freeview set top boxes ma not be able to scan this frequency.
see http://www.tdt.es or http://www.tdt1.com for more information

FREESAT
Freesat, a satellite version of Freeview, was launched in May 2008. Using an official Freesat receiver, you can watch the about 100 free satellite TV channels. All BBC channels, ITV1,2,3,4, C4, E4, More4, Film4 and FIVE are all free to watch on satellite. But some free channels the availability is limited due to signal strengths - so for example Five on Freesat will only be available at the same times as BBC2 as they share a frequency. FIVE with a Sky card (see below) is available 24/7 as this Sky FIVE is transmitted on a different frequency.
Official "Freesat" receivers currently only have about 100 TV channels on their EPG at the moment - but on some Freesat receivers you can manually add other channels not on the EPG using a "non-Freesat mode". They can only receive "free to air" channels. Freesat receivers will have the Freesat logo on them.
Some Freesat boxes have two modes. In Freesat mode the Freesat channels are in the Freesat EPG - the ones that have been officially added to the EPG and where new channels are updated automatically. In nonfreesatmode you can manually add other free channels into an other channel list - the nonfreesatmode channels list- by manually scanning the individual frequencies. To scan for channels, go to the menu and select Setup > Manual Tune. To switch back to Freesat mode after playing with the other channels, go to: Menu > STB Mode > Freesat It's handy being able to switch between Freesat and Non-Freesat channels, for situations where a channel is not yet part of Freesat, or is a Freesat-only channel. Note that when scanning for non-Freesat channels, the numbering sequence will be a bit odd, and also they can't be accessed via the Freesat Electronic Programme Guide.
There are basic Freesat receivers - Grundigs, Bush and Humax have had good reports for reception on the Costa Blanca.
HD Freesat receivers - the best being the Humax Foxsat Freesat HD receiver Freesat+ - Humax Foxsat HDR+ with inbuilt hard disk Freesat HD receivers will get you BBC HD channel and ITV HD Red button service. C4HD has not yet confirmed if or when it will be available on Freesat. Most come with a HDMI cable so that you can connect it directly to your HD TV - as long as it has a HDMI connection - and start watching HD TV straight away.
The Humax Freesat+ receiver is available December 2008 for around £300 It will have a 320GB hard drive that can store up to 80 hours of HD programming, or up to 200 hours of standard definition shows.

FREESATFROMSKY
Freesatfromsky uses official Sky receivers and allows the viewing of many more free channels than Freesat. With a "Freesatfromsky" viewing card you can receive the FTA channels and Five, Five US and Fiver, Sky Three, Setanta Sports News.
The "Freesatfromsky" viewing cards are available in the UK for £20 (and some dealers may still be supplying them), and are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain....

SKY
If you have a Sky receiver and want to pay monthly used for Free to air, free to view and subscription channels...Again the viewing cards are subject to the same terms and conditions as a Sky subscription contract - including the "must not be used outside the uk". your viewing card can be disabled if Sky find out that you are using it outside the UK but if they don't know you are using one here in Spain.....
The best Sky receivers for Spain is the Pace 2600, followed by the Pace 430N. These ceased production about 5 years ago, and can only be bought as "reconditioned" units - or from Ebay. The best of the latest batch of Sky receivers is the Thomson, followed by the Amstrad. Avoid the Pace 440 and 445 - I have found these to be very poor performers.

SKY+
Sky's award winning PVR. Pause Live TV, recording with no tapes, watch one channel whilst recording another channel, series linking. Available with ANY sky TV subscription package (from £17per month), or with no Sky TV subscription package for £10 per month - for the extra 7 quid best get at least 1 sky mix!

SKY HD
A Sky HD receiver will incorporate all the recording functions of the Sky+, but with the added ability to watch HD channels. BBC HD and C4 HD are available to watch without any subscription. For the other 30ish HD channels, you will need to pay an extra £10 per month for Skys HD Channels. Sky HD does not, at the moment, have access to ITV HD.
On any HD box you will get BBCHD
On a Freesat HD box you will get BBCHD and ITVHD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a freesatfromskycard, C4HD
On a sky hd box you will get BBCHD and, with a sky card with hd sub, C4HD and the other subscription HD channels depending on what sky mix you are on.

GENERIC
Note that many installers are using generic receivers (sometimes called Free To Air receivers) and calling them Freesat or Freeview receivers which may be confusing people. Official Freesat and sky receivers have a full 7 day programme guide...generic FTA receivers only have now and next programme information. Some generic receivers can also be modified with software to read Sky cards.

Digital+
D+ is the Spanish satellite service. It is broadcast from two satellites - Astra 19E and Hispasat 30W. There is a variety of channels, from entertainment, movies and Sports. Many channels and programmes on the UK Sky system are also available on D+, and in most cases the language of the programmes can be changed into English. D+ can be received on a small satellite dish, approx 80cm. You will need an official D+ viewing card to watch these channels. Some, not all, TDT channels are also on D+.

BBC Prime
BBC Prime is a BBC pay channels for expats. It does not show movies or sport, but just home-grown programmes. It does show eastenders, and a variety of BBC and C4 programmes. The standalone version of BBC Prime that was on Hotbird will, by March 2009, only be available on Eurobird at 9 degrees east - so you may need your dish realigning. You will need an official BBC Prime subscription card available from http://www.bbcprime.com. BBC Prime is also available as part of some subscription packages. Some generic receivers have been able to access BBC Prime by software that removes the encryption. It now appears that BBC Prime has moved to version Viaccess 2.6. Therefore for those who were watching BBC Prime without paying for it, your screen will have gone blank.

MBC / Dubai One / Fox Movies / Arabic
You could always point a dish to badr / Arabsat at 26 degrees and look at the MBC 2,4,Action channels, the Fox Movie Channel, the Fox Series channel and Dubai One. These channels show various movies dramas and action series such as Once upon a time in Mexico, One Hour Photo ,The Rookie ,TRAINING DAY ,Taxi, Ghost Whisperer , Smallville , Grey's Anatomy , Hustle, Knight Rider, and older series of TOP GEAR!!! The channels and programmes are all mainly in English but with Arabic subtitles. All these channels are currently free to air, requiring a generic digital satellite receiver and at least an 80cm dish

Channels
The main BBC, ITV and C4 channels are free and do not require any Sky card or form of subscription (note some ITV regions do require a freesatfromsky or sky card) to view these channels.
All channels on Freesat (apart from ITV HD) are available on a sky receiver, and were also available for free before the launch of Freesat using a sky or generic receiver. Five, Five US, Five US+1, Fiver, Fiver+1 are all only available with a freesatfromsky or sky card at the moment. No monthly payments are required.

EU Television Without Frontiers
In 1989 the EU created the TVwF, as directive as to how it would like to see TV reception between member states. Various amendments have subsequently deemed the original proposals as unworkable (especially with PAY TV operations) but the directive is still alive and well and in use to level the playing field with broadcasters with rules on advertising, racial content, violence and protection of minors. One area that people quote me on is Article 2a 1. "Member States shall ensure freedom of reception and shall not restrict retransmissions on their territory of television broadcasts from other Member States for reasons which fall within the fields coordinated by this Directive." I refer them to Article 7 Member States shall ensure that broadcasters under their jurisdiction do not broadcast cinematographic works outside periods agreed with the rights holders.
Its all about copyright holders and the contracts signed between broadcasters and programme makers. So for example Sky cannot sign a deal with D+ in Spain to show Sky Sports without consulting all of the providers of their sport programmes (almost all are from third party programme makers) or the Governing bodies (like the FA), as these providers may have already signed deals with broadcasters in Spain who may object to the programmes they have paid for to be made available on another service (like TVE and the FA for Premier League TV rights)
The Freedom of Information Act (Various EU Directives) is covered by channels like BBC World News, the BBC World Service and Sky News - the UK Foreign Office partially fund the World Service and BBC World! These allow UK expats access to UK news and events and covers the requirements of the directive - it does not mean you should be allowed to receiver all the national channels!! Similarly all other European countries have at least one channels in their own language that offers similar services. For example TVEi is the international version of TVE for Spain which is available for free on various satellites.

Dishes
UK TV channels are mainly broadcast from the Astra 2,a,b,c,and d and Eurobird 1 satellites located at 28.2 to 28.5 degrees east of south. There are other Astra satellites around also - which tend to do more European channels (Spain D+ is on Astra's at 19.2). Many channels are available with a small 80cm dish, but to get the BBC and ITV and C4's, which are on the weaker Astra 2D satellite you will require a "big dish". Note that reception of channels depends on your location and dish size.
As a rough guide: 80cm will get you some channels - approx 50% of what is available 1.4m will get more channels (including bbc1 and itv1,2,3,4) 1.8/2.4 will get even more channels (including bbc2 and c4) not all channels will be available all day.

BIG DISHES
There are two companies, both from Portugal, which produce what are regarded as the best quality and performing (for their price) satellite dishes for the Costa Blanca. Personally I have found that there is very little difference in the performance of both the Portuguese made 1.8m dishes (despite the propaganda!)
Famaval produce a 2.4m prime focus dishes which is identifiable with the holes around the rim of the dish, allowing extension panels to be added if required, to make the dish a 3.1m! For whatever reason I have found this Famaval 2.4m dish not to be as prone to rusting as the Famaval 1,8m counterpart!
Other 1.8 and 2.4m prime focus dishes are available and can be cheaper, like the Fortecstar Petal Dishes. Myself and some other installers do not recommend these "petal" dishes, as we have found them not to perform as good as their equivalent Famaval dishes. I have found that dishes made in Turkey generally perform poorer than those made in Portugal. They are made from spun steel, and can be identified by the "spin circles" on the back of the dish.
Some models of big dishes area actually two parts welded together - you can sometimes see the join along the dish!
Some other makes of dish, like Channel Masters, do perform much better than the Portuguese dishes, and their cost reflects this (around 2000euros).
For reference Famaval dish sizes are
1.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 1440mm x 1440mm Reflector diameter: 1330mm x 1330mm
1.8 prime focus Outside diameter: 1940mm x 1940mm Reflector diameter: 1790mm x 1790mm
2.4 prime focus Outside diameter: 2470mm x 2470mm Reflector diameter: 2290mm x 2290mm

Community Installs
It is possible for one dish to serve a number of receivers at different houses. If less than 4 connections are required then a 4 output LNB should be OK, with a cable from the dish to each location. If more than 4 connections are required, then the system will require a special signal distribution unit - called multiswitches.
These multiswicthes are strategically placed around the community to serve, and individual connections are made from these points. I personally run new cable in these systems, as you cannot rely on the condition of the existing cable. Ideally, the community will pay for the infrastructure required (dish, LNB, cables from LNB to multiswicthes, multiswicthes and amplifiers) and individuals will pay for the connection from the multiswitch to their house, and any receivers they require.
Permission must be sought for dishes to be installed on community areas, including apartment blocks. In privately owned houses, dish rules are fairly relaxed, but generally make sure it is installed in an area that wont upset your neighbours. You may also be required to ask your local town hall for permission to install a big dish.

Rebroadcasting
Under the Rome Convention broadcasters have the right to authorize or prohibit the re-broadcasting of their broadcasts. "Re-broadcasting" is defined under the Rome Convention as the simultaneous broadcasting by one broadcasting organization of the broadcast of another broadcast organization. Broadcasters also have the right to authorize or prohibit the fixation of their broadcasts; the reproduction of unauthorized original fixations of their broadcasts; the reproduction for purposes other than those authorized fixations of their broadcasts.
Basically it says you need authorisation from the "Broadcasting organisations" like BBC and ITV to rebroadcast their transmission in the EU.
You may be using a rebroadcaster if your TV company:
is offering bbc and itv on a small dish or mesh aerial - these channels can only be legitimately received for free via a minimum of 1.4mdish (some areas 1.8m)
offers bbc and itv for a monthly subscription - bbc and itv are free on satellite and do not need a subscription
offers "freesat" with only 20 or 64 channels - by satellite you will receive over 100 free tv channels, not 20 or 64. the bbc have over 15 regional variations on satellite alone.
offers sky sports for less than £36 per month or setanta sports for less than £14 per month - the costs of legitimate subscriptions to these channels.
offers channels from other countries - channels like Showtime Sports for example.
says they get BBC and ITV from a satellite other than Astra 2, like Hotbird - bbc and itv are only broadcast on one "satellite constellation (those satellites at 28.3 to 28.5 degrees)
as these companies will more than likely be a rebroadcasting services who's signal may be terminated just like Telemicro.

Advantages of Satellite
With a sky or freesat receiver you can get bbc interactive, sky active and a full 7 day programme guide. you may need a big dish, you may pay more for the installation, but at least the signal is pretty much guaranteed as it it direct from the satellite and is not reliant on a third party. pure digital broadcasting (with some channels in full Dolby Digital sound), not reliant on second or third or fourth generation signals as the signals gets past from one rebroadcast transmitter to another.
Many ex rebroadcasting clients have commented on how good the signal direct from the satellite is compared to that of a rebroadcasted signal.
if you are in doubt as to whether or not it is OK to view free satellite tv channels (like BBC and ITV) in Spain via satellite see http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=help.Question&id=1667 which says that "it may be possible outside the UK to use a satellite receiver to pick up channels available on freesat" - nothing about it being illegal - the technical term is "satellite signal overspill".
A final thought on this: if it was illegal to watch TV channels that were broadcasted for free, then all shops selling free to air receivers would be in trouble, as would Canal Digital + (the Spanish satellite service) as their receivers can also pick up free tv satellite channels from other countries.

Default Transponder Settings for Spain or Resetting your Sky Receiver after powercut
When a Sky receiver is first booted up, like after a power cut, then the first thing it requires to function is at least 6 hours of EPG information. It looks for this data on the Default transponder frequency of 11778. this frequency can be poor in Spain, and therefore the receiver will not be able to find the information is required and therefore will not work - giving the message "No satellite Signal is Being Received". Changing the default transponder to another frequency (i use 12129) allow the receiver to get the information it requires to function. No matter what people tell you changing this default transponder does not increase how long channels are available. It is only used to “assist” the receiver to boot up. It is normal for the Default Transponder to revert back to 11778 once the receiver is functioning.
See the link in the menu on the left hand side of the screen to help reset your sky digibox.

Auto Standby
Sky has been deploying new receiver software, and incorporated in to this is a new feature designed to help save energy when the Sky receiver is not being used. If the box hasn't been used for a period of two hours after 11pm, or for four hours during the day time, an ‘Auto Standby' message will pop up on screen for three minutes. If there's no further use the box will go into Standby mode automatically, until the user turns it back on. This can be an issue if you are using a VCR to record things from the Sky receivers as when the receiver goes into Autostandby mode you will record a blank (or blue!) screen if the box has shut down.... You can turn it off by using the option in Services (Sky+ Setup for + and HD users!)

Electronic Programme Guide (EPGs)
Sky's Electronic Programme Guide is used on Sky receivers. Although all the frequencies used by Sky transmit limited EPG information, the main EPG data is transmitted on one frequency - 11778. You may notice that this frequency is also the main Default Transponder - and the same frequency that is measured in the Sky receivers Signal Test screen. This frequency's reception varies greatly during the day and may not be available 24/7 - especially during the afternoon, and also certain Sky receivers really do not like this frequency. Hence why you may only get a limited (6 hours or so, EPG information in the EPG.
The Freesat EPG is transmitted from a different frequency to Sky (in fact it is on a different satellite!), whose reception is widely available over Europe - hence why you do not have to change the Freesat receiver "default transponder". It was the fact that the Freesat EPG would be easily available over Europe on a small dish that lead many, including installers, into thinking that all channels on Freesat would be available all over Europe in a small dish. Where as in fact both Sky and Freesat EPGs point to the same frequencies for the channels they use (apart from FIVE!)
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BBC Satellite Television Channel Reception Costa Blanca Spain

BBC Satellite Television Channels are transmitted from two satellites in the same "constellation". On both satellites they are available for free, with no Sky viewing card required. They are classed as free to air channels.
The BBC channels are split between two satellites, one has a vey strong signal for the Costa Blanca, and the other has a weak signal.
The channels on the stronger signal satellite include BBC News, BBC Parliament, the BBC Sports Interactive streams, BBC Radio 1,2,3,4 and many other radio stations. This signal can be easily received on an 80cm satellite dish around the majority of Europe., and why you can receive them even when you have lost the main BBC1 channels.
On the weaker satellite, Astra 2D, there are two "beams", vertical and horizontal. The channels on the vertical frequencies tend to be much stronger than those on the horizontal frequencies . Most of the BBC1 regions (apart from BBC1 London) tend to be on the stronger vertical frequencies . BBC2, Cbeebies, CBBC, BBC Three and BBC Four are all on the weaker horizontal frequencies. Hence why you can get BBC1 Channel Islands for more hours during the day than BBC2!
Reception of the frequencies on Astra 2D are the ones that require a "big dish".

The BBC channels are located on several frequencies.

10773 H 22000 5/6
BBC One LondonBBC Two EnglandBBC Four (20-04)CBBC (08-20)CBeebies UK (07-20)BBC Three (20-05)BBC One Northern Ireland

10778 V 22000 5/6
BBC One West MidlandsBBC One North WestBBC One East Yorkshire & LincolnshireBBC One Yorkshire & North MidlandsBBC One East MidlandsBBC One East

10803 H 22000 5/6
BBC One WalesBBC Two WalesBBC One ScotlandBBC Two ScotlandBBC Two Northern IrelandBBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

10818 V 22000 5/6
BBC One WestBBC One South EastBBC One SouthBBC One South WestBBC One North East & CumbriaBBC One Oxford

10847 V 22000 5/6
BBC One CambridgeBBC One Channel IslandsBBC HD UK

11954 H 27500 2/3
BBC NewsBBC ParliamentBBC AlbaBBC Radio 1BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 LWBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio WalesBBC Radio UlsterBBC Asian NetworkBBC World Service UKBBC Radio CymruBBC 1XtraBBC 6 MusicBBC Radio 7BBC Radio nan GaidhealBBC London 94.9 FM

12441 V 27500 2/3
BBC Interactive Streams

(from http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/bbc_satellite_tv_costa_blanca_spain.htm)

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