Spain to get three more HD TV channels on TDT.

Spain to get three more HD TV channels on TDT.

Spain’s Council of Ministers has announced a public tender for the allocation of six state wide DTT licences.

http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2015/04/spain-to-get-three-more-hd-tv-channels-on-tdt/

Spanish TV channels - changing freqencies

Spanish TV channels - changing freqencies

If you have lost your TDT Spanish TV channels, then this may be due to the fact that many of them have moved to new frequencies! And the old frequencies have been switched off (or will be by tomorrow!)

This is due to the fact that the range of frequencies they used to be transmitted from has to be cleared to make way for mobile 3g and 4g services.

For most people, simply performing a "rescan" on your TDT receiver or TV should bring in the Spanish TV channels on their new frequencies.

If it does not, then maybe you are one of the few unlucky ones who are in a community who has not yet updated the systems at the "head end".

http://www.satandpcguy.com/Site/tdt_spanish_digital_terrestrial_freeview_spain.php

Changes to TDT - Spanish Digital Television - Changes to TV in Spain

Changes to TDT - Spanish Digital Television - Changes to TV in Spain

TDT - Television Digital Terrestrial - is broadcast through waves, occupying a part of the frequency spectrum. This spectrum is shared by TV, radio, telephone and other communications.

So far TV has been using those between 21 and 69 channels.

However, in 2007 the European Commission agreed to allocate part of the spectrum occupied by television to mobile phones of the latest generation, known as 4G. In accordance with the European Directive, the Spanish Government stated that before January 1, 2015 channels 61 to 69, ie, the last 9 in the band used so far, will become available for the 4G.

This is what is called Digital Dividend.

TDT - Nine Spanish TV channels to close in May 2014

A total of nine Terrestrial Digital Television channels in Spain are set to close down by May 6th 2014.
This is a result of a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that cancelled out the concession of additional channels to existing broadcasters on the grounds that the concession was made without a public bid and that new operators were therefore deprived of a chance to join the market.
Channels closing down include:

• La Sexta 3. Movie-based channels with a March audience share of 1.6 percent.
• Xplora. Hardcore Pawn, in its 10th season, is the most popular program.
• Nitro. Channel airs shows such as Law And Order and The A Team.
• La Siete. Specializes in Latin American soaps.
• Nueve. Re-runs of the most successful shows aired on Telecinco and Cuatro.
• Net TV. Teleshopping.
• Veo TV.

New TDT HD Channel - TDP HD - Teledeporte HD

The Spanish national broadcaster RTVE have launched a new HD channel on TDT.

Teledeporte HD has been launched this December.

Teledeporte is the TVE channel dedicated to sport, showing many live sports including football, cycling and Olympics.

Teledeporte HD is a simulcast of the existing Teledeporte channel.

Teledeporte HD becomes the second RTVE HD channel, after TVE HD.

Teledeporte HD can be found on the same frequency as Teledeporte and TVE HD - in many areas this is "Multiplex 22" - frequency 482 MHz.

TDT is the Spanish digital TV system available via a TV aerial. Essentially it is the Spanish version of the UKs Freeview (UK Freeview is not available in Spain!)

Marca TV stops broadcasting on TDT

Marca TV ceased broadcasting yesterday - 31st July 2013. Its slot on TDT has been taken by a shopping channel.

More information: http://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/08/marca-tv-stops-broadcasting-on-tdt/

Important changes to TDT "Spanish Freeview" frequencies - Teledeporte

These changes affect most Spanish TV reception across Spain and is part of Phase 2 of the digital switch over in Spain.

All channels on frequency / multiplex 66 have been moved and transferred over to new frequencies.

This has affected the following Spanish digital TV channels:

Teledeporte
Intereconomía
Veo7 TV

A rescan on your TDT set top box will need to be performed to make sure you can continue to receive these Spanish TV channels.

In some cases a call for a TV engineer / TV installer will be required, as your existing system may not be able to receive Teledeportes new frequency. This is especially true for community TV systems, where individual amplifier modules are installed.


Phase 2 of Spain’s digital switch over is aimed to free up the digital TV frequency spectrum between from 62 to 69. This is so these frequencies can be sold off to other telecoms companies, like mobile phone operators.

It is also worth noting that Teledeporte is now labelled as TDP.


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CNN+ on TDT closed down and no longer available

On December 30th 2011, CNN+, the Spanish version of the worldwide CNN News channels ceased transmissions yesterday.

On TDT in Spain, it has been replaced by a Telecinco channels, currently showing Gran Hermano - Spanish Big Brother!

This is the result of agreements bvetween Time Warner (CNN owners), Prisa and Mediaset, the latter two owning an operating the TDT slot where CNN+ was.



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The Simpsons in HD on Antena 3 HD on Spanish Digital TV

Antena 3 has announced that the new season of the Simpsons, wil be broadcast in 16:9 widescreen format and native HD.

This Tuesday September 28 Antena 3 will launch its new channel, a simulcast of the Antean 3 channel in HD

This announcement was made on the same day that Telecinco HD was announced as the first private channel to adopt this format. In some areas Telecinco HD is already available.

For more information please visit:

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WWE wrestling on Spanish TDT TV

Marca TV makes a move with WWE wrestling.

With millions of fans around the world Marca Tv, on SPainish TDT Digital TV, will broadcast every weekend the best fights of the two WWE brands, Smackdown and Raw.

In the nineties, a group of titans, men of colossal strength able to knock down on the mat to anyone who tried to shade them in a ring, raided Spanish television willing to become heroes of the smallest of the house. With them, our country reached the fever for the American wrestling, and of one of the world's largest companies dedicated to this sporting event: WWF (now known as WWE).

Now, far from that wrestling craze is gone, Marca TV will offer the best of what is, at this time, the largest and most important company in the world of wrestling: WWE.

Beginning today and every Friday at 00:00 pm and Saturdays at 22:30 hours, Marca Tv on TDT will broadcast the WWE brand's flagship programmes: Smackdown and Raw.

One of the most followed sporting events in the U.S., viewers and fans of wrestling will be delighted with the in ring moves of old and new stars like The Undertaker, Triple H, Kane, Randy Orton , John Cena, Rey Mysterio, The Miz, John Morrison, Edge, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Big Show, Christian, CM Punk, Jack Swagger or MVP, in addition to the large and beautiful divas of the sport sich as Michelle McCool, Layla, Melina, Alicia Fox, Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly, Eve and Maryse.

For more information please visit:

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GOL TV announce LIVE UK Premier Legaue Football Matches

TDT Pay channel GOL TV announce LIVE UK Premier Legaue Football Matches

A spectacular weekend GOL TV with th best in LIVE and delayed coverage of the best football leagues in the world.

Premier League, French League, Portuguese League, German Cup, Scottish League Belgian League and complete the program on Saturday, Sunday and Monday

The best international competitions have started the 2010/2011 season and because of this, GOL TV will offer a spectacular weekend with eight games live, and the start of the Premier League as a great starter.

Throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the best games of the Premier League, French League, Portuguese League, German Cup, Scottish League Belgian League and become part of the programming of GOL T.

On Saturday, the day of live Premier League kicks off with, at 13:45, exclusively, with Tottenham vs Manchester City.
The narrator will Lluís Izquierdo and commentator, Paul Giblin.

Then GOL TV will, at 16:00, exclusively LIVE, the Aston Villa vs. West Ham.

The narrator will be Miguel Angel Roman and commentator, Duncan McMath.

SATURDAY 14 AUGUST

PREMIER LEAGUE: TOTTENHAM vs. MANCHESTER CITY (13:45)

PREMIER LEAGUE: ASTON VILLA vs. WEST HAM (16:00)

FRENCH LEAGUE: Valenciennes vs. OLYMPIQUE DE MARSELLA (19:00)

PORTUGUESE LIGA: Pacos de Ferreira vs. SPORTING (22:15)

SCOTTISH LEAGUE: INVERNESS vs. CELTIC (01:00)

BELGIAN LEAGUE: STANDARD vs. LOKEREN (02:50)


MONDAY 16 AUGUST

PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL vs. ARSENAL (16:15)

PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER UNITED vs. NEWCASTLE (21:00)



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Sony SET TV on TDT gone - replaced by AXN

Sony Entertainment TV, or SET, has been replaced by AXN on Spains TDT service.

If you try to view SET on TDT then you will either get a Channel Scrambled message, or just a blank screen.

The Sony SET channel has been replaced by AXN.

This is a subscription only channel on TDT.

You need a viewing card and subscription to view AXN.

AXN shows many USA imported programmes:
Andromeda, E.R., The Collector, Fastlane, F/X: The Series, Highlander, Homicide: Life on the Street, Kidnapped, MacGyver, Michael Hayes, Mutant X, New York Undercover, Nash Bridges, Odyssey 5, Police Rescue, Quantum Leap, Relic Hunter, Criminal Minds, Sliders, Third Watch, The Shield, Ghost Whisperer, Fear Itself, Lost, FlashForward



More information on Sony SET on TDT being replaced HERE



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TDT Industry receives complaints about the reception of TDT

TDT Industry receives complaints about the reception of TDT

Since the analogue TV 'off' on 30 March, the Ministry of Industry has received over 1,760 inquiries from people related issues reception of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT / TDT) until 20 April.

In total, during this period of time, Industry received 86 985 calls, of which 47 739 were treated by agents. Of that number, 88.1% were questions about the process and technology, 8.2% of calls were associated with receiving TDT signals and 3.7% of signal problems.

Most calls (42 052) had to do with questions about general issues, while the rest were from people who are unable to see TDT correctly on TV because they lacked a proper decoder or, if they had, do not know how to use it or the antenna of their building was not ready for DTT (3914) or that had trouble receiving the signal (1760).

According to the latest figures provided by industry in March, at 98.24% of the population to reach the coverage of DTT. However, in the month that has elapsed, incidents have been detected in some relays that still prevent some people living in areas able to watch TV coverage.



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English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

English Satellite TV Costa Blanca Spain

Many of the British TV channels available in the UK are also available in Spain. Many of them like BBC and ITV are available for free with no monthly subscription. And with the likes of Sky digiboxes and Freesat receivers, choosing programmes to watch is simple with their full 7 day programme guides.

Many English satellite TV channels can be received using a small satellite dish, say about an 80cm dish. But, for the more mainstream UK TV channels like BBC TV and ITV, because the signal is weaker in Spain than in the UK, you need a fairly large satellite dish in order to catch that signal effectively.

This weaker satellite signal is because one of the four satellites providing the UK with satellite television is a narrow beamed satellite, meaning its signal is focused tightly on the UK. This is the Astra 2d satellite.

The farther away from the UK you go, the weaker the strength of this satellites signal. In order to ensure you can receive a good signal where you are a bigger satellite dish is required.

The size of the satellite dish you need as part of your UK satellite television installation will depend on the area of Spain in which you live. For most of southern Spain, such as the Costa del Sol and the Almeria areas, a 1.2-1.3 metre dish should be sufficient. In other parts of the Spain, like the Costa Blanca - Alicante to Valencia regions - you'll need a larger dish to get Sky TV in Spain, with up to 1.8 or 2.4 metre dishes being needed to be installed for UK satelite TV.

English language channels are not only restricted to UK TV channels. FOr many years Spanish TV has operated a DUAL sound system. This means that on some UK nd USA movies, the movie is transmited in both Spanish and in English. This has now been impliemnted by the Spansih digital TV system - TDT. For many of the UK and USA imported TV programmes, just one press of a button on a remote control can change the Spanish dubbed language in to English language.



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Will my UK TV work in Spain?

Will my UK TV work in Spain?

The simple answer is yes.

In many cases, most TVs bought in the UK will work in Spain.


They will work with most audio visual equipment, such as satellite receivers and DVD players that are connected to the TV via a SCART or HDMI cable.

However, if you try to connect a UK TV directly into the Spanish analogue terrestrial (ie via an aerial), you may be able to receive a perfect picture, but no sound. This is because many older UK TV sets are made to the PAL I standard, and not the PAL BG standard used by Spain.

Most modern TV sets are PAL multi standard and work on all broadcasts.

Of course, this should not be an issue in a few months time anyway when the Spanish analogue TV signals are switched off, and replaced with digital signals and channels.

Many of the new modern TV set come with a built in digital tuner, and should be compatible with the Spanish digital TV service, Television Digital Terrestrial (TDT).

However, UK TV sets with "Freeview" built in may not work 100% correctly.

Firstly, and most obviously, as Freeview is not available in Spain, then you will not be able to use your Freeview TV in Spain to receive BBC and ITV and other UK TV channels, via a TV aerial (you will have to rely on a satellite dish and receiver for this!).

Secondly, many Freeview receivers may not be able to recognise all the frequencies used by TDT. Spain TDT used a frequency / channel number of 69, for Antenne 3, Neox, Nova, but as this frequency / channel is not allocated for use in the UK, and so some Freeview tuners may not be able to scan for this particular TDT frequency.

Thirdly, many Freeview tuners are configured for the UK. This means that they will normally be able to look for programme soundtracks offering in English, Gaelic or Welsh. This can be a problem in Spain, as the Spanish broadcasters use a variety of audio flag, which allow you to view certain imported films and programmes in their original language - like English. Unfortunately many of these flags, such as DOS, MUL, VO, are not able to be selected on the Freeview receivers, and so you may not be able to view these programmes on TDT in their original (English) audio.

TVs with generic ie non Freeview, tuners, should be compatiable with the Spains TDT system.
 
 
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UK Digital Satellite TV (BBC Sky Freesat) and Digital Terrestrial (TDT ie Freeview) Installations for the Costa Blanca and Costa Azahar and Valencia area of Spain

Spanish TV Analogue Switch off - 31 December 2009

Phase 2 of Spains analogue TV Services switchoff will happen on the 31st December 2009.

Most of Spain is covered by Phase 2, with some areas alrdady being a digital only area from earlier this year, and the remaining areas having their analogue services switched off by April 2010.

If you wish to continue receiving Spanish TV, then you will need to go DIGITAL.

The Spanish Digital Terrestrial TV System is TDT - Television Digital Terrestre.

You can receive around 20 to 30 Spanish channels, all in digital, all in digital quality (no snowey effects like the old analogue system), and on many of the channels, you can switch the programmes audio into the programmes original versions - in many cases this is English. Some more local stations wil remain on analogue for the foreseeable future, until there is enough frequency space for them.

TDT is the equivilent of the UKs Freeview service - ie digital TV via a TV aerial.

You will require an TV aerial / antennae configured for digital tv signal, an amplifer and power supply, and a digital terrestrial tuner (either a set top box or a TV with a digital tuner built in).

Most apartment and communties have already made the switch, however many are still yet to be converted....and some Spanish installers are expecting to be busy at the end of December and beginning of January, as people are left with no TV over the Festive period.

The switch off is part of the European Wide switch from old inefficient and poor quality analogue systems. (1 analogue frequency can carry only 1 channel...one digital frequency can carry about 6 high quality digital channels!)


So to ensure your continous viewing of Spanish TV.....Go Digital....

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Digital Satellite (BBC Sky Freesat) and Digital Terrestrial (TDT ie Freeview) Installations for the COsta Blanca and Costa Azahar and Valencia area of Spain

Will a UK Freeview digibox work in spain?

Will a UK Freeview digibox work in spain?

Many UK Freeview boxes do work in Spain, but there are a few issues and they may not work 100%

Obviously the first thing is that a UK Freeview box will not be able to receive the UK Freeview channels whewn used in Spain, as the nearest transmitter of Freeview is based on Cornwall! It will be able to be used to receive the Spansih Digital television service - TDT.

Secondly, you must ensure the box can scan frequency 69 – a frequency that is not used in the UK but it is in Spain for a few channels, including GOLTV.

Thirdly one of the benefits of the TDT Spain system is the ability to change the audio of many UK and USA programmes from Spanish into their original English soundtrack. Some UK boxes may not be able to change programmes into their original language as some UK boxes are programmed to look for English, Welsh and Gaelic language “tags”. In Spain they use different language tags like “Dos” or “VO” (Version Original), or “Multi” or “Und”, tags that UK Freeview boxes may not be able to recognise or use.

Two TDT channels, SET and Disney do use the tags "English", which will be recognised by UK Freeview receivers.

These points refer to Freeview digiboxes, but the same will also apply to TVs with builtin Freeview receviers.

Ideally a generic digital television receiver would be preferable.


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TDT and Pay TDT (Freeview) TV in Spain

Television in Spain is changing.
No longer do you have to put up with six or seven grainy, unwatchable TV channels.
Digital Terrestrial Television (TDT) is here, or rather has been here for a few years now.
Yu can received around 30 digital Spanish television channels for free - all the main Spanish channels and a load more - including a dedicated sports channel.

But also, there is a Pay TDT channel - GOLTV - a dedicated football channel, showing league and cup football from around the world, including UK Premiership football, La Liga and Champions League.
To access this pay TDT channels, you will require a viewing card from the broadcsaters, and a digital terrestrial receiver capable of reading the vewing card. The monthly subscription is 15€.

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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.

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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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