NHS Direct has launched on Freeview

NHS Direct – the new Interactive service – has launched on Freeview. After the placeholder message appearing on Sky Text’s homepage on Freeview a short while back, it has now officially launched. Just go to the Sky Text channel on Freeview and press blue to access NHS Direct.

Three out of four “now watch digital television”

Ofcom has published a report, which reveals that three out of four households now watch digital television. It says 9.3 million houses in the UK have DTT on at least one TV. Sales for boxes have skyrocketed and continue to do so. This is now even more the case as people are snapping up set top boxes for Christmas. The report also details increases in Cable and Satellite subscriptions.

The report is available here.

Heart radio station launched on channel 728

Heart (the radio station) has now officially launched on Freeview on channel number 728. The channel is regionalised, meaning you will get the London feed if you live in London, and either East Midlands or West Midlands feeds if you live there.

NHS Direct coming to Sky Text on Freeview soon

There is a new message on the Sky Text channel’s MHEG screen on Freeview stating Sky Text is coming soon to their service.

NHS Direct was once thought to be launching on a channel on its own as an MHEG service, but it now seems it will launch as an additional MHEG service on Sky Text’s EPG slot.

It will be launching in 2007. More news as we get it.

BBC to trial on-demand content on Freeview

The BBC are to trial a new on-demand idea with 300 Digital Terrestrial viewers across London. This will be a very similar idea to Top Up TV Anytime. The people involved with the trial will receive a PVR box – which automatically downloads 50 hours worth of BBC programming every week – and allows for 50 hours worth of additional programmes, which can be recorded to it from any Freeview channel. It is unknown whether this is related to the recent “hidden” BBC tests (using channel 302 bandwidth) – which were video streams showing a menu-based system indicating choices of programmes. More news as we get it.

Top Up TV Promo feed is back

The Top Up TV Promo channel feed is now back on air. The channel returned a while back, but the video is now showing on the channel – with Craig Doyle presenting. The video is shown on a loop.

Setanta Sports on Top Up TV in 2007 – Register now

It’s now possible to register for the 2007 season on Setanta Sports on Top Up TV. When you register, you will receive information from the official Top Up TV website nearer the date.

Setanta Sports in 2007 will offer;

- 46 live Premiership matches
- US PGA Tour golf
- 60 SPL football matches
- European football

To register for official news from the Top Up TV website, go to http://www.topuptv.com/setantasports.htm

Radio Music Shop has launched (Updated 9th Dec)

New radio station Radio Music Shop has now launched. It is an interactive radio station – which means you decide the music, by phoning up and requesting songs. Radio Music Shop can be found on channel number 729 on Freeview.

More information – www.radiomusicshop.net