Aerial Company

Freeview is a free digital TV service.

To get Freeview there is a one-off payment for the digital box or digital TV, no monthly subscription. Standard digital boxes start from around £25. Freeview+ Digital TV recorders start from around £80. Integrated digital TVs (iDTV), that have Freeview built-in, are available from around £100 to £3,500. There is no subscription cost.

You will need a digital box or digital TV recorder which will work with your existing TV. Or alternatively you can get an iDTV which has Freeview already built in.

Freeview+, Freeview's digital TV recorder, allows you to record one channel whilst watching another, pause live TV and record your favourite programmes at the touch of a button

You connect your digital box to your existing TV and rooftop aerial. Or just connect the digital TV direct to your rooftop aerial. In some cases your aerial may need upgrading.

Freesat is a digital satellite service, brought to you by the BBC and ITV.

To get freesat, there is a one-off payment for a digital box or HD digital box from£150 to £200. If your home does not already have a working satellite dish, installation of a new satellite dish will cost approximately £100. There is no subscription and no contract.

A freesat digital box and a fully installed satellite dish. To watch TV in HD you will need a freesat HD digital box connected to an HD Ready TV or a TV with freesat HD built in.

If you have a working satellite dish on your home you may be able to self-install your freesat equipment. If not, freesat can be installed by a freesat approved installers (who meet required industry standards). Installation, if required, can be arranged with your retailer when you buy your equipment.

If there is already a satellite dish on your home, you may be able to use it to receive freesat - check with your freesat retailer first. If your existing satellite dish is still under warranty (typically 12 months) connecting a freesat digital box to your existing equipment is likely to void your existing warranty.

More than 100 digital TV channels, including entertainment, movies, news, lifestyle and subscription-free HD from the BBC and ITV.

Yes, freesat offers a subscription-free HD service. To watch TV in HD you will need a freesat HD digital box connected to an HD Ready TV or a TV with freesat HD built in.

Sky TV is a digital TV service through a satellite dish. Sky TV also offers customers a broadband and telephony service when they buy a TV package.

Sky TV is a subscription service. Packages range from £17 to £47 a month. A minimum 12 month contract is required. Standard installation costs from £50. Non standard costs from £149.

A Sky digital box and minidish.

Sky TV is installed and set up by an engineer. The equipment is then yours to keep.

Depending on which package you choose you can get up to 160 digital TV channels plus more than 230 free-to-air channels.

Yes, Sky offer an HD service. To get this you will need an HD ready TV and a Sky+ HD box, which has all the Sky+features with double the storage capacity of a standard Sky+ box. HD Mix is required for HD viewing (£10 a month).

The digital TV switchover is Government policy. It will mean that almost everyone will be able to receive digital TV through an aerial (Freeview).

Digital TV also uses less broadcast space which means that after switchover, there will be more room for new services such as wireless broadband, local TV and High Definition Television (HDTV).

To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TVs to digital before your area's switchover date.

When your home switches to digital will depend on where you live in the UK. The switchover happens TV region by TV region, transmitter by transmitter.