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Freeview 'overtakes Sky Digital' Freeview 'overtakes Sky Digital'
(about 2 hours later)
Freeview is now the most popular way to watch multi-channel TV in the UK, according to the digital service.Freeview is now the most popular way to watch multi-channel TV in the UK, according to the digital service.
Freeview is now used in 11 million UK homes, the company estimates. Freeview said 8.2 million UK homes now received the service on their main TV sets, based on figures up to March.
Its biggest rival, Sky Digital, has 8.4 million subscribers but this also includes the Republic of Ireland. Freeview is not available there. Its biggest rival, Sky, had almost eight million subscribers at the end of 2006, while cable broadcaster Virgin Media had three million customers.
A Sky spokesman said that during the most recent quarter, the company had attracted the highest number of new customers in six years. Freeview, which offers digital TV via an aerial for a one-off initial fee, has been available for five years.
He added that fears there would not be enough room for both providers in the market had not been realised. Sky Digital is a satellite service that offers more channels for a monthly subscription.
Rival services A Sky spokesman said it attracted more new customers at the end of 2006 than any other time since Freeview launched in 2002.
Freeview, which offers viewers TV via an aerial for a one-off initial fee, launched in October 2002. Sky Digital is a satellite pay monthly service but it offers more channels. Freeview has also announced the launch of Freeview Playback, a digital recorder intended to replace video and DVD recorders.
Cable provider Virgin Media has about 5 million customers for its TV services. Sky's version, Sky+ is already in two million households. Freeview said its Playback boxes could be in more than 10 million homes by 2012.
Freeview has also announced the launch of Freeview Playback, a digital recorder intended to replace video recorders which will become defunct when the analogue signal is switched off in 2012.
Its rival SkyPlus is already in 2 million households.
Freeview said its Playback service could be in over 10 million homes by 2012.