What programming can I get on an IDTV?

IDTVs designed to receive over-the-air signals (i.e. through your existing roof-top aerial) get the Freeview service, which provides up to 30 digital TV and radio channels. These include all the BBC digital TV channels, a handful from BSkyB, and much else besides. For a full and up-to-date listing, see the Freeview site. An increasing number are also able to receive the Top Up TV pay-TV service, and this proportion is increasing as the schedule for IDTV over-the-air software upgrades rolls forward. See our DTT FAQ for more details on Top Up TV or click here to go to the Top Up TV site.

The small number of IDTVs (now virtually obsolete) which are designed to receive signals by satellite from a dish mounted on the outside of the house or apartment can receive either the Sky Digital subscription package (a Sky Digital viewing card is inserted into a slot on the IDTV) or free-to-air digital satellite programming.

Currently, there are no IDTVs on the market designed to receive digital cable signals, although a digital cable standard for IDTVs is being mooted at European level.