Not all Freeview channels are available from my transmitter
We’re occasionally asked why a person’s local TV transmitter does not show all of the Freeview channels. In most cases, we get this question from people in rural locations that are served by what’s known as a ‘relay transmitter’.
When the Digital Switchover got underway, the estimates were that over 98% of homes would be able to get the main TV channels via Freeview by the end of 2012. Only around 90% would be able to get all of the Freeview channels – in other words, not all of the Freeview channels will be available to everyone, especially those using a small relay transmitter.
What is a Relay Transmitter?
Unfortunately, not all Freeview channels are available everywhere in the UK, and the problem is worse in rural areas, as well as in areas with lots of hill, mountains or valleys.
Land-based TV transmitters need what’s known as “line of sight” between the TV transmitter and the TV aerial. If there’s something in the way, such as a mountain or a hill, or you live in a dip or a valley, then you may not be able to get a signal from the main TV transmitter.
In some areas, “relay transmitters” are installed, to provide service where it’s not possible to get a signal from the main TV transmitter.
During the Digital TV Switchover, priority was given to upgrading the larger transmitters first, meaning that some relay transmitters not upgraded that quickly, or could not be upgraded to show all of the Freeview channels.
Limitations of a Relay Transmitter
Old analogue relay transmitters used to broadcast BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. In many cases, when the relay was converted to a digital service, the relay transmitter could only be upgraded to carry the most-watched channels, as opposed to the entire range of Freeview TV and radio channels.
Many smaller relay transmitters only carry around 18 of the Freeview channels. These include BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as channels such as BBC Three, ITV2 and E4. This is because the relay transmitter would only be upgraded to support three of the multiplexes, known as the Public Service Broadcast multiplexes.
Although it would in theory be possible to upgrade a relay transmitter to get all of the Freeview channels, in many cases, it’s not cost-effective to replace the relay with a transmitter that can cope with all of the Freeview channels. The aim is to ensure that the main TV channels are provided (as before the switchover), plus the more popular digital channels.
Alternatives?
If your relay does not offer all of the Freeview channels, and you can’t get a signal from a transmitter that does offer more channels, then one option is to consider satellite TV. These get signals from orbiting satellites, and things like hills and mountains are generally less of a problem.
The Freesat service is available without subscription, or if you’re looking for more channels, in return for a monthly payment, there’s pay TV from Sky.
It’s all well and good saying it’s not cost effective upgrading relay transmitters to get all free view channals, but I pay the same TV licence fee as the man 5 miles down the road who does get all the free view channals, and don’t say my TV licence is for the BBC channals because even if I don’t want to watch the BBC, I still have to have a TV licence. I have to pay Virgin Media to watch the channal I don’t get on free view. Now does that sound fair to you??
I too would be disappointed if I couldn’t get all of the Freeview channels from my local relay transmitter. The best advice I can give you is to complain to the relay transmitter operator. Assuming others in your area are affected, then there may be strength in numbers when making your complaint.
Given the detailed information that DigitalUK have in relation to which addresses are on relay transmitters when you put your postcode in on their site, I think that licence fee payers in these areas should receive a discount proportional to the number of ‘free to air/free to view’ channels they are unable to receive. As has been said, if we pay equal amounts for the licence fee, we should get equal service.
I know it’s frustrating, but the licence fee is to fund the BBC. You should be able to get the BBC channels on a relay transmitter, and should not lose any channels that you you had on analogue – you should gain several more. The only real advice I can offer is to complain to your relay transmitter operator (or to the regulator) – ideally as a group.
Enforcer’s logic is flawed. Case in point: London hasn’t switched. My mum pays £145 for just 5 channels, and I pay the same for the 300 free-to-air channels I get on Sky. Analogue, Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin all offer very different channel packs, and the license is £145 for everyone, regardless of channel number. The common factor, is the BBC channels.
Is Enforcer really proposing that I pay 60 times more for my licence than my mum, because I get 60 times more channels? Or that she should only pay £2 as she only gets 5 of the 300 free channels?
What about people who can’t get a good signal because they have a naff aerial, or aren’t allowed a dish where they live… discount too?
As for Mark’s comments – Mate… there are lots of free channels that aren’t on Freeview, and weren’t on analogue. No-one’s forcing you to get Virgin to watch them. If you want more free channels, you have to pay for them, or get them free on Freesat, just like everyone else does.
Those on a relay get four times as many channels as they did before the switchover… for the same fee – and they want a discount. Come on!
You are full of nonsense. It’s not a fair system if everyone can’t not access the same for the same money. That is the definition of fair. Everyone gets the same under the same conditions, not one is at a disadvantage because of where they live just because someone somewhere doesn’t thinks those people are work the financial investment. Wonder what you’d say if you didn’t have access to all those Channels. D.H
It’s 2024! And still no channels.
Ever heard the phrase, “Something for nothing”, and “Captive market”? Well this is where we are going, folks. Every TV channel needs funding. Some get it from advertising, and some from the license fee. Sooner or later, we can all expect to have to pay a lot more for our licenses, because that is the agenda here. One day, we will rid ourselves of this word “free” which is meaningless. NOTHING is ever free. As for our local relay transmitter only having limited upgrade capability, the solution is simple, Increase its bandwidth. There is no possible reason why one person should have access to all the channels, yet someone else have only limited access. It is discriminatory.
Hi
In response to your advice ‘The only real advice I can offer is to complain to your relay transmitter operator (or to the regulator’) – How do I contact the relay transmitter operator? and how do I contact the regulator in order to complain – I live in Kendal Cumbria.
I live just outside Kendal, barely get any TV, or digital radio. It’s dreadful, especially as when I lived near Appleby I got loads.
It is now 2016 and I have just carried out a retune, as suggested by the automatic message on my TV. We live in an area, where up until the erection of the local relay, there was no reception at all, well pictures equivalent to the 1950s when you would struggle to work out if it was a person or a horse due to the snow. My signal strength and quality is spot on, yet we only receive 12 individual channels plus 6 (+1) options so (tongue in cheek)18 TV channels in total. As I understand it, the transmitters are run by the IBA, not BBC, yet all of the BBC channels are available. Is this just the legalised way to ensure that we must pay the full licence fee, or does the BBC have more control of the (Independent Broadcasting Authority) than we realise ?
You are doing well, we have a picture but it is so pixelated we cannot watch TV, despite retuning.
Minimal digital radio, and no FIBRE-OPTIC broadband. We are only 2 miles outside of Kendal
I can see the transmitter (Rosemarkie) but still not getting all advertised channels – ie Great Movies Christmas. Why?