Free-to-view
Free-to-view is a term used for audiovisual transmissions that are provided free without any form of continual subscription. It differs from free-to-air in that the program is encrypted.
Free-to-view vs. free-to-air
The free-to-view system contrasts with free-to-air, in which signals are transmitted in the clear, without encryption, and can be received by anyone with a suitable receiving dish antenna and DVB-compliant receiver. Free-to-view services are broadcast encrypted and can only be viewed with reception equipment that includes a suitable conditional-access module and viewing card, in the same way as a pay-TV satellite service. However, the FTV service viewing card is not subject to a continuing subscription payment for viewing the service's channels and may be available for a regular fee, a one-off payment or even for free.Services which charge a regular fee for reception can still be considered free-to-view, and not pay-TV if the fee is not for the programming content but for the delivery. For example, the HD+ service in Germany, which broadcasts HD versions of channels which are also available free-to-air in standard definition, defended its service fee saying it "is related to the reception of the offer and not to specific content, parts or packages of the offer".
Commercial restrictions and targeting
The free-to-view system allows for restricting access based on location of the viewer. For example, in the UK prior to the launch of Astra 2D, UK channels broadcasting from the Astra 28.2°E satellites used a wide beam and could be received across Europe on small dishes. Those channels which were non-subscription but aimed at the UK only, or restricted from broadcasting outside the UK by way of programme rights or governance, were broadcast encrypted using Videoguard with viewing cards made available to UK residents only.The launch of Astra 2D with a broadcast beam narrowly aimed only at the UK and Ireland enabled UK channels to switch from broadcasting free-to-view to free-to-air, while maintaining their UK exclusivity. The decline of UK free-to-view in favour of narrow-beamed free-to-air has been gradual:
- The BBC's eight digital channels were encrypted under the scheme from their launch on digital satellite until 14 July 2003, when they became free-to-air.
- Shortly after this, ITV stated its intentions to go free-to-air eventually, and launched their newest channel, ITV3, in the clear on 1 November 2004.
- This was followed up by ITV moving its Men & Motors channel to FTA in July 2005.
- This gradual conversion was completed on 1 November 2005, with ITV1 and ITV2 going FTA. ITV's latest channel, ITV4, was launched at the same time, also as a free-to-air service. All the BBC and ITV channels at this time could be viewed FTA without any subscription or purchase from Sky.
- However, in June 2008, some ITV regional channels were encrypted again due to one of their narrow beam transponder agreements ending.
- In April, 2011, high definition Channel 4 HD moved from being a free-to-view channel to a free-to-air channel.
- 1 December 2011, 5USA, 5USA+1, 5* and 5*+1 became free-to-air after moving to Astra 1N.
- 6 June 2012, Pick TV and Pick TV +1 became free-to-air.
- During October 2012, the final free-to-view regions of ITV1, ITV1 +1 and ITV1 HD became free-to-air.
- 25 March 2013, Viva went free-to-air.
- 28 October 2013, Channel 5 HD switched from free-to-view became a subscription channel on the Sky digital satellite platform and is no longer a channel.
- LFC TV switched from free-to-view to Sky subscription only.
- 7 February 2017, 4Music became free-to-air, although it reverted to being free-to-view on 12 December 2018, but later became free-to-air again on 1 February 2022.
Free-to-view networks
- Freesat from Sky
- HD+
- Viewer Access Satellite Television
- Fransat
- Tivùsat
- TNTSAT
- Tricolor TV
- SAT HD Regional
- Nova Parabólica
- MagicTV
- TDT Complementar