[Community Television] Freeview hits 4 million

[Michelle McGuire]

Freeview hits 4 million

Leigh Holmwood

17 June 2004 07:50

Digital terrestrial platform Freeview is now in 4 million households as 
sales of set-top boxes show no sign of slowing.

The milestone, reached before its second birthday in October, means 
Freeview boxes have been selling at an average of 150,000 a month since 
31 March, when the figure stood at 3.5 million.

The demand is far outstripping sales of Sky boxes which were selling an 
average of 22,000 a month for the three months to 31 March – the latest 
figures released. Sky has 7.27 million subscribers.

Freeview chairman and BBC director of marketing and communications Andy 
Duncan said: "Freeview has exceeded everyone’s expectations. Reaching 4 
million homes in 20 months is a massive success and means that we are 
closer to achieving a fully digital Britain by 2010, something most 
people thought was impossible just two years ago."

Meanwhile, the BBC said it had registered the Freesat name as a trade 
mark as part of its plans to create a free-satellite proposition along 
the lines of Freeview.

Duncan said the BBC was in discussions with Sky and other potential 
partners over the project.

Source: broadcastnow.co.uk