Launched in 2008 by the BBC and ITV, Freesat allows viewers outside Freeview’s coverage footprint to enjoy non-subscription TV including all the UKs PSB channels and popular digital-only channels such as Film4.
In 2012 the platform launched a broadband capable box giving access to on demand players from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, such “Freetime” boxes are claimed to account for 40% of all Freesat set-top box sales.
It has also launched a smartphone app which allows users to record programmes when away from the home.
Emma Scott, Freesat’s Managing Director, commented: “Freesat’s strong results in Q4 demonstrate the continued appeal of high quality TV without expensive contracts. With a Freetime box viewers are able to access over 200 TV and radio channels for free as well as being able to roll back the TV guide to access programmes from the past seven days, ensuring that they don’t miss any of their favourite shows.
“This quarter we are particularly proud of the success of the Freetime catch-up box which has been extremely popular with new users and allows even more viewers to benefit from Freesat’s market-leading Freetime technology. We’re pleased to say that our strong momentum has continued into the New Year with continued growth in household penetration and the successful launch of the Freesat mobile app.”