Freeview, the non-subscription digital television service, is now in 10 million homes making it the UK’s most popular form of digital TV.
Figures published yesterday (Tuesday) show that in the West Country, which completed its switch to digital TV in September, 80% of homes which had nor already converted to digital chose Freeview for their main set compared to 12% for Sky and 8% for Virgin.
Ilse Howling, Managing Director, Freeview said: “Becoming the main digital TV service in 10 million homes is a great way to end the year and a fabulous early Christmas present. Freeview is a British success story, and it is a testament to both the simplicity of the service and the hard work of the team that we have hit 10 million so soon.”
More than 1.8 million Freeview+ recorders have been sold since they launched in 2007 with sales expected to hit 2 million over Christmas.
Executives at the service are expecting next year’s roll-out of high definition (HD) Freeview services will help it chalk up another success.
Howling said: “we have bold plans for 2010, with the launch of Freeview HD and Freeview+HD, bringing high definition to millions of homes by the time of the World Cup.”