PC cards capable of receiving digital satellite TV can pick up many programmes transmitted under the Freesat banner, the organisation admitted at the launch of its services today.

But current models will not be able to receive HD broadcasts, the Freesat electronic programme guide or programme information and there is no guarantee that they will be able to use planned rich interactive services, said commercial development director Richard Lindsay-Davis.

"It is very important for consumers to realise this and that they look for the Freesat logo when they buy equipment," he said.

Last month a claim by Hauppauge that its Nova-S USB2 kit could receive Freesat broadcasts prompted a cryptic denial that appeared to suggest that only authorised equipment would work.

But Freesat does not do any broadcasting itself – it manages the services and ensures that receivers and installation meets its standards. Broadcasts, which include radio, will be available across 98 percent of the UK including many areas not covered, or poorly covered, by Freeview.

Most of the broadcasts use open standards like DVB-S and Mpeg and the specifications for Freesat-specific technology is licensed to manufacturers.

Lindsay-Davis said Freesat is in talks with manufacturers of TV cards and dongles with a view to having authorised products on the market within a few months.
Receivers start at £49, or around £120 for ones capable of receiving HD. All have an

Ethernet port at the back to enable them for future interactive and IPTV services over a broadband link. You may also need an aerial, though existing Sky or Astra models may work.

Two hundred Freesat channels are expected to be available by the end of the year. At launch there are 80. These include:

Entertainment (101-199)
BBC One (101)
BBC Two (102)
ITV1 (103)
C4 / S4C in Wales (104)
BBC Three (106)
BBC Four (107)
BBC HD (108)
ITV2 (113)
ITV3 (115) ITV3+1 (116)
ITV4 (117)
S4C Digidol / C4 in Wales (120) E4 (122)
More4 (124)
Zone Romantica (135)
Zone Thriller (137)

News and Sport (200-299)
BBC News (200)
BBC Parliament (201)
S4C2 (202)
Al-Jazeera English (203)
Euronews (204)

Movies (300-399)
Film4 (300)
True Movies (302)
True Movies2 (303)
Movies4Men (304)
Movies4Men2 (306)

Radio (700-799)
BBC Radio 1 (700)
1Xtra BBC (701)
BBC Radio 2 (702)
BBC Radio 3 (703)
BBC Radio 4 FM (704)
BBC Radio 4 LW (705)
BBC Radio Five Live (706)
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra (707)
BBC 6 Music (708)
BBC 7 (709)
BBC Asian Network (710)
BBC World Service (711)
BBC Radio Scotland (712)
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal (713)
BBC Radio Wales (714)
BBC Radio Cymru (715)
BBC Radio Ulster (716)
BBC London 94.9 (718)

Shopping (800-849)
QVC (800)
Price Drop TV (801)
Bid TV (802)
Pitch TV (803)
JML Lifestyle (810)

Lifestyle
Overseas Property Channel (411)
Men and Motors (450)
Music (500-599)
Chartshow TV (500)
The Vault (501)
Scuzz (502)
Bubble Hits (503)
B4U Music (504)
Children (600-649)
CBBC (600)
CBeebies (601)
CiTV (602)
POP (603)
POPGirl (604)
Tiny POP(605)

Special Interest (650-699)
Teachers TV (650)

Interactive (900-949)
BBCi

Regional (950-999) also accessible via BBC One/BBC Two
BBC One London (950)
BBC One Channel Islands (951)
BBC One East (W) (954)
BBC One Northern Ireland (957)
BBC One Scotland (960) BBC One Wales (964) BBC Two England (968)
BBC Two Northern Ireland (969)
BBC Two Scotland (970) BBC Two Wales (971)

ITV regionals accessed via ITV1 London (not listed separately)
Ulster
STV Scottish East STV Scottish West ITV1 Wales
ITV1 Border England ITV1 Central West ITV1 Granada
ITV1 Anglia East Channel TV
STV Grampian North