Freeview equivalent

[ceh]

We have been trying to get the equivalent of Freeview channels on the tv in Portugal as at present we can only get the 4 terrestrial channels and it's not worth subscribing to Sky for the use it would get.

We bought a box like a freeview box at Easter for about 30 euros but still couldn't pick up any more channels. The tv was bought in portugal a couple of years back and is an LG - when a new aerial was installed at that time, the guy said that although that tv has built in freeview in the UK and Spain, it doesn't in portugal. I don't know if this has any bearing on the fact that the new box doesn't result in any more channels on the tv.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[logicbob]

I think you will find that you need a satellite dish in order to receive free-view in Portugal.

[laserblazer]

Freesat has been available in the Algarve with a 1.3m dish, giving most of the channels Freeview offers but you need to look at this viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24013&p=237886&hilit=astra#p237886

[EMM]

Freesat with the bulk of the popular UK channels for those of us in the Algarve will have gone by the year end if the new sat to be launched in July uses the new UK footprint. Sky is still an unknown quantity. Internet TV is in turmoil as the main broadcasters are trying to shut down those companies who steal their signals and then re broadcast them.
PT freeview equivalent will only get you 4 channels.
Best available option is one of the PT subsciption companes like Meo or Cabo.

Confused , you will be. There are still some out there who will happily take your money for new installations or internet subscriptions etc.

[laserblazer]

Typically, EMM's being a pessimistic. A lot of Freesat channels will disappear. The Channel 5 clan has already gone.However, there will be English speaking programmes available, maybe not Eastenders and Corrie. We have a separate dish that currently gets Nilesat, so F1 every week if you're not too worried about the German commentary.

[RichardHenshall]

We have been trying to get the equivalent of Freeview channels on the tv in Portugal as at present we can only get the 4 terrestrial channels and it's not worth subscribing to Sky for the use it would get.

We bought a box like a freeview box at Easter for about 30 euros but still couldn't pick up any more channels. The tv was bought in portugal a couple of years back and is an LG - when a new aerial was installed at that time, the guy said that although that tv has built in freeview in the UK and Spain, it doesn't in portugal. I don't know if this has any bearing on the fact that the new box doesn't result in any more channels on the tv.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

I assume you do mean Freeview (as in terrestrial digital television received through an aerial) rather that Freesat (by satellite). If so, I think there only are 4 or 5 channels available for free through an aerial. See http://tdt.telecom.pt/ for more info.

If you want a greater choice of Portuguese channels I think you will have to pay and can then access more channels through either cable or satellite, depending on your choice.

[EMM]

90% of the UK visitors, expats etc watch BBC , ITV and C4, E4 and C5 yes you may be left with a few reruns of cooking progs but not mutch else of real interest

[sunman]

90% of the UK visitors, expats etc watch BBC , ITV and C4, E4 and C5 yes you may be left with a few reruns of cooking progs but not mutch else of real interest

for a person that says he never mixes with Brit tourists or ex-pats you seem to have a good handle on what we all do

IF you are collecting research data can I declare that wife & I haven't watched an Eastenders or a Coronation St in the 15 years that we've been married but that wife is partial to a bit of ER and Grey's Anatomy whilst I enjoy Blue Bloods & Boardwalk Empire

[EMM]

The world of forums is mich much wider than CVO , views on here represent a tiny fraction of the knowledge and discussions on this subject.
Wait and see and if you hope to see the Christmas Dr Who special or Stricyly final when in the Algarve be prepared to watch something else or even talk to you housemates.

[EMM]

PS . Sunman we and do watch your favourites on PT cable,

[laserblazer]

90% of the UK visitors, expats etc watch BBC , ITV and C4, E4 and C5 yes you may be left with a few reruns of cooking progs but not mutch else of real interest

I can see us recording the soaps and sending them to our ex-pat friends.

[ceh]

Thanks for the replies looks like a dish is needed which I've resisted. Dont want soaps (never watched apart from in student days when tv was always on in the room where we ate) just a bit more choice. Spent the wet easter weekend watching dvds of all those epics that I've never got round to watching but we thought a freeview equivalent might be possible - obvouisly not!

Satellite dish here we come

[EMM]

Unless you are going for a Portuguese network wait until at least the autumn when we will all find out what can or cannot be received.

[ceh]

Will do - thanks