Free TV

After 8 weeks without TV those of you who were with Telmicro might want to  consider the alternatives. If you definitively want UK TV then the options are limited.

The following is information about one  company who supply and fit  dishes and boxes to enable you to watch the free to air programmes here in Spain. There are probably others who can offer a similar service.

FREE TV and Magnet TV make this claim about the legality of their offer:-

With FREE TV we are taking advantage of the satellite signal that is broadcast from the Astra2D and Eurobird satellites. Although these signals are primarily focussed on the UK they also fall on most of Western Europe and Scandinavia. With suitable equipment we can capture these signals on the Costa Blanca.

We substantiate our claim that Magnet TV's customers are receiving a legal service because:

- we are providing and installing readily available consumer products and equipment designed to receive satellite transmissions

- to the best of our knowledge the customer is not infringing any copyright laws or licenses by viewing channels received via satellite transmissions that are readily available in Spain. 

- the channels that the customer views are those that are being broadcast unencrypted and Free To Air (FTA). In other words, available to all who can receive them.

As you can see from the map above, the Vega Baja is in a black hole for the Astra 2D satellite. Although, as the map shows,  you really need a 2.4m dish to ensure clear reception, FREE TV say a 1.9m dish will give an adequate level of service.

and the cost:-

STANDARD DEFINITION TV

Economy                                                                                           €949
1.9m Quality Dish with extra sensitive receiver
Standard Definition Set Top Box
Installation, Cabling and Tuning to your local UK TV stations.
- Share cost with a neighbour for €599 each
- Share cost with four neighbours for €399 each

DeLux                                                                                               €1,525
Big 2.4m Quality Dish with extra sensitive receiver
Standard Definition Set Top Box
Installation, Cabling and Tuning to your local UK TV stations.
- Share cost with a neighbour for €875 each
- Share cost with four neighbours for €549 each

HIGH DEFINITION TV

Economy                                                                                          €1,149
1.9m Quality Dish with extra sensitive receiver
High Definition Set Top Box
Installation, Cabling and Tuning to your local UK TV stations.
- Share cost with a neighbour for €749 each
- Share cost with four neighbours for €575 each

DeLux                                                                                               €1,699
Big 2.4m Quality Dish with extra sensitive receiver
High Definition Set Top Box
Installation, Cabling and Tuning to your local UK TV stations.
- Share cost with a neighbour for €999 each  
- Share cost with four neighbours for €699 each

So realistically you are looking to spend between 949€ and 1,699€ for the setup. What you will get for that are 120 channels of TV and radio.

For more information and to ask any questions, call FREE TV on: 646 645 579
email to: info@freetvspain.com
or call in at: Magnet TV, La Fuente Commercial Centre, Campoamor Golf, Villamartin, Orihuela Costa.

NB FREE TV point out that the sharing with a neighbour option will only work if the cable run to each house is less than 20m. In fact they say that signal degradation occurs on runs over 10 metres.  Adding junctions and splitters will further degrade the signal. You will find a lot of good information and tips about his and other satellite issues at this site.