Freesat sales reach 600,000

Digital satellite TV service Freesat has seen sales increase 50% over the summer, hitting 600,000 in total.

The service, launched by the BBC and ITV in May last year, increased its cumulative sales by from 400,000 in May to 600,000 this month.

Emma Scott, managing director of Freesat, said: “To achieve this level of sales and viewing in such a short space of time is a fantastic achievement and testament to the ever-growing appeal of Freesat, both to consumers and broadcasters.”

The service is an important part of the switch from analogue television to digital, with some UK households relying on Freesat for coverage as they are not yet able to receive digital terrestrial television.

Freesat is understood to be working with the BBC to launch the iPlayer in the near future, becoming the first free TV platform to do so.