Digital UK

rdf:langString Digital UK

rdf:langString Digital UK

rdf:langString Digital UK

rdf:langString Digital UK, Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London, EC4R 3TT

rdf:langString Supports Freeview viewers and channels

rdf:langString Digital UK is a British television communications company owned by the BBC (1922), ITV (1955), Channel 4 (1982) and Channel 5 (1997) which supports Freeview viewers and channels. It provides information about receiving terrestrial TV and advice on reception and equipment. The company also handles day-to-day technical management of the Freeview Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), allocates channel numbers and manages the launch of new services and multiplexes onto the platform. Digital UK has been licensed by Ofcom as an EPG provider. In 2015 Digital UK and Freeview developed Freeview Play, a connected TV service offering both live linear TV and on-demand content, including a range of popular catch-up players. The service is available on both TVs and set-top boxes and is now widely supported by more than 20 manufacturer brands. Digital UK leads development of the Freeview Play product specification which is based on open standards, working with manufacturers and industry bodies. From 2008 to 2012, Digital UK led the implementation of digital TV switchover and oversaw the clearance of terrestrial TV services from the 800 MHz band of spectrum to prepare for the launch of 4G mobile broadband services. Digital UK was formed on 13 April 2005 as SwitchCo, adopting its present name five months later. It is based in Mortimer Street in Fitzrovia, London. The company completed the first pilot digital switchover in Whitehaven, Cumbria in 2007, and the last switchover was completed in Northern Ireland on 24 October 2012. In July 2021 Digital UK acquired Freesat the free to air satellite television platform, from the BBC and ITV and formally merged into Digital UK. In December 2021, Channel 5 joined the venture, marking it as "the first time that the venture has been wholly owned by all four PSBs".