to explain that BBC channels will, for the most part, not be broadcast using the tighter distribution pattern (which could jeopardise reception in southern Europe) until the summer of 2013.
After that, the BBC accepts that some non-UK viewers could lose the ability to receive services intended for the domestic BBC audience, but they blame this on changes made by SES, the Luxembourg-based company operating the Astra satellite fleet.
However, the fact that the Channel 5 family, Channel 4HD, 4Seven and some ITV 1 channels are now using the tighter distribution pattern and remain viewable in the Midi-Pyrenees (we've had no reports of loss of reception hereabouts) does bode quite well for next year's BBC switch-over.
Hope this is helpful.
Chris
PS Sky News is indeed now openly available on Freesat - previously you had to search for it separately.
