Yesterday, as threatened, I spoke to Freeview GM Steve Browning, and put some of your questions to him. Freeview has its official launch today (check out more details on the web at freeviewnz.tv). Intially it will broadcast digital iterations of TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori Television, Radio New Zealand National and Radio New Zealand Concert. More channels will be added by each partner in the Freeview consortium - TVNZ, CanWest (TV3 & TV4) and Kordia (aka TVNZ's spun-off transmission arm, which will wholesale its bandwidth to independents) - over time. TVNZ has already announced a family channel and a news and information channel. All channels are free, bar the one-off cost of buying a set-top box ($299).

When will a hard drive recorder be introduced?
Happily, Freeview will have an onscreen, electronic programming guide (EPG) from its launch today. A guy at TVNZ is contracted by Freeview to collect programme schedules from all the partners. An EPG means Freeview has the means to deploy MySky style set-top boxes with hard drive recorders (as opposed to the bare bones set top boxes being offered today). However, Steve says it'll be around 12 months before we'll see one available.
The better news: like all Freeview services, it will be free (bar the initial cost of the set-top box), with no MySky style monthly charges.

Will the EPG support media centre PCs?
In short, no, they'll be no direct PC support - though neither will Freeview do anything to actively dissuade those with DIY hard drive recorder ambitions. Each broadcaster within the consortium owns the copyright to its own TV listings, complicating the situation (as Microsoft has discovered when making its own - unsuccessful - bid to acquire EPG access for media centre PCs).

Will Freeview broadcasts be affected by rain fade, like Sky TV?
Steve says Sky TV's notorious rain fade problems were caused by the creaky old Optus B1 satellite, with its wobbly orbit and underpowered signal. Sky TV recently switched to the new Optus D1 satellite, which Freeview will also use in its initial phase (terrestrial signals will be added early next year). Optus D1 is far more stable and powerful. Also, while the centre of Optus B1's beam was over Christchurch, Optus B1's beam is centred over the much more heavily populated upper North Island.

Can I use my Sky Digital satellite dish to receive Freeview?
Absolutely. Since the two rivals share the same satellite, Browning says that in 99% of cases no adjustment to your Sky dish would be necessary. Just buy your set-top box from a participating retailer (listed on Freeview's website), plug it in an you're away. Browning says he's done several plug-and-play installs for friends and family, with never any complications. If it doesn't happen to work, check whether your Sky dish has rusted or fallen out of position before tackling your set-top box, the GM advises.

Can Freeview support high definition (HDTV) broadcasts?
Yes. Canwest will start HD (720 or 1080 line) broadcasts of TV3 and TV4 over Freeview from Freeview's terrestrial service launch around March next year. Other channels will be standard definition (567 lines). Some-time rival Sky TV, in a politically and financially complicated scenario, is likely to offer an HD broadcast of its Prime channel through Freeview too.
Set-top boxes sold today support the standard definition, satellite broadcast version of Freeview only, and are aimed primarily at the 25% of the population who live in areas with bad terrestrial reception. To get the HD, terrestrial broadcasts, you'll need to buy a different set-top box (or a TV with a digital decoder built-in; none are on sale yet, though Browning is talking to all the major television manufacturers and says they're all keen).

Sky TV has banned its installers from setting up Freeview connections. Who can I call to get connected?
As well as pointing out that Freeview connections are plug-and-play in many cases, Browning says Sky TV's ban (threatened, moi?) only affects 11 installers, and that many others are listed on his company's website (which also details DIY install instructions).

Read more about Freeview in June NZ PC World, on newsstands May 28.