Many expats on the Costa del Sol and other mediterranean regions rely on satellite TV to get their British TV either by Freesat or Sky. Recent changes to the satellites being used to broadcast the signal has meant that viewers here in Spain have lost Channel 5 (and 5+1, 5* etc) and Channel 4 HD along with some other channels. This is because the new satellite being used (Astra 2F) has a tighter beam much more focused on the UK than the old Astra satellite (Astra 28), making reception this far south impossible on existing equipment.

Further channels are expected to be moved to the new Astra 2F and more new satellites are due to be launched in 2013 and 2014, which will ultimately take over all the British channels currently being broadcast on Astra 28. If the new satellites have the same beam focus as the recently launched satellite, no one will be able to pick up British TV with their existing equipment.

Technically of course, the BBC should only be available to license payers in the UK, and similarly Sky TV is only legally available to British viewers with Sky subscriptions. Read the rest of this entry »