Freeview today announced that sales of Freeview+ boxes have reached over 900,000, up 118% compared to December last year[i]. 26% of all sales were achieved in a record final quarter, and throughout December, more than two Freeview+ boxes were bought every minute.

Take-up of Freeview, the UK’s most popular digital TV service, continues to grow indicating that Freeview’s ability to deliver quality, subscription-free TV is of huge value to consumers particularly in the current economic downturn. More than 17.2 million homes are enjoying the benefits of viewing 13 of the 15 most-watched channels without having to pay for them and Freeview+ saves viewers more than £200 in the first year alone compared to the subscription alternatives.

This growth is expected to continue as consumers rein in their expenditure in 2009 - recent research highlighted one in five plans to curtail spending on pay TV channels - and as another five million homes go through digital switchover in the next twelve months, with Freeview+ providing the most cost-effective recording solution for a digital age.

Freeview+ was given a boost with a national TV ad campaign that launched in November 2008. Throughout the campaign period, sales increased by an average of 150% year-on-year and Freeview’s website traffic increased by 80% during the first month alone.

The ads celebrated the functionality of Freeview+ and featured a host of British TV talent including Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton, Jennie McAlpine and Tupele Dorgu, comedian Alan Carr and Chef Gordon Ramsay.

Ilse Howling, Managing Director of Freeview, said: “The popularity of Freeview+ isn’t surprising given that it offers outstanding value – giving the same experience as ‘+’ recorders from other providers, the only difference is it’s free from subscription.”

“During a downturn, TV viewing naturally increases as people choose to stay in and watch TV as a form of free entertainment. We know that Freeview is an extremely