On the eve of Sky TV and TVNZ's 'igloo' launch, free-to-air platform makes it pitch for relevance.  PLUS: How it stacks up against Sky TV in the HD race.

A record month for Freeview sees its high definition platform over-take Sky TV's - at least on raw numbers.

If Freeview's installed base figures accurately reflect those actually watching the service, the free-to-air platform is now ahead of Sky TV in HD (high definition) penetration.

Freeview digital media devices are now in more than 300,000 Kiwi homes across the country, it was reported this morning.

Freeview said the number was well above expectations and the uptake of media devices was faster per capita than the majority of countries which have already made the switch to digital television.

Freeview general manager Sam Irvine the availability and popularity of Prime seems to have contributed to the growth and brought the total number of channels on Freeview satellite to 13 and 12 on Freeview HD (high definition).