Freeview is touting an increase in TV viewing habits, tightened consumer spending, and the improved affordability of its High Definition receivers as the drivers for its increased uptake.

The latest sales figures for the three months ending June 2009 show the total number of households able to receive Freeview is 255,048.

Breaking the numbers down there are 167,328 homes with Freeview satellite and 87,720 homes with Freeview HD.

Limitations on bandwidth space mean that Freeview HD is not possible for many Kiwis, not now or in the near future.

Freeview’s satellite customers, who make up approximately 80 percent of the total customer base, can’t receive the Freeview high definition signal. The terrestrial HD service that launched in April currently covers 75 per cent of the country, according to industry figures.