Last year I forked out for the Online Stream version of BB5. However, I was later to find out that Real did a nice job of getting extra money out of me during that time by adding sneakily in the price of a package of theirs that I'd specifically opted out of...

With E4 becoming freely available on freeview, I'm half tempted to go down the freeview route. Anyone else watch BB on the E4 feed, and would it be good enough to skip over the Internet one ? I don't think the E4 feed is 24/7 like the Internet one but the benefits would be that it is on the proper TV on not hogging my PC up ... suggestions ?

I would go down the freeview route anyway. The signal in the north-west is due to go off in the next couple of years, (either next year or 2008) and freeview boxes are available very cheaply and you will be needing one eventually.

It prolly works out no more expensive than an online subscription to the live feed.

As I already got freeview I'm pleased to see that E4 is finally free of charge. I've just checked the RadioTimes and E4 has BB on live all day and then at about 5-6pm it changes to regular progs like Friends, ER, Smalville and so forth. BB coverage resumes at 10pm with half an hour of BBLB and then the its back to the live stream.

It'd be worth it then, especially as I'm a smallville fan. The only sad thing is that they started the new series of that a while ago on there I think. :S

Right, how long has E4 been free? I thought it was topup tv.

Its not free yet. Check out this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4488779.stm) link.

They are working to make it available on standard freeview boxes in time for Big Brother.

Thanks for the linkage :D

Another vote for the freeview route. I was given a freeview box earlier this year, and it would have been well wroth the money (had we paid for it).

Don't worry about signal either - we are watching it through a set-top aerial no problem, and its stronger than our regular signal.

You get all of the BBC channels, and the ITV channels (so you no longer get frustrated when your programme says "turn over to x now, for extra coverage") and you also get a red button to press to make some programmes interactive.

Also, recently, Men & Motors became a free channel... so you have some boobs to watch at night if you are so inclined.

On the Big Brother side - as well as e4 on freeview, you also get e4+1.. which means if you miss something, you can watch it an hour later. Bonus!

Ok. Decent set top box ? I've been hearing mixed stories about how some of the cheaper ones apparently are slow and annoying especially at channel flickage, etc. I can't be spending over the odds, just need to get something half decent.

i got a really cheap freeview box ('bout 35 quid i think). it works a treat, it doesnt have many advanced features but it does the job.

i just have a standard aerial and the reception is brilliant

I was viewing E4 a couple of times on my usual Sky package (not sure what's on that but it includes the movie channels) quite surprised to find we get E4 actually.

Unfortunately I watch BB at 7-8.30am and the live feed shows them only sleeping which is rather boring.

I'm trying to figure out whether I have a duff box or whether my red button is only supposed to work on BBC channels... coz it don't seem to do nowt on any of the others. :S

Yup, red button is for BBC only. I think the green one works for channel 4.