I've been looking up the Freesat service as we can't get a good signal for Freeview, but how come channels like Dave, Challenge etc are available on Freeview but not Freesat? Makes no sense if you ask me

Because they can get subscription income on DSat which they can't on DTT.

It makes perfect sense, commercially.

It's largely down to lack of narrow beam space on Astra 2D, the other satellites have pan-european coverage. Later this year the situation will radically improve with the launch of a new satellite (Astra 1N). Unlike a terrestrial transmitter Astra 2D has to carry all the free to air psb UK regional variations.

Hmmm ok, thanks.

1N will solve the problem for FTV channels like 5*/USA and VIVA, but Dave, Challenge, ITV2 HD etc will be tied into lucrative pay deals with Sky.

The original question isn't right though - there are far more channels on Freesat than Freeview - and more still if you switch your Freesat box into free-to-air mode (so you can access all FTA channels, including those which don't pay to appear on the Freesat EPG).

There are also the BBC sport feeds that your licence fee is paying for, some of which don't make it onto Freeview red button. There's also iPlayer.

Cheers,
David.