When I try to record programs from Bbc hd freesat I get an onscreen message saying this prog is copyright protected and will not record if I try to record the same progs from my icecrypt satellite box it records fine any advise please why the tv freesat wont record

What are you trying to record to?, HD programmes are protected against copying.

I have external USB box connected to the tv and as I have said I have no trouble recording bbc hd to the external sat box but not the tv

Sorry, you're still making no sense? - are you trying to record directly from the TV to an external USB HDD?, obviously plugged in a special USB socket on the TV for that purpose.

A number of questions for clarity.

Does the TV have a built in Freesat tuner?
Are you trying to record directly from that to the USB hard drive?

If the TV does not have a Freesat tuner then are you trying to record a programme received by the Freesat box displayed on the TV?

If the latter then it probably won't work. HDMI copy protection is probably kicking in which means the TV can display the programme but recording to the USB drive will be blocked.

The Panasonic tv is the latest model with freesat and freeview tuners it has a usb socket for hdd recording from an external hard drive I have a lacie 500 gb hardrive connected to the tv and it records everything fine except bbc hd it will however record bbc hd from the freeview tuner My icecrypt sat box will record bbc hd directly to its hardrive without any problems. hence my original question why will the Panasonic tv not record bbc hd but the icecrypt will