MOST people with "free-to-view" satellite systems are not able to view ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5 through them since the BBC channels went "free-to-view".

But there is now a viewing card available for £23.50 from the website www.free2view.tv, telephone 0870 054 1800.

The card system has not been publicised to the public, even though the broadcasters are aware that as many as 750,000 households are affected by this situation.

This facility will end - allegedly - on December 31 this year. After this the only way to get the above channels by satellite - certainly in the short term - will be to subscribe to Sky television.

David Rutherford,

Main Street,

Stamford Bridge, York.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, December 08, 2003