After launching just over a week ago, Freesat appears to have hit something of a stumbling block with its website warning of a shortage of Freesat HD boxes, citing 'very high demand'.

It's an embarrassing start for the joint BBC and ITV venture, and there's no indication of when more stock is expected.

Developed as an alternative to the terrestrial digital TV service Freeview, it provides a wide variety of free-to-air channels, including the high-definition BBC HD, via satellite. Standard installation of a satellite dish costs £80, but if you have a Sky dish you can hook a receiver straight up to that instead.

A quick web search showed both Comet and Currys out of stock of HD Freesat receivers, however at the time of writing Argos still had some Humax Foxsat HD boxes for sale.