BT Vision vs Freeview HD+Top Up TV - For ESPN

[Megaflow]

Hi Peeps

I have decided I want to get ESPN for the motor racing and Rugby. There seems to be 4 ways of getting it Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision or Top Up TV.

Discounting the first two, I don't want to give Murdoch any money or have the house look like a control tower, and we don't live in a cabled area, that leaves me with BT Vision or Top Up TV.

The cheapest way to get ESPN would be buy a Top Up TV card, which comes with a CAM to enable the card to be fitted to the TV, but this doesn't allow me to record anything.

So that leaves me with BT Vision or Freeview HD PVR with a Top Up TV card. But I can't make up my mind which is best:

BT Vision
Pros - Lowest up front cost (£55) and has on line content.
Cons - Higher monthly cost (£12.50) and no HD channels.

Freeview PVR + TUTV
Pros - Lower monthly cost (£7.50) and HD channels.
Cons - Higher up front cost (£185) and has no on line content.



So far the only Freeview HD PVR I have found with a card slot is the Digital Stream DHR8205U.

Has anybody had direct experience of both systems to help me out...

TIA

Martin