Freeview's predecessor ITV Digital had 1.2m subscribers when it closed last year after three-and-a-half years in operation.
The figures suggest that Freeview is attracting viewers that have previously been reluctant to sign up to digital TV.
The attraction of Freeview among those who previously did not have digital TV is due to its low price and its easy installation, according to research commissioned by the BBC and electrical retailing giant Dixons Group.
The research found that 65% of Freeview adapter owners said lack of contract and low cost was the main reason they bought it, while 31% said the one-off payment of £99 was the key factor in their decision.
Andy Duncan, director of BBC marketing and communication, said: "The Freeview proposition of a one-off payment and no contract is clearly attracting a lot of our audience who would not have previously considered digital."
He added: "It is also encouraging that these newcomers to digital are expressing high levels of satisfaction with the service they are getting, with the vast majority saying they would recommend it to a friend."
The boxes are believed to be popular among an older audience, with 40% of Freeview owners aged over 55 years old and 74% over 35.
Sales of Freeview adapters have passed the 800,000 mark since the digital terrestrial service launched in October, and sales of boxes have exceeded 100,000 a month.
The research surveyed 1,000 Freeview box owners during March.
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