Telewest
Global, Inc. announces that its subsidiary
Telewest
Broadband has entered an agreement with Scientific-Atlanta for the
supply of new personal video recorder (PVR) set-top boxes, which will be
made available to its cable TV customers later this year.
The new PVR set-top box incorporates a substantial 160Gb hard drive and
three video tuners, which will allow viewers to receive Telewest Broadband's
digital TV service and record two programmes simultaneously while
watching a third. This is a step forward from many existing PVRs, which can
only manage two channels at once.
The set-top box will also allow customers to pause and instantly rewind live
TV if their viewing is interrupted, so they never have to miss a moment of
their favourite programmes again.
A simple on-screen menu will make the service easy to use for even the most
technophobic households and, once recorded, programmes can be controlled
like a DVD or video, without the hassle of tapes. The device will be able to
store around 80 hours of programmes.
The Telewest
Broadband PVR will also deliver high-definition TV (HDTV) content in the
future -- offering a significant improvement in picture quality compared
with today's standard-definition digital TV broadcasts, especially on larger
plasma and LCD screens.
Eric Tveter, president and chief operating officer at Telewest Broadband,
said: "We will make our personal video recorder set-top box available later
this year, putting a stop to missed soaps, interrupted films and arguments
over which programmes to record. It's a fantastic box of TV tricks that
people will wonder how they ever survived without!"
The Scientific-Atlanta agreement follows this week's launch of the first
phase of
Telewest Broadband's new TV-on-demand service, which will offer a choice
of additional movies, TV programmes and specialist content via customers'
remote controls.
Eric Tveter added: "Telewest
Broadband's unique combination of personal video recorder and
television-on-demand services will mean our customers have the best of both
worlds -- freedom from the TV schedule with PVR control, and on-demand
access to a wider selection of movies and TV content.
It's not about offering people more TV, but giving them the freedom to
watch exactly what they want, when they want." |
