Freeview Playback

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about scheduled or expected future events.
It may contain information of a tentative nature and the content may change dramatically as the event approaches and more information becomes available.

Freeview Playback is a consumer brand created in the UK by the DTG Group to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview capable PVR's. Players which meet specific quality and functionality criteria will be able to carry the Freeview Playback logo, and benefit from joint marketing and consumer confidence. The brand will be publically launched in Spring of 2007.

1 Background
2 Manufacturers
3 Features
4 References
5 External links
6 See also

[edit] Background

PVR's have been available for several years, and some brands (notably TiVo and Sky+) are well known to consumers. Additionally, but less well known to consumers, is a wide range of PVR's which have inbuilt Freeview receivers (in some cases more than one).

"Research for the consortium that owns and markets the Freeview brand—now a joint venture between the BBC, National Grid Wireless, BSkyB, ITV and Channel 4—shows that while consumers show high interest in being able to record digital programmes there is little awareness of personal (otherwise known as digital) video recorders. Uptake of digital terrestrial PVRs has therefore been limited."

The aim of Freeview Playback is to raise awareness of Freeview PVR's.

[edit] Manufacturers

The following manufacturers have all announced that they will be incorporating Freeview Playback into their future Recordable DTT Equitment:-

Alba
Humax
Sagem
Sharp
Sony
Tvonics

[edit] Features

All Freeview Playback receivers are required to include the following features:-

It is understood that receivers are required to include the following features, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) instantly available from start up. There will be no need to wait for the receiver to download EPG from the signal)
Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
Record split programmes as one programme
Offer to record related programme
Record alternate showing if there is a time conflict
Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording starting early)
Accurate recording (e.g. setting a timer for a program will record the program regardless of when it starts, not what happens to be on between 20:00 - 20:30)