Freeview Playback

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DTV Services Ltd "Freeview Playback"
Type	Free-to-air channels digital TV recorders brand
Founded	2002
Headquarters	London
Key people	Ilse Howling
Industry	Media
Products	Digital TV recorder (aka Personal video recorder) specifications for manufacturers
Owner	Freeview (DTV Services Ltd), consisting of BBC, BSkyB, National Grid Wireless, ITV, Channel 4
Website	http://www.freeviewplayback.co.uk

Freeview Playback is a consumer brand created in the UK by DTV Services Ltd (Freeview) working with the DTG Group to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview capable digital TV recorders otherwise known as personal video recorders. 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. Branded players were available from May of 2007, and expected to be "widely available" from the end of 2007^[1].

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

[edit] Background

Personal video recorders 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 PVRs which have inbuilt Freeview receivers (in some cases more than one). Freeview will market those that meet the standard as Freeview Playback digital TV recorders.

"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 digital TV recorders that receive the Freeview service and meet the required specification.

[edit] Manufacturers

"Freeview will not manufacture the units itself, but will award the Freeview Playback label to manufacturers that are able to meet a series of specifications that have been drawn up by the UK’s Digital TV Group. The devices will cost around £150, according to the specifications."

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

Alba
Daewoo Electronics
Humax
LG Electronics
Sagem
Sharp
Sony
Digihome
Technika
Topfield
Tvonics

[edit] Features

All Freeview Playback receivers are required to include the following features^[2]:-.

At least 8 Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
Series Link (one timer to record whole series)
Record split programmes as one programme
Offer to record related programme
Record alternative showing if there is a time conflict
Schedule changes updated in standby (e.g. scheduled recording starting early)
Accurate recording (equivalent to PDC - programmes are recorded based on signals from the broadcaster rather than scheduled time)