Freeview Playback becomes Freeview+

Freeview is renaming its personal video recorders as Freeview+ as the DTT platform looks to drive both awareness and sales of the product, dropping the Playback name used since its launch two years ago.

The organisation is looking to capitalise on the Sky+ and V+ names used by the other two principal PVR products in the market. The Freeview+ system incorporates much the same functionality as its rivals – the actual featureset can vary between manufacturers – though Freeview is emphasising the fact it carries no ongoing subscription.

“There’s over one third of a million Freeview digital TV recorders in households – and that’s been achieved with relatively little marketing support. We are now upping our efforts and since ‘+’ has entered the vernacular in recent years, we think it makes sense to reposition ourselves to take advantage of that,” said Rob Farmer, director of marketing communications at Freeview.

Manufacturers involved in the production of Freeview+ units include Humax, Goodmans, LG, Sony and Sharp and Tvonics.