• Subscribe to our Daily News Emails
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

Clovers Week: Action Replay

April 26, 2007 20.27 Europe/London By Julian Clover

Julian Clover looks at the emergence of the DVR for digital terrestrial homes

Weighing up the emerging technologies of DTT, HDTV and DVR which of the three are likely to have the greatest impact on the consumer? After ten years one might argue that DTT has well and truly emerged, but those of us in the UK should probably take a step back and look at other European markets, where the technology only offers a handful of channels or has yet to get off the ground. Actually, the whole point of DTT is that it relies on the ground-based terrestrial infrastructure rather than satellite or cable technology, but we digress. The majority of large screen sets are now HD Ready, but regulatory concerns continue to hinder this emerging technology.

My money is actually on DVR, the term digital video recorder replacing personal video recorder, which some consumers regard as yesterday’s news. All those relatives that have never been able to work the timers on their analogue VCRs have their problems solved at the touch of a button, maybe two.

I’ve been a Sky+ convert ever since my first unit arrived and watched as one by one broadcasters added the Series Link functionality that ensures you catch the next episode of a favourite show whatever the schedulers, or Tim Henman, might have planned for you. It is a little irritating that the Set Reminder functionality is restricted to the Sky branded channels.

As digital switchover beckons – many readers of this column will already live in parts of Europe where the UK leads digital routine is wearing a bit thin – consumers will be making a choice on their recorded viewing. True, a Scart plug between digital TV and analogue VCR will do the job in most cases, but eventually these machines will be replaced.

The introduction of Freeview Playback, first mooted last summer, and now expected to be in the shops within a few weeks marks an important milestone in DVR deployment. A standard set of features will highlight the presence of a product that has sometimes got lost in the ‘Freeview for under £30’ displays. It also allows a second stab at the standardisation process that gave us the low entry points for consumer electronics manufacturers and put a squeeze on the feature rich boxes that suffered under the pile them high mentality.

All eyes now to the regulator Ofcom and a decision on whether it will indeed soften its stance and allow the creation of a Freeview HD label to stick on the side of the next generations of STBs.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Related

Filed Under: Clover's Week, Terrestrial Edited: 30 April 2007 12:56

Avatar photo

About Julian Clover

Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media. Julian is also a voice on local radio. You can talk to Julian on X @julianclover, or by email at jclover@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • tivùsat rolls out new HbbTV-based EPG via satellite and DTT
  • Netflix reveals strong Q2 with the promise of more hits this year
  • Mehmet Zahid Sobacı reappointed as Director General of TRT
  • Telia Company to dispose of Latvian operations
  • David Cho named editor-in-chief of CNBC

Most Popular

  • Telenor to sell Allente stake to Viaplay
    Telenor to sell Allente stake to Viaplay
  • Amazon wins out in Prime Video subscriber lawsuit
    Amazon wins out in Prime Video subscriber lawsuit
  • SES Completes Acquisition of Intelsat
    SES Completes Acquisition of Intelsat
  • RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery plan joint advertising sales house
    RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery plan joint advertising sales house
  • Viaplay and TV 2 Norway to share football rights 
    Viaplay and TV 2 Norway to share football rights 
  • Telia Company to dispose of Latvian operations
    Telia Company to dispose of Latvian operations
  • Netflix reveals strong Q2 with the promise of more hits this year
    Netflix reveals strong Q2 with the promise of more hits this year

White Paper

SES Completes Acquisition of Intelsat

Luxembourg-based SES has completed its acquisition of Intelsat, creating a combined expanded fleet of 120 satellites across two orbits. … [Download the White Paper ...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Editorial

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Commercial

Arundel View Cottage
Wepham
West Sussex
BN18 9RA
sales@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2025 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.