KEY POINTS:
The recently-announced MyFreeview digital television recorder will hit shops on December 11.
The high-definition DTR - from set-top-box maker Zinwell - uses the Freeview eight-day programme guide to select programmes to record.
It has two tuners, which allows viewers to record two channels at once while watching hard drive content. Its 250 GB hard drive will hold up to 80 hours of high-definition content, or 240 hours of standard-def programmes.
It also enables the viewer to pause live TV, automatically book alternate recording times if you already have two bookings set, and even provides Tivo-style recommendations for other programmes you may also like to record.
Several other manufacturers plan to market MyFreeview HD-compatible set to boxes in 2009, some of which will feature larger hard drives and extra tuners.
Freeview also announced the arrival of Base FM on Freeview HD" Freeview Satellite channel 71 and the announcement of TV3+1 on channel 8 from next March.
TV3+1 will viewers to watch their favourite TV3 programmes one hour later, thereby avoiding those primetime schedule clashes.
"In the UK, tuning to the +1 channel averages 38 per cent of the tuning to the main channel on the same platform and we would expect no difference in New Zealand," said Rick Friesen of MediaWorks.
Freeview boss Steve Browning welcomed the concept: "In overseas markets where similar services have been launched the viewer response has been very favourable, so we're excited about what this will mean for the continued growth and popularity of the Freeview platform."
- NZ HERALD STAFF
