On Wednesday 30 September improvements are being made to the Freeview service to pave the way for the digital TV switchover. You will need to re-tune your Freeview TV or box (including BT Vision and Top Up TV) from lunchtime onwards to ensure you continue to receive your available channels, including Channel Five and a number of other Freeview channels. Satellite, cable and analogue viewers will not be affected.

The re-tune will allow Channel Five to become as widely available on Freeview as the other terrestrial channels at digital television switchover. Technical preparations for future improvements to the Freeview service (such as Freeview HD) are being made. Freeview are set to confirm further details about the new Freeview HD service soon.

tvretune.co.uk have created a video (seee below) to illustrate how a retune is carried out on most freeview recorders and set top boxes. The pricess is very easy, however if you would prefer more specific help, there are also retune guides for popular makes of Freeview PVRs and other freeview equipment held centrally at www.tvretune.co.uk/productmanuals/. You can also contact the manufacturer for guidance on your specific model.

In the run up to the launch of DVB-T2 services, manufacturers and the broadcast industry have risen to the challenge with the unveiling of market ready DVB-T2 products at this year’s IBC. The launch of DVB-T2 HD services is on schedule to take place later this year in the United Kingdom as Freeview HD, with further launches expected in several other European countries including Finland and Serbia. Numerous other countries are in the process of testing and evaluating the second generation Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmission system for future use.

The DVB-T2 equipment making its debut at the exhibition includes video encoding, signal generators, transmitters, modulators/demodulators and set-top boxes. The live HD DVB-T2 transmission and interoperability demonstrations on the DVB stand features H.264 encoded content provided by the BBC and broadcast from the Alticom TV tower in Amsterdam on Channel 43, Frequency 650MHz. The demo is supported by equipment from Albis Technologies, Arqiva, DekTec, Enensys, Harris, Pace, Rohde & Schwarz, Tandberg, and TeamCast.

Other manufacturers with planned launches of DVB-T2 equipment include CellMetric, Cisco Systems, Digital TV Labs, Humax, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic, ProTelevision Technologies, Screen Service, SIDSA, Sony, STMicroelectronics and T-VIPS to name a few.

The significance of the strength of market support for the new transmission system is not to be underestimated as the DVB-T2 specification was only ratified by the DVB Steering Board in June 2008 and has just been formally approved as ETSI EN 302 755 by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute. Peter Siebert, Executive Director, DVB Project, says

We are delighted by the support for DVB-T2 and astounded at the speed at which manufacturers have been able to develop and bring to market their products for this second generation digital terrestrial television transmission system. The deployment of DVB-T2 will enable broadcasters to provide an extended multichannel HD service environment as well as see the innovation of new and exciting datacasting opportunities

T2 ready

Building on the foundations of the successful DVB-T system, DVB-T2 work in the UK has shown almost 50% increase in capacity compared to equivalent reception conditions with DVB-T; some 20% more than initially thought. If a single frequency network (SFN) configuration is used, a potential capacity gain of 67% is achieved in comparison with DVB-T using the same absolute guard interval. Broadcasters deploying DVB-T2 will be able to roll out new multiplexes that could offer multichannel HDTV services and create innovative new datacasting opportunities.

DVB-T2 uses OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplex) modulation to deliver a robust signal and offers a range of different modes making it highly flexible. It employs the same LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) error correcting codes used in DVB-S2 for excellent performance in the presence of high noise levels and interference. A significant number of highly innovative features such as Physical Layer Pipes, support of Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) and Rotated Constellations are also included. DVB-T2 has been defined so that the standard can be enhanced in the future in a backwards compatible manner through the use of Future Extension Frames.

The IBC 2009 show in Amsterdam this year has seen a dramatic increase in DVB-T2 related news, and it’s great to see announcements from manufacturers keen to let everyone know they will be providing FreeviewHD ready set top boxes in the first quarter of next year.

The Humax Freeview HD single tuner (receiver only) version wil allow recording direct to USB

Joining Pace in early 2010, Humax will also be providing FreeviewHD set top boxes, and by the summer a flagship Humax Freeview+HD PVRwill be upon us. Technical details are still thin on the ground however the Humax Freeview+HD recorder will most likely feature the new and acclaimed high definition user interface and Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) which was successfully implemented into the Freesat HD PVR, the Humax FOXSAT-HDR. We’d like to mention there will be a USB port on the single tuner Freeview HD set top box receiver which will allow recording direct to a USB key or USB hard drive.

Other highlights being introduced into the new Humax Freeview+ HD PVR include a Network connection in order to support catch up TV services from BBC iplayer. The network connection will provide customers with a DLNA box that will allow it to connect, stream and transfer recordings to other devices and PCs in the home. For example, recordings on the Humax Freeview+ HD PVR can be streamed to – and controlled via – a Humax Freeview HD set top box that you may have in the bedroom for example (Humax Freeview HD STBs will also include a network port at the back).

Humax were on the verge of providing a high definition capable Freeview PVR in the UK two years ago, but then the industry veered in the direction of DVB-T2, which would require different hardware in order to receive HD broadcasts. The HD PVR project had to be shelved while DVB-T2 developed and so instead this lead to the face-lifting of the older PVR-9200t (see PVR-9300T/PVR-9150T).

The new Humax Freeview+ HD PVR will be built on a high performance platform using the very latest hardware, and this will enable high end features which haven’t been provided on Freeview PVRs before. Humax had earlier attempts at DLNA-type features for its UK Freesat+ PVR, like streaming between PVR/STB/PC, but in proof of concept work the first generation machine suffered from performance issues which couldn’t be brought “up to scratch”, as a spokesman put it. Bob Hannent, Chief Technologist at Humax believes Freeview HD will be an exciting platform: “We have greater ambitions for next generation products because the next generation hardware will sustain more features and from day one we can plan”. Humax also said the next generation tech will be made available to customers on the Freesat platform.

Pricing hasn’t been confirmed by retailers, however the Freesat High definition PVR was released at £300 last year, and this should serve as a good indication that Freeview+HD recorders will command higher prices than what we are seeing in the Freeview market today.

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TV personality Keith Chegwin will host the Freeview VCR Swap Shop this Saturday, 5 September at Comet in Manchester Fort Shopping Park on Cheetham Hill Road. He’ll be swapping 50 old VCRs for 50 brand new Freeview+ digital TV recorders.

You may already be sorted with a digital TV or Freeview box, but do you still own a VCR? After the digital switchover, VCRs internal tuners will not pick up TV channels to record, although it will record the channel you are watching if it is connected to a digital TV. As this defeats the object of a VCR, you might want to swap it for a Freeview+ box instead. This will allow you to watch and record digital TV after the switchover.

In two months’ time Manchester and other parts of the country will be switching over. It’s been a long time coming (and at points it seemed like it was never coming) but the date of Wednesday 4 November for the BBC2 analogue switch-off in the Granada region is fast approaching. The remaining channels will follow suit on Wednesday 2 December.

Starting at 10am, customers can bring their old VCRs into the store and be entered into the Freeview Swap Shop prize draw. Cheggers will then select 50 winners at 2pm, who will each receive a stylish Humax Freeview+ digital TV recorder worth over £125.

The Humax PVR-9150T Freeview+ box can record over 100 hours of TV onto its 160Gb hard drive. It also allows viewers to pause and rewind live TV, and record their favourite telly series. General information about Freeview and the digital switchover will also be available on the day.

BT has commenced the rollout of new PVR software to their BT Vision+ Freeview / video on demand recorder. The new BT Vision+ PVR software release is based on an updated version Microsoft Silverlight, which in itself includes new streaming and progressive download capabilities. The new BT Vision+ software provides a number of bug fixes and useful improvements to the PVR. Here we’ll list some of the fixes, new features and the improvements that have been made by the engineers.

MHEG (Red Button) services perform better in this release than in the previous version, as was shown during beta testing. After the update you should find that these services run for many weeks without the need to restart the Vision+ box. You should notice digital text services now run a lot faster. BT have said they will deliver additional improvements to the MHEG performance on the PVR and they will seek to include these in future releases. Unfortunately, the fix to the Subtitles sticking on screen issue is on still outstanding: BT were originally advised that the new software had resolved the issue causing this bug but tests showed this was not the case, and work on resolving this continues.

Improvements have been made to the way information is returned from Search Results; when searching for a Freeview programme via the blue button or the menu the ‘i’ button previously did not correctly return the full programme information. The search results are now correctly linked to the EPG data to show this information. ‘Trickplay’ of radio content has proved problematic for the Vision+ box so the facility has now been removed. There was a problem with the forwarding of live radio and recordings would jump straight to the end of the programme. This also affected live broadcasts when radio that was paused could not be rewound or fast-forwarded. These features have been removed in this release. You will still be able to record radio content but you will not be able to pause, rewind, fast-forward or skip recorded or live radio.

Good news for BT Vision+ users is the little green light has finally been turned off, and will now only show if BT send an important service message. A number of minor bugs have also been resolved, like the fix to the mute button that previously did not work when in the parental controls screen, and RF out ‘off’ setting will now be retained if the Vision+ PVR is restarted so you won’t need to set it again. There are some bug fixes however that are ‘under the hood’ and will not be noticed by users but none the less improve the way the machine functions. If you are a BT Vision+ PVR owner and were previously affected by a bug, BT are encouraging users to try them again after the next software update, and if the problem still occurs to contact them about it.

The BT Vision+ PVR power consumption is 22 watts when on but almost the same power consumption when put into standby. That is because pressing the standby button merely turns the colour of the on/off switch at the front from green to orange, and disables the AV connectors on the back of the box so you can’t see anything on the TV. Otherwise the rest of the system, like Sky+ PVRs, is still on. Thankfully, the Vision+ PVR was previously set to automatically turn to standby if not used for 24 hours. With the latest software update, BT has reduced this to 8 hours to reduce unattended power consumption.

The BT Vision+ box is a little noisier than the average PVR but the good news here is that at around a minute after entering standby the hard disk in the BT Vision+ PVR will now spin down. This reduces power consumption by around 30% and so too the noise. The noise reduces further as the temperature controlled fan is not activated until enough heat is generated again (the next time the hard drive is on basically). BT advise the disk will still periodically spin up again in standby for system checks and updates from the servers, or when a recording is about to start. Note that bringing the box out of standby will take about 4 seconds longer as it’s programmed to activate the rear display connectors after the disk is activated and ready. 

BT have also reduced the boot time of the BT Vision+ PVR to less than 2 minutes from a full power on, although, many users may now find the considerable improvements to noise in standby to no longer need a full power down at night. Another feature introduced is that the PVR will detect if the hub is powered on but not yet connected to broadband. This will reduce the chance of the Vision+ PVR failing to start if the box and hub are turned on at the same time. Note however that waiting for the hub will extend the boot time beyond 2 minutes. Other changes on start up include the ‘BT Vision HD’ showing on screen when connected to your TV via HDMI, and when the BT Vision logo appears the diagnostic screen can be called by pressing pause. Note the diagnostic screen does not display until the end of the boot sequence, and the Vision+ PVR will need to be restarted to clear the diagnostic screen.

The BT Vision+ PVR will now automatically start recording 2 minutes before the scheduled time of broadcast as well as the 5 minutes after padding introduced in an earlier update. Autopadding helps prevent missing the start or end of programmes that are not broadcast at the advertised time. The pre-padding can be swiftly skipped by pressing the >| button on the remote to jump forward 30s on each press. This new padding is ’soft’ and now, at last, with the new software any autopadding will not cause clashes to occur if a new recording needs to start at the same time that another one ends. When this happens the recordings will end / start at the scheduled time. Although you cannot adjust or remove this ’soft’ padding you can set ‘hard’ padding at the end if you want via the usual options. Also note, if you have set a recording to finish after the end of the programme this will over-ride the new soft padding feature. This applies to series as well as individual recordings so you may wish to review your series recording settings.

BT has made changes to the way the EPG is collected, and now stored. EPG data for the next 14 days will now be stored on the BT Vision+ PVR hard disk. The EPG on the hard disk will be updated every day to add the latest information. This will address the slow EPG population time issue Pace have always had with their Freeview PVRs. The much faster response times when scrolling through the EPG as the information will be coming from the Vision+ PVR instead of the servers. There are some nice touches with the ability, when viewing the EPG, to now use the shortcuts button on the remote to easily jump ahead to another day or switch from gird to list view.

BT has improved the navigation of recorded programmes by introducing a Series Stacking feature. Series Recordings will now be grouped in the menu by the title of the series. Selecting the title will then list the episodes in that series. This will make it easier to find and view the recordings in the correct order and reduce the number of separate listings to navigate when looking for a particular item. These will appear in the recordings menus as the programme name with the number of episodes in brackets after the title, for example:

Loose Women (3)

Pressing select will then list the individual episodes as follows:

Loose Women <date 1> <time 1>

Loose Women <date 2> <time 1>

Loose Women <date 2> <time 2>

What’s more, download to hard disk video on demand content can now be viewed before it is fully downloaded, provided that the download is expected to complete before you would reach the end of the programme. A small tolerance is built in to allow you to fast forward through the title credits if you wish. The amount of completed download needed before you can start the programme will vary with the speed of the download.

BT have worked hard on improving the stability and flexibility of the HDMI connection and it is hoped the new software will reduce the number of error messages and increase the range of supported devices connected via HDMI. In particular BT say they have tried to improve performance for use of HDMI switches but they do say that direct connection to the screen is preferred and any switch devices will need to be HDCP compliant. Users should now be able to split the Hi Def output to more than one screen from one Vision+ PVR but BT say that it is not a configuration they actively support.

Also, the SCART and S-Video connection will now remain live when an HDMI connection is in use. As the analogue connection is showing the same image as the Hi Def connection the picture will be in 16:9 format and part of picture may be off the edge of the screen if the secondary screen is 4:3. So, it is now possible to connect 4 different devices to one BT Vision+ PVR – HDMI / SCART / S-Video / RF but we expect most people will use this as HDMI for the TV and SCART for a recording device.

The digital audio output (SP-DIF) from the Vision+ PVR can now be set to either Stereo or 5.1 Surround Sound to match the audio device you are connecting to (BTVision> Settings> General Settings> Digital Audio Output). The default setting is stereo and surround sound will only work via this optical connection. If you set the surround sound option the audio output over the HDMI cable is disabled, but you can use surround sound and SCART at the same time for a normal screen. Please note Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is currently only available on BT Visions Hi Def content – and normal VOD and Freeview content is in stereo. Talking about sound, the audio output level of the Vision+ PVR has been increased by 5dB to the maximum possible level. This will bring the output from the Vision+ PVR up to a similar level to that used by many other PVR’s and set top boxes.

Where a Freeview broadcast includes Audio Description for visually impaired viewers this is now accessible on the BT Vision+ PVR (BTVision> Settings> General Settings> Audio Description). The settings screen includes options to enable or disable the service and to set the volume of the description relative to the normal broadcast. By default the setting is +3 but you can try the normal or +1 settings first and tweak as necessary. Note that as Audio Description works by suppressing the normal audio you may find that you need to slightly increase the volume on your TV set. The separate increase to the default volume of the Vision+ PVR will help to offset this effect. BT have stated that there is a known bug with their new Audio Description implementation – if the channel is changed while an Audio Description is playing the suppression of normal audio may continue on the new channel. BT have said you can recover to normal audio just go back to the original channel, wait for the ‘voice over’ to pause and change again. Again, this is a problem BT is working to solve.

Staying on Freeview, the Vision+ PVR will now automatically check for any new or updated freeview channels. This scan will be run once per day, after being in standby for 30 or more minutes, unless there are any recordings in progress. If there are no new channels found then no update will occur and in any case it will make sure the settings for any existing channels are not deleted. But if there are new or changed channels found then the EPG will go through an update process. Channels not received at the time of the scan will then be missing until the next scan. But to stop this feature from causing problems for customers in variable reception areas or that are affected by reception from multiple transmitters the automatic scans can be disabled in the menu (BTVision> Settings> TV Settings> Automatic Freeview Updates) but BT say that manual scans can still be performed in the usual way.

On the whole, your BT Vision+ PVR should work quicker and feel more stable than before and conflict issues with recordings should be a thing of the past (or much reduced) with this new software release from BT. So well done to the engineers and keep up the good work. There are some undocumented features that you may come across, like if you press the info button whilst watching a programme there’s an option called Other Times, which tells you when/if the programme will be shown again. If you come across any more please share using the comments form below this article.

BT has advised PVR Junction that the new software is being released from their servers in batches of around 20,000 customers per day, and hope to complete the new software update programme for all customers by mid September.

Speaking to PVRJunction, Director of Communications at Harvard International PLC, John Edwards took the opportunity to discuss their plans for Freesat+ and FreeviewHD PVRs.

Last month PVRJunction broke the news of a new Goodmans branded 320GB Freesat+ PVR, the GFSDTR320HD and the 500GB Goodmans GFSDTR500HD. Argos followed soon after with live product listings, but as the new Freesat+ PVRs haven’t even been launched as yet we’re interested to know how development was progressing. John says

Yes this was a little premature, but what it did do is announce our intention to have a PVR. We do have a PVR; it’s in final testing with industry bodies at this time. So we are close to manufacture and close to release in the UK.

With the Humax exclusivity deal on the sale of Freesat+ PVRs effectively over since around the end of last year, one might have expected more PVR manufacturers unleashing a stockpile of Freesat+ recorders in the new year. But it’s been strangely quiet on PVR scene until recently. We asked Harvard if there is much longer to wait for affordable competition in the Freesat PVR market. John says

We will release ASAP. These particular hardware items are nothing if not complex. Then the testing is extremely laborious. This is done not only by ourselves but also by the DTG (Digital Television Group). When that testing is going to be finally complete I really couldn’t say but if I were to give PVRJunction some sort of steer on it, I would expect the product to be in the market by next month.

The industry is currently hard at work on the Freeview platform too; busy working towards the provision of high definition channels on DTT (digital terrestrial television). The working title is T2 (DVB-T2), and together with most other key hardware suppliers Harvard are watching developments extremely closely on T2. According to John Edwards there will be no significant announcement yet because this has got to come through Freeview, as its going to become FreeviewHD. The industry is looking to have some sort of start to HD broadcasting by the end of the year, with broadcasts happening both in the Granada region, and also in the metropolitan London region. The scope of those broadcasts hasn’t yet been defined and most of the industry is awaiting a fuller announcement by Freeview themselves. Hardware-wise John says

As far as hardware goes I think it’s probably unlikely in that timescale. Whilst you may have one or two token pieces of hardware by the end of the year, in terms of anything like a significant volume I think you’ve really got to have a look at Q1/ Q2 next year.

It seems too early to talk about the hardware and obtain some sort of scope but talking to manufacturers over the last few weeks its clear many of them are yet to get their hands on the silicon needed for DVB-T2, and probably will not do until the latter part of the year. Launch products will likely be thin on the ground – perhaps set top boxes rather than PVRs. We asked John if Harvard will be releasing a FreeviewHD PVR for early next year

Yes. I wouldn’t claim that we’re going to be right in the lead. I would claim that we are going to be close followers. I expect there is going to be hardware around by Easter; there should be broadcast coverage in HD up to 48% of the current DTT coverage before the world cup which is June next year.

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The sixth annual Communications Market Report has just been released by Ofcom, and reveals just how much the  appetite among consumers is growing for recording broadcast programmes for playback later. Nearly 9 million PVRs have been sold since 2000, helped in large part by the move to digital broadcasting. Here we set out key metrics on the take-up and use of PVR products and identify trends in consumer attitudes towards PVR use.

Key findings:

• More than a quarter of consumers (27%) claimed to use a PVR at the end of March 2009, equivalent to 7 million homes, according to Ofcom research. This rose to nearly a third of consumers (31%) in multichannel television homes.
• These figures are a little lower than those for operator and sales data, which suggest that nearly 9 million PVRs had been sold in the UK at the end of March 2009. The five million Sky+ boxes (launched in September 2001) made up the majority of the UK PVR universe at the end of Q1 2009, followed by Freeview+ and Freesat+ and Top Up TV devices, which together accounted for around 2.6 million devices.
• 15% of viewing across the five main PSB channels in 2008 was of programmes recorded using a PVR, according to data from BARB, the television industry’s audience measurement organisation. In Sky+ homes this rose to 19%.
• Adults aged 16-34 are the group most likely to watch programmes recorded on a PVR; 19% of viewing among this age group was on a recorded basis in 2008 according to BARB, compared to 11% for viewers aged 55 and over.
• High-definition programmes are among those most viewed after their initial broadcast in Sky+ homes, according to viewing data from the SkyView panel. A third of viewing of Drama serials and series in Sky+ homes is recorded.
• 42% of consumers said that they watched a greater variety of programmes since owning a PVR, although a third (33%) disagreed with this. Eighty per cent of consumers believe that they watch more programmes that they enjoy because they have a PVR.
• PVRs are becoming increasingly advanced, offering viewers search functionality and ‘push’ video-on-demand, where programmes are downloaded to the hard disk drive, for example. Hard drives are also increasing in size; some PVRs offer up to 250 hours of recording, up markedly from the 40 hours available on early generations of devices.
• The average retail price of PVRs for the Freeview market had fallen to £106 at the end of March 2009, down from £172 in March 2005, according to GfK sales data. Similarly, the costs of DVRs from the main pay-TV operators have fallen.
• Consumers are using a range of services to ‘catch up’ on television programmes including online catch-up TV and TV-based video-on-demand.

The report shows around a fifth (19 per cent) of viewing in Sky+ homes is timeshifted, more than for subscribers to Virgin Media’s V+ service who timeshifted 12 per cent of viewing; and some 9 per cent of viewing in Freeview PVR homes was time-shifted programmes. Ofcoms research also suggests that PVR owners enjoy a better TV experience, where 8 out of 10 TV viewers with a PVR say that they watched more programmes that they enjoy, and over 40 per cent said that they watched a greater variety of programmes since getting a PVR.

Source: Ofcom August 2009

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Digital Vision, the design and manufacturer of digital TV products, have released details of the DV-DTR1, a single tuner Digital TV Recorder for Freeview. It is designed to complement your television and make it simple connect to your TV and your aerial, and use the remote to select the programmes you wish to record over the next week. The aim here is to help UK households change to digital TV; at the same time replace their VCR, without having to spend a fortune in the process.

Your programmes, say Digital Vision, are recorded onto compact and convenient USB drives, the worlds favourite recording media. “Just like audio cassettes, video tapes will be phased out, to be replaced by either recordable DVDs or new highly compact, solid state USB “flash” drives.” With no moving parts to wear out, USB flash drives are a convenient way to record your favourite digital TV and Radio shows. When you playback your recordings, they are just as good as live TV and they take up less space than bulky tapes. This unique technology is patent protected (patents pending) and exclusive in today’s market.

If you still have a VCR for recording TV, replacing it with the DV-DTR1 will make it so much easier. Using the constantly updated on-screen 8 day programme guide, just select the programmes you wish to record, and the DV-DTR1 will wake up from standby on the day/time the programme is broadcast to record it for you in full digital quality. Then when you are ready to watch your recordings, use the on-screen recording list to select, and press play. What could be simpler?

There are no less than three USB slots you can use to plug USB drives. This convenient feature lets you incrementally add more storage to the DV-DTR1 while still being able to access your existing recordings. You can also copy recordings from one USB drive to another without needing to use a computer. This feature is very useful for transferring recordings to watch on another DVDTR1 or to a high capacity USB hard drive. It sounds nice and simple. You can also transfer recordings to your computer. That’s the other really great feature of the DV-DTR1. Simply unplug the USB drive and insert it into the USB socket on your computer. You can then either play the recordings back from the USB drive or copy them to your computer hard disk so you can make more room for new recordings on your USB drive. If you have a laptop computer, you could watch your recordings on a train or on a plane. Maybe you just want to watch your recorded programme while other members of the family are using the main TV.

If you’re not quite ready to give up on your video tapes, don’t worry. Simply connect your VCR to the DV-DTR1 and press Play on your VCR. The DV-DTR1 will automatically route the output of your VCR to your TV. You could even record to VHS tape, the digital channel that your DV-DTR1 is currently tuned or the USB recorded programme it is playing back. This feature would let you or another family member watch the recording later on another VCR elsewhere.

In summary, a simple to use, feature packed STB. With user friendly GUI, compact and stylish design. Record and playback digital TV; Copy from one device to another; Schedule recordings from the EPG onto 3 separate devices – the 3 USB ports on its front panel allow a richer user experience with a wide range of functionalities. Prices are expected to be under £70.

A twin tuner version is expected towards the end of the year, which will include a 2.5″ built in hard disk drive, as well as retaining the innovative 3 port USB features of the DV-DTR1. Stay tuned as we bring you hands-on information regarding the the finer details, together with our usual mix of photos and video shortly.

Click the above picture for the Digital Vision Website

Latest research from Ofcom reveals that more viewers are taking greater control over the way they watch television as the total number of digital video recorders sold reaches almost nine million (8.9 million).

Its Digital Progress Report for the first quarter of 2009 showed that the number of digital recording devices which allow viewers the ability to pause, store and rewind live programmes had increased by nearly one million on the quarter. This includes:

• Some five million Sky customers with a Sky+ service;
• More than 2.6 million Freeview digital video recorders, such as Freeview +;
• Around 600,000 Virgin Media subscribers with a V+ service; and
• A further 600,000 homes with BT Vision and Top Up TV.

Viewers are also choosing more sophisticated ways of enjoying television, with nearly two million (1.9 million) households in the UK with access to high definition (HD) channels.

The report also shows that the total number of digital households reached 89.2 per cent with digital switchover now underway in the West Country, Border and Isle of Man.

DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION (DTT)

• The total number of households with a DTT device on any set reached 18.0 million, up from 17.7 million during the quarter

• Since Freeview launched in 2002, the total sales of DTT devices reached over 43 million units, with over 23 million set-top boxes and nearly 20 million Integrated Digital TVs (IDTV)

DIGITAL SATELLITE SERVICES (Pay TV services)

• BSkyB reported that its customer base grew by 80,000 to over 9.3 million households in the UK and Ireland during the quarter. This is up by 430,000 subscribers year-on-year.

• Some 19 per cent of its customers (1.77 million) have at least one extra set connected to Sky through its Multiroom service, an increase of 46,000 on the quarter

DIGITAL SATELLITE SERVICES (Free services)

• By March 2009 the BBC/ITV Freesat service reported that sales had reached 350,000 up from 230,000 sales in the previous quarter. Of these almost three-quarters of sales were HD ready receivers (263,000)

• According to the latest consumer research there were around 500,000 households with free satellite services down around 100,000 on the previous quarter

CABLE (Virgin Media subscribers)

• The total number of cable TV customers reached its highest ever figure with 3.65 million subscribers, up by almost 137,000 in twelve months
• Over half (53 per cent) of its customers were using its video on demand (VoD) service

The full report can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tv/reports/dtv/dtu_2009_01/

This is the new Freeview+ PVR from Pace which is currently being branded here by Philips, called the DTR7510. It’s an attractive unit which looks better in the flesh than the squarer looking pictures found online. It’s also smaller than we were expecting, with a width of just 240mm and a depth of 145mm. The front flap feels a tad flimsy and the plastic buttons are a little clicky/clunky in a cheap way – but hey not many people will be using those in any case. The money is much better saved for the addition of a card slot for Pay TV which saves the expense of needing a CAM as well.
Please note ESPN has taken over the encrypted channel 34 from Setanta and is broadcasting without subscription for the time being. Contact TUTV to arrange viewing or for further details.

Click for larger picture

The package includes 2x AA batteries for the hefty remote control. OK it’s not the largest remote control we own but its still quite long and heavy, and I fear one handed operation may be out of the window. But it does carry controls for operating not only the PVR but our TV, VCR, DVD and amplifier. The buttons are also laid out such that learning the location of the most used buttons, without having to look down at the remote, or in a darkened room will be easier.

At the back of the unit there are connectors for both SCART (SCART cable provided) and HDMI (HDMI cable not provided), and under the front flap is a USB socket where you can connect a USB drive. USB drives containing your pictures and music can be loaded on and viewed from the PVR to you TV screen. Rumour has it that this unit will store and play Divx movies, although the use of moving video to or from the DTR7510 has been removed from the user manual. We’ll certainly have a play and let you know what it can do in due course.

The installation and set up procedure is quite quick and straight forward. The PVR contains a 160GB hard drive which is good enough for about 90 hours of TV recording. The machine can buffer up 3 hours of TV which you can use to rewind live TV (this is configurable). You can even choose via the menus to disable the hard drive completely, which when we tried had the effect of reducing noise levels from the rather clicky hard drive. 

A quick look at the menus shows options for manually controlling channel search operations; the ability to switch off MHEG interactivity (in case there is an interactive stream being broadcast that is freezing the box); and a chapter skip button that can be configured from 1 minute jumps (useful for skipping through an ad break) to 5 or 10 minute forward skips. The EPG button takes you to ‘Now and Next programme information, but from there you can go into the 7 day EPG view. We would have preferred the guide button to go straight to the 7 day EPG.

A more comprehensive list of features will be added to the Freeview PVR comparison tables at PVR Junction; however our first impressions on the feature set are positive although not in the same league as a Topfield for example. A good mix of features with ‘ease of use’ can be a tricky balance and we’ll be looking for your comments about the DTR7510.

Both Pace and Philips trademarks are on the packaging and the PVR itself, however the two companies are transitioning set-top-box and PVR operations solely back into Pace. We are told the branding of these particular PVRs will revert back to Pace from around September 2009. Support for these machine will continue to be provided by Philips, which has been extended at least to September or until Pace take over.

The Philips DTR7510 is currently available from Argos and Tesco stores for under £150.

Freeview today announced that sales of Freeview+ boxes have reached over 900,000, up 118% compared to December last year.

26% of all sales were achieved in a record final quarter. Throughout December, more than two Freeview+ boxes were bought every minute!

Take-up of Freeview, the UK’s most popular digital TV service, continues to grow indicating that the ability to deliver quality, subscription-free TV is of huge value to consumers particularly in the current economic downturn. More than 17.2 million homes are enjoying the benefits of viewing 13 of the 15 most-watched channels without having to pay more and Freeview+ saves viewers more than £200 in the first year alone compared to the subscription alternatives.

This growth is expected to continue as consumers rein in their expenditure in 2009 – recent research highlighted one in five plans to curtail spending on pay TV channels – and as another five million homes go through digital switchover in the next twelve months, with Freeview+ providing the most cost-effective recording solution for a digital age.

Freeview+ was given a boost with a national TV ad campaign that launched in November 2008. Throughout the campaign period, sales increased by an average of 150% year-on-year and Freeview’s website traffic increased by 80% during the first month alone. The ads celebrated the functionality of Freeview+ and featured a host of British TV talent including Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton, Jennie McAlpine and Tupele Dorgu, comedian Alan Carr and Chef Gordon Ramsay. Ilse Howling, Managing Director of Freeview, said:

The popularity of Freeview+ isn’t surprising given that it offers outstanding value – giving the same experience as ‘+’ recorders from other providers, the only difference is it’s free from subscription.

During a downturn, TV viewing naturally increases as people choose to stay in and watch TV as a form of free entertainment. We know that Freeview is an extremely compelling proposition of high quality, subscription free, digital TV, but Freeview+ is adding a new dimension to people’s viewing experience, allowing them to take control of what they watch and when they watch it. More than half of Freeview+ users tell us they can’t live without it.

According to Freeview there are over 60 models to choose from, including boxes with integrated DVD recorders/players and Freeview+ built into digital TVs. We know that Freeview+ offers the biggest range of digital TV recorders available today. Viewers can pause, record and rewind their favourite TV shows without having to pay a monthly subscription.

In the first of Freeview’s new channel launches in 2009, CNN International is now available on channel 84 bringing viewers world news, every night from 9pm to 1am. Discovery Networks UK also plans to launch a new channel in the coming months.  Howling concludes,

These new additions to the Freeview channel portfolio, coupled with the roll out of Freeview HD across the UK from the end of 2009 is an exciting prospect for Freeview viewers and gives them even more value in the tough climate.

Today sees the launch of Freeview’s first national television ad campaign to promote Freeview+, the platforms digital TV recorders, featuring a stellar cast of British TV talent.

The campaign, created by Beattie McGuiness Bungay (BMB), acts out Freeview+ functionality within much-loved Freeview programming. 4Creative and ITVCreative collaborated on the activity. The line-up includes Antony Cotton, Jennie McAlpine and Tupele Dorgu of Coronation Street fame; comedian, Alan Carr; chef, Gordon Ramsay; football pundits, Steve Rider and Andy Townsend; not to mention an African cheetah and her cubs, and an entire period drama cast.

In one execution, a big match kick-off at Wembley is held up until Mike in Cirencester has finished his bath and dried his hair. In another, Gordon Ramsay is repeatedly rewound, and wound up, because Helen in Swansea hasn’t been able to catch his rapid-fire recipe. And in another, an early 19th century Ball at Hampton Court is suspended until Zoe in Godalming is back from Barbados and ready to watch them off series record.

Freeview+ not only provides quality digital television, including 13 of the 15 most-watched channels, it also lets viewers pause, rewind and record their favourite shows without monthly bills or a contract, unlike other ‘+’ services on the market. It could save viewers £200 in the first year alone.

The TV ads break on 6th November and run into the New Year. They are supported by online creative and a revamped Freeview website, developed by Grand Union, and by retail that incorporates a new look and feel by 999 Design. Freeview+ advertorials are also featuring in titles such as The Daily Express, The Daily Star and OK magazine.

Rob Farmer, Director of Marketing Communications at Freeview, says:

There are no monthly bills with Freeview+, you can just enjoy the control it gives you of the telly you love. This campaign celebrates the functionality from the public’s perspective, rather than the TV personality’s. We’re aiming to make the power shift itself a source of entertainment.

Other marketing activity is focused on conversions to Freeview at the Digital Switchover in Border. In addition to on-the-ground initiatives driving awareness of the value and quality of Freeview, a promotion with Tesco has been created whereby customers get a free Technika Freeview box if they buy a Techwood Freeview+ box for £69.97*; a saving of approximately £300 in the first year alone compared to subscription alternatives.

Farmer concludes

Freeview’s proposition is as relevant today as it’s ever been. With a new Discovery channel and, later, HD coming next year, we’re confident in Freeview’s continued ability to deliver the quality TV people want, without the bills they don’t want.

Football World Cup, Hollyoaks, Lewis and Films to be in HD

Ofcom has today announced its decision to reserve capacity for Channel 4 together with Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, and to Channel 3 licensees (ITV plc, Channel TV, stv and UTV) to broadcast new High Definition (HD) services on digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The announcement follows a tender process and means that these public service broadcasters will join the BBC in launching three HD services on DTT, expected to start with the Granada region from late autumn 2009, with nationwide coverage by the end of digital switchover (DSO) in 2012.

To access the HD programmes and new services on DTT, viewers will need an HD Ready TV set and a new HD set-top box that is capable of receiving the new services.  

Ofcom also believes that a fourth HD service could be launched on DTT as soon as 2010. Ofcom says it expects to outline the process for awarding the licence for that service by the end of this year.

Broadcasters pledge popular programmes in HD

• Channel 4 and S4C

Channel 4 made a joint proposal with Welsh-language broadcaster S4C which involves a simultaneous broadcast of the HD version of the Channel 4 service across the UK. In Wales, viewers will receive an HD version of the S4C Digidol service. This means popular Channel 4 shows such as Hollyoaks, and a third of S4C’s productions will be available in HD.

Channel 4 and S4C have stated that their service will also include:

• a strong film component (4HD expects to broadcast over 150 hours of films in HD during the first twelve months, with the majority shown in peak-time);
• drama, comedy, science programmes and documentaries made in the UK in HD and programmes imported from the US such as Desperate Housewives; and
• viewers of S4C HD will be able to watch Welsh-language programmes such as  children’s programmes and European Cup Rugby games in HD.

In addition, the joint Channel 4 / S4C proposal may offer in future an on demand service or sub-let during overnight hours.

Channel 4 already broadcasts a HD service on Sky.

• Channel 3

ITV plc, Channel TV, stv and UTV have stated that they will simultaneously broadcast the current peak-time (18.00-23.00) ITV1 schedule in HD. This will mean that ITV1’s most popular programmes, such as Lewis, will be available in HD.

The new ITV HD service will also include:

• sport programmes, such as the FA Cup and the 2010 Football World Cup, in HD;
• newly-commissioned drama series such as Miss Marple in HD; and
• programmes about the UK’s nations and regions in place of the early evening and late night regional news services.

In addition, ITV proposes to offer on demand services and sub-let services outside of peak-time hours to allow other broadcasters to offer HD or other services on DTT.

ITV already broadcasts a HD service on the BBC and ITV free satellite service, Freesat.

• BBC

As previously stated in April 2008, the BBC Trust will decide on the service to be carried on one of the three slots currently available. A BBC HD service is currently available on BSkyB, Virgin Media and Freesat which includes programmes such as Torchwood and Strictly Come Dancing.

Availability of HD programmes and switchover

The services will become available across the UK as each region completes digital switchover. We expect that the first region in which the HD services will be made available will be the Granada region in 2009, this will be followed by:

• Wales, Scotland and the West Country in 2010;
• Central, Yorkshire, Anglia and Meridian in 2011; and
• London, Tyne Tees and Ulster by 2012.

As part of their applications the broadcasters have included proposals to ensure that consumers are properly informed about the new services as digital switchover takes place region by region.

Upgrading DTT for HD services

An upgrade of the DTT platform to new and more efficient technologies will allow the broadcasters to free-up capacity in order to offer new HD services.

The upgrade includes using two new broadcasting standards, known as MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 which are not available on current DTT devices. Many of the leading UK and international manufacturers are now developing receivers that include these new standards. Although compatible receivers are not yet available Ofcom have revealed they are aware from discussions with manufacturers that they are now developing suitable equipment with the intention of launching products in time for digital switchover in the Granada region in late 2009.

Digital terrestrial TV programmes are broadcast on six distinct multiplexes (each using a group of radio frequencies). Ofcom will reorganise existing services onto five of the multiplexes, freeing the sixth multiplex to be upgraded to MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 for the new services. This multiplex is currently licenced to BBC Free to View Ltd (known as Multiplex B).

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive said:

This is a significant step forward in the range of choice available in the UK. It will enable viewers to watch some of the very best programmes free-to-air in high definition through their television aerials.

Further information

1. Ofcom will publish its determination for awarding the two HD slots, which includes the reasons for reserving capacity shortly.

2. The decision to upgrade and reorganise the DTT platform was taken by Ofcom following consultation. The statement, which can be found at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/statement/ included recommendations which the Government adopted in The Television Multiplex Services (Reservation of Digital Capacity) Order 2008 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20081420_en.pdf), and which took effect on 2 July 2008.
The tender process inviting applications for the capacity on Multiplex B was also announced on 2 July, and the statutory notice can be found at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/ita.pdf.

3. Viewers can currently receive HD services from a variety of providers including:

• BBC/ITV free satellite service, Freesat which includes the BBC and ITV HD services;
• Virgin Media, which includes the BBC HD service, Discovery HD, Sky Movies HD1 and Sky Sports HD1; and
• Sky, which includes BBC and Channel 4 HD services as well as Discovery HD, Sky Arts HD, History HD, Sky Box Office HD1 and Sky Sports HD

4. If you need more advice about High Definition TV follow this link: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumeradvice/tv/hdtv/

Humax has joined IMPALA – the International MHEG Promotion Alliance. IMPALA promotes the widespread adoption of MHEG-5 for interactive digital TV by broadcasters around the world. MHEG-5 is a cost-effective and efficient, public standard interactive TV middleware that is used to both send and receive interactive TV signals. It allows a wide range of TV-centric interactive (iTV) services to be deployed.

MHEG-5 also has an active technology roadmap enabling the rollout of new products driven by the need for broadcasters to provide better interactive services. From its early days of providing basic teletext-like services and enhanced interactivity, MHEG-5 now incorporates support for HD, push video-on-demand and support for broadband/IP return channel functionality.

From IMPALA: IMPALA, the International MHEG Promotion Alliance, is delighted to announce that leading receiver supplier Humax has joined as Humax is globally recognised for its pioneering efforts in the digital TV industry, particularly in the digital TV recorder (PVR) market.

Bob Hannent, Chief Technologist, Humax, says:

As a long time user of MHEG and a participant in DTG standards definition for MHEG, Humax is keen to demonstrate its support for this very useful middleware by joining IMPALA

Hannent adds:

After a period overshadowed by much larger interactive middlewares, the smaller size and simplicity of MHEG is now being seen as an advantage by far more than just the UK market. While MHEG has a history of existing in very small footprint boxes it is not just for small applications; its continuing extension for HD and the UK’s Freesat has shown how flexible it can be.

Hannent highlights the interest from international groups in high-end products with embedded MHEG at IBC
2008. And concludes: 

The Humax demonstration of MHEG running on an HD set-top box attracted great interest and the industry is keen to see what else can be achieved with the potential of the broadband interaction channel and other extensions

 Giri Valliappan, Director of Market Development, IMPALA, says:

Humax is a major player in the international receiver market with a tremendous reputation for innovation and quality. We are delighted that the company has joined IMPALA and is highlighting such strong commercial reasons for doing so.

MHEG-5 is a public standard with country or region-specific profiles. Both free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasters are now looking into and deploying MHEG-5 as a low-cost middleware solution for rollout over terrestrial, satellite and cable platforms. IMPALA’s continues to provide guidance and advice to ensure the  standard is adopted and implemented correctly and to expand its reach globally.

The founder members of IMPALA are Strategy & Technology (S&T), Cabot Communications and EchoStar
Europe.

Conceptronics has recently released details of a new twin tuner PVR heading for DTT countries across Europe. Its already been given an impressive model name by Conceptronics: the ‘Media Titan’; so we spoke to the manufacturer this week to find out more. We are not supposed to reveal pricing details just yet but until we get the go ahead here is the low down on the forthcoming PVR.

Conceptronic are presenting the Media Titan as a wireless 300 Mbps 11n HD media player and hard disk recorder with twin DVB-T tuners inside. With this Media Titan Conceptronic anticipates on the growing market of free to air DVB-T with media player in several countries. The dual digital tuner allows consumers to record a movie or TV program on one channel and watch a different program on another channel at the same time. The media Titan supports movie format up to HD 1080p.

For Conceptronics usability is key. The Media Titan distinguishes itself by a simple design and a unique remote control with scroll wheel and 11 buttons only, to make navigation fast and simple. The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) offers a clear overview of what programs are on or scheduled on different channels. Just scroll over the program you would like to record and it’s listed for recording.

Compatibility has certainly been optimised. Besides recording, it plays XviD, WMV9, MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, ISO & VOB movies files, but also 1080p HD movies like H.264 MKV. For photo and music files it supports i.e. BMP, GIFF, JPEG, PNG, MP3, OGG, WAV & WMA (VBR). The content can be played locally from the hard disk or from the network. The Media Titan is DLNA 1.5 compliant and features a UPnP AV client. This means that any user can stream and copy photos, music or movies from a PC or NAS storage device with UPnP AV server over the network; wired or wireless!

The tech specs are as follows:
· TV format: PAL/NTSC
· Built-in twin DVB-T tuners with signal pass-through
· HDMI and Composite video outputs
· Analog and Optical digital audio output (SPDIF)
· 10/100 Mbps ethernet port
· Built in wireless 300 Mbps 11n wireless network adapter with integrated antennas
· Supported formats: H.264 MKV, XviD, WMV9, MOV, M2TS, TS, ISO, MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, SVCD, VCD, BMP, GIFF, JPEG, PNG, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA, (VBR)
· USB 2.0 port (to connect directly to your computer)
· 3x USB 2.0 host port (to connect your USB sticks/drives/dongles)
· DLNA 1.5 and UPnP AV compliant
· Measurements: 27,5 x 24 x 4,5 cm (WxLxH)
· Compatible with Windows 2000/XP & Vista™

Humax’s hugely popular Freeview PVR has recently undergone a hardware transplant to offer HDMI output, and the lowest standby power consumption we know of in a PVR. Consequently the model number has changed slightly to PVR-9300t, and a 320GB hard drive is now fitted as standard. The changes are hoped to satisfy current UK consumer demand until Humax can unveil its all new ’signing and dancing’ high definition PVR when Freeview HD arrives late next year.

But despite its best buy status for UK PVR’s, it seems there is one issue a number of users have feedback to the company: a noisy fan. Ordinarily the fan is turned off during standby; however if the PVR is left on when the TV is switched off, many customers have reported hearing the sound of the fan.

During our conversations with Humax today we took the opportunity to ask them about the fan fitted to their PVR-9300t and PVR-9150t model; and its good news. Humax UK have already asked its engineering division to look into the issue, and as a result a new version of the PVR software has been readied for testing. The changes are designed such that the PVR can control the power feeding the fan while the machine is on.

In house testing will continue together with more beta testers in order to check there will be no adverse effects on the long term reliability of the PVR. If this goes as planned the software will be rolling out to all PVR-9300t and PVR-9150t receivers via an over the air download sometime in the next six or so weeks.

Pace, developer of digital TV technologies, is demonstrating the first set-top box capable of receiving and displaying DVB-T2 HD content at IBC 2008.

About DVB-T2
DVB-T2 is a digital terrestrial transmission system developed by the DVB Project. It introduces the latest modulation and coding techniques to enable highly efficient use of valuable terrestrial
spectrum for the delivery of audio, video and data services to fixed, portable and mobile devices.

The DVB-T2 specification was approved by the DVB Steering Board at the end of June 2008. On approval it was released as a DVB BlueBook and sent to ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) for publication as a formal standard.

For more information visit
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/digital/hd_on_dtt/
http://www.dvb.org/technology/fact_sheets/DVB-T2%20Fact%20Sheet.0808.pdf

Pace’s prototype consists of the world’s first DVB-T2 front-end (the silicon tuner TDA18211 and a prototype of the forthcoming demodulator TDA10055) from NXP Semiconductors and a Pace high definition terrestrial set-top box which will receive a live MPEG-4 HD stream from an Enensys DVB-T2 Modulator based at the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) stand at the show.

DVB-T2 brings efficiencies of between 30% and 50% in its use of spectrum compared to DVB-T and is expected to be a key enabler to the roll out of high definition TV in the UK over Freeview.

As one the big guns in set-top boxes, Pace has been involved in the creation of the DVB-T2 draft standard, focusing on key technical aspects that add to the improvement and robustness of the standard, which was only confirmed in June this year.

Darren Fawcett, Chief Technologist for Wireless Systems at Pace plc commented: “The take up of high definition services within mature TV markets is picking up speed, and is expected to grow substantially over the next five years. But this HD content is currently in the cable and satellite domains. To enable terrestrial services to compete effectively with the other platforms, DVB-T2 is an essential move. As we saw with the shift to the DVB-S2 standard for satellite services, the extra efficiencies in the use of the spectrum will make the option of delivering HD via DTT viable.”

With DVB-T2 the DVB Project offers broadcasters a means of using that spectrum in the most efficient ways possible using state of the art technology. The first country to deploy DVB-T2 is likely to be the UK, where ASO is already under way. The regulator, Ofcom, has stated its intention to convert one nationwide multiplex to DVB-T2 with the first transmissions of multichannel HDTV set to begin at the end of 2009.

Test transmissions began immediately after the approval of the standard in June 2008.