New HD PVR here in September
MultiChoice launched its first HD PVR decoder in August last year, in time to view the Beijing Olympics in high definition. Many consumers rushed to get their hands on this new decoder which sports a 500 GB hard drive and can record 150 hours of standard definition TV or 50 hours of HD TV.
The Pace HD PVR was however dogged with software problems, something which the company said has for the most part been resolved. According to MultiChoice CEO Nolo Letele the latest HD PVR software release, which was made available to DSTV subscribers in May, means that the decoder is now very stable and reliable. MultiChoice CTO Gerdus van Eeden added that there is another HD PVR software update on its way, which will further improve stability and fix a few smaller bugs.
So far MultiChoice has only signed up around 41 000 HD PVR users, significantly less than the 290 000 SD PVR subscribers. This, Letele says, is about to change with a strong HD PVR campaign and three additional HD channels which will be launched within the next nine months.
New HD decoders on the way
Good news for HD enthusiasts is that two new HD PVR’s are on their way: a UEC HD PVR which will compete directly against the current Pace PVR and a low end HD PVR which will be more affordable than the Pace and UEC models.
The UEC HD PVR will be a quad tuner decoder and it is expected to cost the same as the current Pace HD PVR. This new high definition PVR is schedule to hit our shelves in September.
The lower tier HD PVR will have a smaller hard drive and only two tuners – which will significantly reduce the cost of the decoder. While no specific pricing or launch details have been released, it is expected to retail for around R2,000 and become available early next year.
New DSTV HD PVRs – comments and views
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