One thing the iQ will not do is allow viewers to skip commercials, probably one of the biggest advantages of most PVRs, instead it will only allow ads to be fast forwarded. This is going to be a pretty big piece of functionality that the Foxtel set will have to miss out on. The decision not to have an ad skipper is purely a financial one.
Steve Allen, managing director of advertising strategy group Fusion Strategy, said clients buying ad time on TV and pay TV had asked about any impact of PDRs on advertising effectiveness. However, with relatively low levels of recording actually happening, PDRs were expected to have "a very minor effect on the market".
The big plus for the unit is the integration with its Electronic Program Guide, which allows the device to record a show when it actually starts (something that is nearly impossible with a regular PVR even with electronic program integration, see TV Time). The system will also allow for automatic recording of each new episode in a series whenever it is shown, regardless of any changes to the programming schedule.
The unit is basically Pace's TDS460NF and TDC460NF and will use a 160 gbyte hard drive to record digital quality television programming. Integrated twin tuners allow one programme to be recorded while watching another, or two programmes to be recorded at the same time while watching a previously recorded program.
But I will leave you with a bad note. It is rumoured that the Box Office channel will not be on the list of channels that you can record. Also for the $395 cost and the $100 installation fee you don't get to keep the box.
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