The Rise Of The PVR

Cablevision, currently Bermuda's sole cable TV provider, has just announced that it will be offering personal video recorder (PVR) functionality in its digital set top boxes within the next three months.

Since arriving in Bermuda ten months ago, my wife and I have had to replace almost all our electronic equipment because of the voltage difference between Bermuda and the UK. One thing I refused to do, however, was buy a new VCR; not only are they now ancient technology, but tapes also have a habit of going mouldy here. Just a couple of months ago I nearly spent a ridiculous amount of money on a DVD recorder with PVR functionality instead, but decided to wait when my in-laws loaned us their spare VCR. With the arrival of PVR functionality in the cable box itself, I'm glad I did.

Cablevision's decision may be the first positive benefit to consumers from the decision by rival World On Wireless (WOW) to set up a competing cable TV business in Bermuda. Expecting to go on air next month, WOW are offering a choice of two set top boxes to their customers, one with PVR functionality and one without.

While WOW's PVRs may be the first to be widely available in Bermuda (Cablevision's will only be available to its customers with digital cable, a service still being slowly rolled out across the Island), Cablevision's customers may end up with the better technology. According to general manager Jeremy Elmas, Cablevision's PVR will have an 80 hour recording capacity; WOW's will be half that.

HDTV is another area where it's to be hoped that competition from WOW will help spur innovation. Currently Cablevision offers only one HDTV channel to its digital subscribers, although more are supposed to come online in the summer. It's not yet clear what WOW's plans for HDTV are - a request to them for information has so far gone unanswered.

In the meantime, I look forward to the day when our VCR can be consigned to the bin.

Comments

[kristen sousa on 29.03.04 at 21:31]

*jealous*

I want Digital Cable.. and I really want Digital Cable with PVR...

*pout*

[Tom Bridge on 29.03.04 at 23:09]

I'm absolutely desperate for HDTV here in the DC area, but tuners than can handle PVR functionality as well are still brutally expensive...

*sigh*

Guess we wait some more!

[Eric on 30.03.04 at 09:16]

I had to ditch my TiVo when I moved here. I was severely addicted to it and I miss it - although I don't even have cable here and I don't really watch too much TV if I can help it. (I mostly miss Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" in the States and it doesn't seem that we even get that here)

I have contemplated just building my own PVR with software like MythOS and the like since it is relatively easy - but the high cost of parts in Bermuda negates some of the obvious benefits of doing that.

As for WOW, they will release their channel schedule and further details very shortly now. They seem to want to keep quiet about that for some reason right now, but from what I have heard it is all quite good.