What is Needed to get HDTV
Personal Video Recorders (PVR)
The PVR is available as an enhanced STB for satellite or cable reception and allows
digital recording of disc (tapeless) of SD and/or HD programs. The PVR offers playback,
rewind and fast forward of the material recorded. PVR's are obtainable in both SD and HD
formats and some allow recording of both formats, but the HD capacity is much less than
for SD. PVR's include an auto-record mode that allows instant replays. The PVR offered for
cable, includes the Electronic Program Guide (EPG), enabling the automatic recording of
pre-defined shows/episodes or of program types. Some PVR's incorporate dual tuners to
enable simultaneous record/playback or PIP.Typical HD-PVR (Scientific Atlanta SA-8000)
Copyright and IP concerns may prevent the
recording of some VOD and PPV programming and re-transmission of previously recorded
material is not permitted. The use of the PVR to record some analog SD programming may
introduce some degradation due to the necessary digitalization and compression,
particularly on material previously digitized before broadcast. With the current storage
capacity being limited, typically 20 hours of HD or 90 hours of SD, their use is more
suitable for time-shifting, rather than as program libraries. Interfacing the PVR to a
digital VCR to extend the capacity can be implemented but has some stringent protection
limitations.
HD PVR's are offered by the major cable companies including Rogers, Videotron, Shaw and
Cogeco and by the satellite companies Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice, either on a rental
or purchase basis and have proven very acceptable to the existing users. The use of the
PVR frees the viewer to set his own schedule and selection. |
