Source: http://www.***.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=876

TVDrive launches in Glasgow and Teesside

*** Telewest will launch TVDrive, its personal video recorder (PVR), to over 650,000 *** customers in Glasgow and Teesside this week. The service was launched to Telewest customers earlier this year and will now be rolled-out to all 12 million cable homes by early next year.

TVDrive makes recording television easy and enables customers to pause live TV if interrupted. With hard drive storage for around 80 hours of programmes, viewers simply press one button to save their favourite shows. Three tuners mean more flexibility than the Sky+ PVR, allowing up to two channels to be recorded whilst watching a third.

Customers in Glasgow and Teesside will also be able to enjoy high definition TV (HDTV), offering stunning picture quality on even the biggest plasma and LCD screens. Viewers will need an HD-ready TV set and can choose from free entertainment from the BBC plus pay-per-view movies.

HD programmes have around five times as many pixels as standard digital TV broadcasts, plus often feature Dolby surround sound. Many of the HD programmes are offered via the cable company’s TV on demand service, which provides instant access to a huge library of viewing at the touch of a button.

TVDrive costs £10 per month for customers taking the company’s top digital TV package, or £15 per month otherwise. Unlike existing PVRs, there are no large purchasing costs and maintenance is included in the monthly fee. The service enables viewers to:

• Receive all of ***’s existing digital TV services, including TV on demand
• Easily record and store around 80 hours of standard definition programmes
• Watch one channel and record up to two others at the same time
• Pause and rewind live TV
• Watch and record programmes in high definition
• Record all or part of a series, or record by programme category
• Plan viewing and recordings with an eight-day, on-screen programme guide

Ernie Cormier, chief commercial officer of *** Telewest, said: “TVDrive has been hugely popular with Telewest customers so we are launching to *** areas as soon as possible. Our combination of TV on demand, HDTV and a personal video recorder is unique in the market. We give our customers a powerful entertainment package, with unrivalled choice, amazing picture quality and complete control over viewing.”

*** Telewest launched the UK’s first HDTV service in March this year. For more information about the company’s bundle of digital TV, broadband, home and mobile phone services, or to check availability, consumers can call 0800 183 1000 or visit www.whycable.co.uk.
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