Japanese state broadcaster NHK will begin to offer downloads of its TV programmes next April for the first time. Viewers will be able to catch up on the last seven days of broadcasting through the service. The move has prompted a rewrite of Japanese broadcast law, which currently prohibits such a service. While the service will be free, it may be restricted to those paying NHK receiving fees.
According to data released by The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), a trade association that represents manufacturers of both hardware and content, more than 30 million US households now have at least one HDTV.
It’s estimated that 4.5 million HDTVs were sold in the first half of 2007, 50 per cent more than the same period of the pervious year. The CEA forecasts that 16 million HD TVs will be sold by the end of the year bring the US household total to more than 52 million, a penetration of 36 per cent. More than 20 per cent of US homes will at that point own more than one HDTV sets.
BT Vision is to screen Barclays Premier League football as part of its BT Vision Sport service. This service allows fans to catch-up with more matches in full than any other service and for just £4 a month. Fans will be able to choose from Premier League matches hours after the action on VOD. Viewers can also combine the service with a package of live English and Scottish matches from Setanta Sports for only £12 a month.
BT Vision Sport is aimed at fans who have BT Total Broadband but who are unwilling, or unable, to pay high TV sports subscriptions. The “near live” service includes 242 Premier League matches per season and up to 125 Coca Cola League and Carling Cup games. Fans can also access Setanta Sports’ live action which includes 46 Premier League matches from England and 60 from Scotland (including all the old firm derbies) as well as action from other European football leagues, US PGA tour golf, Nascar and Magners League rugby. BT Vision also offers a library of classic sporting action and documentaries available on demand and supplied by sporting giants ESPN and IMG.
Viewers can pay £1.99 to watch one of the 242 near-live matches - the first time full Barclays Premier League matches have been available without a TV subscription - or they can choose a subscription which includes all the near-live action for £4 a month. Those who want Setanta’s live action in addition to BT’s 242 near live matches can get this through a £12 “Total” package which delivers 75 per cent of all Barclays Premier League matches in full.
Ian Livingston, BT Retail CEO said: “This is a great day for sports fans. Fans can now follow their team for less than a pound a week. Why pay sky-high prices now there’s an alternative?” (more…)
