PlayTV brings HD DVR features to European PS3 systems
PlayTV will allow users to watch, pause and record live TV. PlayTV can also record individual shows, or entire series to the PS3 hard drive. The videos can then be watched from the PS3, or can be transferred to the PSP to watch on the go. PlayTV will provide a 7-day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG2) utilizing the "widely available" DVB-T format.
The peripheral will feature two TV tuners that are 1080p compatible, allowing users to view, record and play full HD television signals. Through the PlayStation Network, the program will be constantly updated, to improve the service and offer new functionality.
See the full press release after the break.
Watch, record and replay TV shows on demand
Turn PS3 into a digital personal video recorder and record programmes to watch anytime, anywhere
Leipzig, 22 August 2007. At Games Convention today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced the introduction of PlayTV, a combined TV tuner and Personal Video Recorder (PVR) for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008, with other PAL territories to follow in due course.
Designed to reinforce PS3's rightful place in the Living Room at the heart of the home entertainment needs, the twin channel TV tuner peripheral and PVR software turns PS3 into a state of the art TV recorder, allowing users to watch, pause and record live TV. PlayTV will also record individual programmes or whole series1 to the PS3 hard drive for viewing later on the family TV, or for transferring to the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) for remote viewing outside of the home.
Operating on the widely available Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) format, PlayTV uses an incredibly quick and easy to use 7-day Electronic Programme Guide EPG2. that provides the navigation for programming the PVR features of PlayTV.
In line with PlayStation's focus on advanced technology made easy, PlayTV provides a host of added value features seldom seen on anything but the highest cost standalone PVRs:
· PlayTV's two TV tuners are High Definition ready and are able to view, record and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P to fully complement PS3's already impressive High Definition credentials.
· Unlike the electronic programme guides found on conventional satellite and cable services, PlayTV's EPG is lightning fast, and simple to use with either PS3's SIXAXIS™ wireless controller or the BD remote control to really enhance viewing pleasure.
· Intuitive controls, single button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation make PlayTV a positive joy to use compared with the complexity of some standalone PVR models
· Seamless connectivity with PSP allows you to set recordings, watch Live TV and recorded TV programmes remotely on PSP via a Wi-Fi connection (using Remote Play feature). Alternatively, quickly transcode recorded TV shows for high quality viewing to PSP by USB cable for remote viewing away from the home.
· Optional on-screen graphical display provides a wealth of information about the status of PlayTV and provides quick access to programme information, stored TV programmes and the controls to pause or record live TV. PlayTV will also set the correct interface for either Standard Definition or High Definition displays, maximising the viewing experience.
· PlayTV will evolve with time, with great added value functionality being updated via PLAYSTATION®Network; a feature that sets it above all other set top boxes. PlayTV will never be out of date.
"The introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for the whole family," said David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies, music, video, photo album, web browsing and PLAYSTATION Network support. With the introduction of PlayTV's state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality, PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tanya @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:49PM
USA = Chicken liver ^_^
That is pretty cool, I do hope they announce it expanding to the US in the near future
Popfrogs @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:50PM
Good for you, Europe!
Now, what about us stateside? I guess there's too much nonsense with the cable providers here to pull off something this cool. IPTV anyone?
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:52PM
See the nice menu at the Danish gaming site playstadium.dk: http://www.playstadium.dk/2007/08/22/sony-afsl%c3%b8rer-playtv-en-tv-tuner-til-ps3/#more-4204
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:53PM
And finally Europe get something before the US :)
Ste @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:53PM
Does the US have free digital TV (named "Freeview" in the UK)? If not then it's doubtful you'll be getting this little gadget. :P
This will be a nice little edition to my bedroom, save on the Sky bill.
ToyAnvil @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:02PM
@5 yes we have free digital TV here in the USA - we get ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS in HD for free with an antenna
WA7ER @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:05PM
hmm, nice looking menu.. how comes they're abandoning the XMB design?
I would of assumed all PS3 add ons would have a similar looking menu as the base XMB throughout..
bajanboss @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:15PM
the us will get it too
Edd Mills @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:16PM
I'm with Jean, surely this isn't it? This is all well and good, but where are the games we all so desperately want to be playing?
Jean @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:20PM
hmm...does anyone know where i Can watch the sony keynote? And surely these two things weren't all that was said or is going to be said during the keynote...right?
CoolDude330 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:21PM
Now to wait for it to come to the US...
Jean @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:21PM
ehrm sorry my pc is being whacky, didnt mean to post that again and yeah im waiting for more..
gooftroop @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:24PM
@ bajanboos
The USA wont get that version, afaik the following if true:
"DVB-T is used for broadcast television in Europe. In the United States, ATSC was selected over DVB-T"
this will be a DVB-T receiver....
Jean @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:32PM
was that really it? where are the fireworks!!?
Sim and Sim @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:44PM
Before I start my rant, I would like to add I am a massive PS3 fan boy... but heres my 2 cents....
THIS WHOLE EFFIN DVB-T THING PISSES ME OFF! I live in Ireland (a small neighboring country to the UK), I have and PAY for Digital TV with a company called Sky (or BSkyB if you wanna be pickey), with it I get one hundred billion channels with nothing ever one worth watching when I in, and all the good things on while I'm out... so I need a recorder... getting a VHS recorder is no good... well.. because its VHS... DVD or HDD recorders are good... but expensive here, Sky have a digital recorder thing but you have to pay for the box and then pay another €30 a month.. and another €30 if I want about 2 HD channels (ok theres like 8..)... so anyway if I want to do all that my PS3 will be able to do I have to dish out a lot.. and I'm not arsed doing that... Having a PS3, 32" Samsung HD TV (to shame[and boredom] a wii...) and several other expensive technological nicknacks (one not being an xbox thank you very much...) I'm kinda sick that I still can't record TV....
So its at this point in our story that I say "Enter the PS3 to save me from all this..." WRONG! instead of Sony finding more of a way to make my PS3 more amazing, they piss me off, my sky doesn't run off DVB-T, infact there is not DVB-T signal in the country, the Irish Broadcasting Pricks are doing small tests in small areas of the capital, but its gona be a few hundred years before we get it... So why didn't Sony put in more than just DVB-T, why not all types of digital signals, and analogue ones, as for subscription services, I can out put my sky box onto an analogue signal, and it can set itself to auto change channel... just like you'd have to do with any other external recorder here.... THAT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE!
But hopefully I'm wrong and it will support more than a DVB-T signal....
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:45PM
No US don't get the SKY or something equal to Play-TV soon:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/gc07/harrison-sheds-light-on-us-plans-ps3-dvr-and-psp-tv-292330.php
Will the PSP video download service, come to other contries than UK and Ireland (aahh 2-0, IRL-DEN)
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:50PM
I love that conference. In Denmark we only have about 4 Danish channels, 23 Germans (!), and 8 Swedish, and in October 2009, when the analog signal turns of. And then we got a lot of nice public service channels, free channels and pay channels (can Play TV use that?)
Is it just me, but sounds the Go! name on all the PSP products crazy? It doesen't look good :)
borland502 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:51PM
"The USA wont get that version, afaik the following if true"
Right you are, but we will get the ATSC version if this is popular enough. I mean we don't get cars with the driver in the passenger seat after all =-.)
Mike @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:52PM
We Hate You SONY.
-USA
borland502 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:53PM
"I live in Ireland (a small neighboring country to the UK)"
So that's where the Irish come from! I always figured it was a province of Oz, somewhere over the rainbow.
TJ @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:54PM
This is great for Europe. Hopefully the US will see an ATSC version.
I love my HD Tivo, but when the time comes to get that second HDTV for the bedroom, it means I can have 2 HD DVRs! And no monthly fee on this one!
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:55PM
Right now I just hate Ireland, or maybe I just hate Denmark, because they sucks at football. 2-0 :(
:D
One question: Is the DVB-T the same in the whole EU? More correctly: Is UK's DVB-T, the same as Denmarks? Except from the channels, off course..
Sim and Sim @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:17PM
You know... We'd probably get a DVB-T signal quicker there....
gooftroop @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:22PM
@ mike
blame the US government/broadcasting companies for not adopting a nation wide digital terrestrial broadcasting system
gooftroop @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:23PM
@ Jakob - yes DVB-T IS the standard...
Galley @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:25PM
The U.S. has had terrestrial digital television for several years now. It should be available anywhere in the country. Our ananlog TV system won't be cut off until Feb. 2009, though.
Jakob @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:28PM
@Gooftroop: I asked because Sony just say UK, Germany, France and Italy, and nothing about Scandinavia. So you think we just can import the tuner from UK or Germany?
Wow that is not nice for Denmark right now, 4-0 (Ireland-Denmark) :(
h0mi @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:30PM
how about cable card support and CC over HDMI so I can ditch my tv tuner?
Max @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:24PM
How much is this going to cost?
Max @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:25PM
BTW, good for Europe that they got this! :)
why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:33PM
ATSC and DVB-T do not compete.
ATSC is a standard for encoding the picture. Here in the US, cable companies actually use the ATSC encoding (over QAM64 instead of 8VSB though). What DVB-T really brings is the cableCARD equivalent.
They have "Freeview" in the UK, which is that you put an antenna up and you get some stations free, and you can pay for others. This is all over DVB-T. We don't have an equivalent system here in the US. You can put an antenna up and get digital channels (and I do, and they look great), but you can't get pay channels.
Because there are no pay channels over the air (OTA) in the US and pay channels make up so much of the market, all the action in the US is on cable and satellite. Cable does have CableCARD and so might be able to do some of this, but satellite is completely unregulated. You cannot use your own receiver on DirecTV or DISH, you must use theirs.
This service could be rolled out in the US for over the air (OTA) reception and CableCARD. Basically, you could use this instead of a Series 3 TiVo. But right now this market is tiny compared to the broader cable and satellite market, just ask TiVo.
Hookla @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:37PM
Make it work with
http://www.freetube.110mb.com
and then it's really free..otherwise you still have to pay AT&T for some stupid crap channels and they foot you a nice long bill.
Skunk @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:39PM
Although he only said this about the Terrestrial Version not a possible US based version with Dual Cablecard Support which if it did for under $130 im definitely snatching this up.
John Giotta @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:40PM
I think we as US consumers should demand this. Thats total BS that there isn't digital TV in the US, I've worked in the broadcast and media industry for 8 years now, if anything there just hasn't been a reasonable price range for equipment.
John @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:22PM
Ok, I have to disagree with the fact that the US doesnt have terrestrial digital television support. I live in the middle-of-nowhere rural Vermont (in the norhtern US for those of you who havn't a clue where I'm talking about) and even I get digital channels, more than ten in fact. I should guess that this feature will be coming to the US not long after other areas.
ZRX @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:41PM
Why can't Sony simply make a peripheral that functions like a Location Free box but also allows recording to the HDD ?
mat parker @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:57PM
the funny thing is there is no HD Digital terrestrial TV in the UK
mat parker @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:00PM
And this what 360 UK owners get from IPTV:
BT Vision Music
BT has agreed deals with i-concerts and Eagle Rock - two established providers of long-form music video content - to provide a range of concerts and music documentaries on-demand. The concert programming covers a wide variety of genres including rock, pop, urban and ‘alternative', to jazz and classical music.
i-concerts' potential line-up includes names such as Franz Ferdinand, Keane, Bon Jovi, Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, Pavarotti, Roxy Music and Sheryl Crow.
BT also has a deal with Warner Music Group.
[edit] BT Vision Films
DreamWorks will provide BT with output from the producers and creators of films such as War of the Worlds, and the Shrek franchise. Upon launch, DreamWorks will provide BT Vision with titles such as Steven Spielberg's Munich; Madagascar; Just Like Heaven, Red Eye and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Paramount Pictures
NBC Universal.
Lionsgate films.
Buena Vista International (Disney).
Walt Disney Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Miramax Films
Pixar Animation Studios
Warner Bros.
[edit] BT Vision Sport
BT won the rights to carry 242 ‘near-live' FA Premier League football matches per season. The three year deal covers the 2007-8, 2008-9 and 2009-10 seasons. BT has acquired the rights in a joint bid with BSkyB.
This will allow viewers to watch Premiership matches on their televisions on a pay per view basis, without the need for an upfront television subscription.
On Launch Day, BT Vision announced that as of August 2007 Setanta Sports New Channel, would be joining the line up, using digital terrestrial through a smart card, offering Live English Premiership and Scottish Premier League games, as well as other sporting events.
BT vision sports launched on 17 July with intention to gain cutomers who do not wish to pay a high monthly subscription for sports.[6]
[edit] BT Vision TV & BT Vision Kids
NBC Universal Shows.
Independent produced shows.
BBC Worldwide.
The History Channel
Nickelodeon
Cartoon Network
CBS Paramount Television
MTV
National Geographic Channel
Buena Vista Television (Disney Networks)
American Broadcasting Company abc TV.
Disney Channel
Channel 4
HBO on Demand. Service to be added 2007 (Announced 13 February 2007 to be added to BT Vision, Tiscali TV and Virgin Media)
Warner Bros.
Adult Swim
plus freeview
don_sf @ Aug 23rd 2007 10:18AM
i think sony has something even bigger lined up for the us.
they would be looking to partner up with one of these tv service providers and for the usual monthly fee, they would be able to stream every channel to the ps3 through wifi or ethernet.
also, sony's huge presence in the music and movie industry will soon show in their new features.
and those who think this play tv service is 100% free is incorrect. because in the UK you need to pay a for a tv license, which you have to renew yearly. the price is around £115 i believe which is $200 a year. it is illiegal for anyone to watch television without this license. if you buy items like tvs, or set top boxes from big stores, they take your name and address to check if you have a license in your property. and this verification checks also happen when you are buying from the internet. believe me, i have experience all of these.
Brad @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:19PM
I initially thought the excuse for not releasing this in the US was bogus. I mean, we've had digital HD over-the-air transmissions for years here.
After thinking about this further, though, I do agree with the point that many US consumers are very used to their cable service (as I am) or satellite service. If Sony released PS3 TV that only supported ATSC broadcasts, even if it included Clear-QAM, most users would be disappointed and not understand why the can't get the extra channels.
Cablecard 2.0 is the way to solve this. But the Cable industry in the US has been so restrictive and uncooperative, and they continue to fight the FCC in every way possible. (They have even circumvented the FCC's latest mandate forcing all new cable boxes to use Cablecards, by shipping the cable boxes with the cards preinstalled and preconfigrued in them!)
Even the likes of Sony has found it to not be worth the effort to try and support CableCard. Look at the 2007 Sony TV product line. Do they even have a single new TV released in 2007 that supports Cablecard? They used to put them in all of their mid- and high-end HDTV's in the US, but they got so sick of all the hassles for certification and user problems (with cable companies not making the system work and blaming the TV manufacturers) that they have essentially abandoned Cablecard altogether.
As an owner of an older Sony TV with Cablecard, and as a big fan of the whole cablecard concept, it is pretty clear that Sony has no intention of bringing the PS3 into the middle of this fiasco...
iWish @ Aug 31st 2007 4:08AM
This looks cool, but I'm afraid Sony is going to shut me out, for no particular reason, on a self-created PAL/NTSC software issue..
Bought my PS3 while visiting Japan.