Response to FreeTV’s EPG Announcement & info on new HD Channels

November 19th, 2007

FreeTV Australia last week announced that the major commercial TV networks have agreed to start providing electronic program guide data via the broadcast signal. This is good news for those with an integrated TV or simple set-top-box…

However for most PVR users… this means nothing. Based on the information IceTV has been given by FreeTV Australia, it seems there are still no plans to provide the EPG data to any digital recording devices that have an in-built 30 second Skip Button or fast forward speeds of 60x or more. That accounts for about 99% of IceTV users.

We at IceTV believe that you should be able to enjoy & freely use all the intended features of the hardware device you yourself purchased and not be restricted in how and when you watch your favourite TV shows. One of the greatest benefits of being an IceTV subscriber is that you are in complete control. Watch, pause, rewind or skip through anything you’ve recorded. Snack on TV or sit down for a full feast.

Because we provide the IceTV service and our own independent 7-day EPG via broadband, you can take advantage of the value-add features that we provide as part of an IceTV subscription. These include IceTV Remote, the IceTV Widget, MyGuide and the soon to be released IceTV Video, none of which are available when using a basic EPG supplied via the broadcast signal. For more information on IceTV and the unique features & services we provide, click here.

Soon you will be able to enjoy the added programming that the 3 major Commercial TV Networks (7, 9 & 10) intend to provide on their new High Definition TV channels, which are due to be officially launched shortly.

Although this is of course great news for TV watchers as a whole… unfortunately IceTV still doesn’t receive any support from the major networks or from FreeTV Australia. As a result, there will be a short delay and we won’t be able to provide EPG data for these new channels until 2-3 weeks after the start of full strength programming.

This is mainly due to possible legal ramifications imposed by the networks and the method we use in order to provide the IceTV service. In most other countries around the world, TV networks openly support independent third party EPG providers like IceTV.

We apologise for any inconvenience this short delay in coverage may cause & thank you all in advance for your patience.

Regards,
IceTV

Note: An open discussion on this subject can be seen in the IceTV Forum.

There has also been some interesting articles written recently on this topic by Adam Turner & Asher Moses that may be of interest.

Posted in Beyonwiz, Corporate, EyeTV, IceTV EPG, IceTV Remote, Press Release, PVR, Service Announcement, Topfield, Windows Vista, Windows XP.