StarHub in Singapore will use OpenTV software for an advanced cable television set-top box with digital video recorder, offering expanded interactive television services.
StarHub provides information, communications and entertainment services over fixed, mobile and internet platforms in Singapore. It operates its own nationwide broadband network that delivers multichannel cable television, voice and data services.
Using OpenTV Core 2.0 middleware and PVR 2.0 technology, the StarHub DVR will be a twin-tuner set-top box with a high capacity hard disk, providing two-way interactivity, with support for video-on-demand and push video on demand.
StarHub says that interactive features will include chat, text messaging and email. It expects to launch the DVR within the next six months.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with StarHub and to support them in deploying market-leading interactive technology,” said Mike Ivanchenko, managing director for OpenTV in the Asia Pacific region.
The set-top box will be supplied by Thomson Broadcast & Media Solutions, with conditional access provided by Nagravision, part of the Kudelski Group.
StarHub launched its digital platform in May 2004 and launched Demand TV, a near video-on-demand service at the end of June 2005.
Sandie Lee, of StarHub Cable TV services said the launch of the DVR “reaffirms our commitment to empower our customers with greater flexibility in ‘when’ they would like to watch their favourite TV programmes.”