Humax launches <free time> satellite set-top box in the UK

Humax (115160.KQ), a leading global set-top box manufacturer has announced that it will provide a set-top box (model name: HDR-1000S) capable of receiving <free time>, a new generation satellite hybrid broadcast service in the UK. According to the announcement on October 25, this set-top box will be the first available <free time> set-top box through major UK distributors in the near future.

<free time> is a new generation hybrid broadcast platform that combines various IP-based services such as Catch-up (Replay), video on demand (VOD), among others with Freesat, a free satellite broadcast service. It is similar to ‘YouView’, a hybrid service platform launched last July, which combined terrestrial broadcasts with IP services.

<free time> provides a Catch-up (Replay) service for major broadcasts such as BBC, ITV, among others as well as about 100 satellite broadcast channels. The Catch-up (Replay) service for Channel4 and Channel5 and the major VOD services will be available by the end of the year. In particular, a ‘Backward EPG’ function allows users to view programs broadcast during the last 7 days. And the integrated search function allows users to search for various contents at any time.

Soon after the development & distribution of ‘YouView’ set-top box last July, (a first of its kind anywhere in the world), Humax yet again moved ahead of its global competitors by developing a <free time> dedicated set-top box for distribution It is noteworthy that Humax has managed to strenghten its position as the leader in the advanced broadcasting environment such as the UK broadcasting market.

Humax plans to distribute this product in John Lewis Department Stores, major retailers such as Currys, and over the internet, among other outlets. Humax expects the product to be the only available set-top box dedicated for satellite hybrid broadcasts for the immediate future.

CEO Dae-Gyu Byun explains, “Humax has introduced set-top boxes dedicated for ‘YouView’, which is a terrestrial hybrid broadcast service, and <free time>, which is a satellite hybrid broadcast service and the first of its kind, into the UK market which has one of the most advanced broadcasting infrastructures. This means that Humax is well in the lead when it comes to changes and developments in the broadcasting environment compared to its competitors. With this new product, viewers in the UK can enjoy a much more advanced two-way TV service. And in the same context, UK broadcasters can constantly expand their advanced broadcast services into the global broadcast market.”

Humax has overwhelmingly maintained first place in the HD set-top box market since it provided Freesat HD set-top boxes, the first free satellite broadcast service in the UK. In addition, Humax has also maintained its unchallenged first position in the terrestrial set-top box market.