MyFreeview|HD™ in New Zealand stores from 11th December

MyFreeview|HD™ in-store date plus new channels TV3+1 and Base FM contribute to more positive news from Freeview

With less than four weeks until Christmas, Kiwis around the country are set to benefit from the availability of the first MyFreeview|HD™ approved Digital Television Recorder.

“We’re delighted to confirm that the first approved Digital Television Recorder (or DTR) that works with the MyFreeview|HD™ service will be available in leading appliance retailers from the 11th December,” says Steve Browning, General Manager, Freeview NZ.

The MyFreeview|HD™ DTR uses the Freeview eight-day electronic programme guide to select programmes or series to record. This first Freeview approved DTR from Zinwell contains two tuners which means you can simultaneously record from two channels while watching another programme from the hard-drive. It has capacity for up to 80 hours of High Definition (HD) or 240 hours of standard definition (SD) programmes. MyFreeview|HD™ is the only digital television service with TVONE, TV2, and TV3 programmes available to record in HD with no subscription fees. It also enables the viewer to pause live TV, automatically book alternate recording times if you already have two bookings set, and even provides recommendations for other programmes you may also like to record.

Freeview also continues to deliver on the promise of more free TV and radio channels with the arrival of Base FM on Freeview|HD™ and Freeview Satellite channel 71 and the announcement of TV3+1 from MediaWorks (owners of TV3 and C4) on channel 8 from next March.

Consisting of a high-profile collective of DJs, Base FM has swiftly cemented a reputation for providing its listeners with a fresh and compelling contemporary music offering.

“We’re almost five years old now and our line-up consists of some of the best artists and producers in NZ music today, we broadcast 24 hours per day, seven days per week and according to Research International have one of the highest time-spend-listening rates in the market. Our availability on Freeview will only serve to strengthen our appeal by improving the Base FM reach, quality and proposition,” says Jasmin Ziedan, Station Manager, Base FM.

TV3+1 allows viewers to watch their favourite TV3 programmes one hour later, thereby avoiding those primetime schedule clashes.

“In the UK, tuning to the +1 channel averages 38% of the tuning to the main channel on the same platform and we would expect no difference in New Zealand,” comments Rick Friesen, MediaWorks Director of Special Projects.

“In overseas markets where similar services have been launched the viewer response has been very favourable, so we’re excited about what this will mean for the continued growth and popularity of the Freeview platform,” adds Steve Browning, General Manager, Freeview.