Foxtel launches Australia's first Pay-TV High Definition service using Pace PVRs

SALTAIRE, West Yorkshire, UK — Pace plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global pay TV industry, has been selected as the launch partner for FOXTELs high definition (HD) service in Australia.

Pace will be supplying cable and satellite HD PVRs (TD-C850NF and TDS850NF) for Australia’s leading subscription television provider. Both come with 320GB hard drives and quad-tuners for the ultimate HD PVR experience. Two tuners will be dedicated to programme recording, while the third will enable users to continue to view and pause live TV while two programmes are being recorded, with no clashes. The fourth tuner will be dedicated to the EPG, enabling full programme information to be accessed even when all three other tuners are being used. This fourth tuner will also be capable of delivering HD and SD push-VOD content to the consumer.

FOXTELs Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Kim Williams AM, commented: FOXTEL continually invests and innovates for the benefit of our consumers. FOXTEL HD+ provides stunning HD pictures and immersive surround sound, new exclusive programming, and a new personal video recorder (PVR), the FOXTEL iQ2. We have a long and successful working relationship with Pace, which made them the natural choice as our high definition PVR launch partner.

Richard Slee, President of Pace EMEA and APAC added: We have worked closely with FOXTEL to develop a product that will provide them with an excellent base of HD technology in their customers homes, not just for the initial HD launch but also in preparation for future applications and services. We are very pleased to be continuing our relationship in this way with this leading, innovative pay TV operator.

At launch, the FOXTEL HD+ service will give viewers access to five dedicated channels Discovery HD, National Geographic HD, FOX SPORTS HD, ESPN HD and BBC HD, plus PPV HD movies that can be watched instantly via the FOXTEL Box Office HD On Demand service. Further channels will be added in 2009 with FOXTEL also committed to delivering multi-channel HD coverage of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Winter Olympics.