BBC to launch VoD service on Freeview

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1968021,00.html


The BBC are to trial a "catch-up TV" service on Freeview with around 300 London homes.

In a service similar to Top Up TV Anytime, the BBC will select 50 hours of programming to be recorded on to a BBC branded PVR, which also has room for 50 hours of personal recordings. This can then be watched "on-demand".


Presumably they would use unused airtime from the BBCi streams to broadcast the material to be recorded, though it's possible as it's a London trial again they could use the space available for the HD service.

I understood that the box would just record the material directly from air, without any additional programming being broadcast - so the interactive streams won't be needed. I understood that it will essentially act as a standard PVR, but with the BBC automatically recording their programming highlights, without the user having to select them.

That would be possible I suppose - and mean programmes are available once they air - but also causes problems such as restricting the number of your own recordings you can make at that time - and also what happens when the BBC select programmes airing at the same time.

Will this only be available via a DTR box (without a slot for Top-Up TV) or a basic one?

This isn't VOD, it's just recording programmes and playing them back