Sony Announces Plan to Make Digital TV Tuner for PS3

At the Leipzig Games Convention currently underway, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced their plan to make PlayTV for the Sony Playstation 3. PlayTV, according to Sony, is a combined TV tuner and personal video recorder. Sony introduced PlayTV to boost sales of their high end video gaming console and to "reinforce PS3's rightful place in the Living Room at the heart of the home entertainment needs."

Sony stated that the TV tuner and Personal Video Recorder (PVR) will allow users of the PS3 to watch, pause, and record Live TV simultaneously. The PS3 will also record these programs unto its hard drive which can be transferred to the Playstation Portable via Wi-Fi or the internet using remote connection. Alternatively, Sony said users can transcode recorded TV shows and tranfer it to the PSP.

PlayTV will use a format known in Europe as Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial (DVB-T) and will also feature a 7 day Electronic Program Guide which can use the PS3's SIXAXIS wireless controller or the BD remote control.

Sony's press release revealed that PlayTV's TV tuners are also High Definition ready and will be able to view, record, and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P. Sony also stated that as PlayTV evolves, it will have other value added services, like being able to update via the Playstation network. Another PlayTV feature, according to Sony, is its ability to set the correct interface for either Standard Definition or High Definition displays.

David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe stated, "The introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for the whole family." Reeves added, "PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies, music, video, photo album, web browsing and Playstation Network support. With the introduction of PlayTV's state of the art TV tuner and PVR functionality, PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family."

Sony has not yet announced pricing for the device but said that the PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008. Sony also revealed that it will also release PlayTV in other PAL territories.

Currently, Sony's Playstation 3 faces the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft's Xbox in the high end video gaming console wars. According to Associated Press, as of June, the Playstation 3 ranks third, only selling 4.3 million Playstation 3s compared with the Microsoft Xbox 360s 11.6 million sales and Nintedo Wii's 8 million.

SOURCE:

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, PlayTV Unlocks Free Digital TV On Playstation 3. URL: (http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4413)

Matt Moore, Sony launches TV tuner, recorder for PS3. Associated Press. URL: (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070823/ap_on_hi_te/europe_sony_playstation;_ylt=AoBgjR2nYdWiDLaFWP0gJKsjtBAF)