BELL EXPRESSVU TO BRING PVR'S TO CANADA
By Adnews Staff
Direct broadcast satellite television company Bell ExpressVu of Toronto will begin selling personal video recorders to Canadians in September. A PVR device records television signals digitally on a hard drive, allowing a viewer to pause, fast forward or rewind programs as they are broadcast, automatically record scheduled programs, and skip commercials instantly. Bell ExpressVu's PVR will be integrated into the satellite receiver and store up to 30 hours of content on a 40 gigabyte hard drive. Users select programs to record from an on-screen guide which displays a description of the show as well as its start and end times. Users can browse available programs by themes including movies, series, sports, news, family, educational, music and religious. The device also includes a parental lock which can restrict access by program rating, channel or adult content. "Imagine never missing a touchdown, season finale or an episode of your favorite program," said Bell ExpressVu president David McLennan. "For the first time, our PVR makes this a reality. It is great news for consumers who will now have the convenience of selecting and customizing their personal television viewing schedule."