(14 December 2006 4:20 pm)

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has started a small closed technical trial to test some of the technologies around Push-VoD to digital video recorders in the UK.

Working in partnership with Cabot Communications Ltd, the BBC has developed an advanced interactive application that allows viewers to catch up from 50 hours of automatically-recorded content each week.

The trial will comprise 300 participants from in and around the London area and run for approximately three months. The objective of the trial is to test the technologies around off-air capture and navigation in order to deliver broadcaster selected content onto a PVR, record, store and replay rich interactive applications and create a video rich navigation.

During the trial, the digital video recorder (DVR) will store up to 100 hours of TV programmes each week: 50 hours of BBC programmes will be automatically recorded and stored onto the DVR hard drive after broadcast on a seven-day rolling basis, and up to 50 hours can be personally recorded by the triallist.

Recorded programmes will be accessible through a bespoke navigation. The future aspiration of the BBCi Push-VoD application is to enable consumers to create their own personal packages of content, for example an entertainment or sports specific package.

BBCi controller Rahul Chakkara said, "As we move further into an on-demand world, where viewers are looking for more opportunities to take control of their viewing schedules, it is imperative that the BBC is at the forefront of exploring new technologies to meet their needs.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with Cabot Communications on Push-VoD initially via DTT, and to explore the ways in which MHEG and DVR technology can be used to meet audiences' changing needs."