Integrated PVR Market Heats Up
By Monica Hogan -- Multichannel News, 2/14/2001 9:55:00 AM
Hughes Network Systems Inc. said Wednesday that its new DirecTV Inc. direct-broadcast satellite receiver with built-in TiVo Inc. personal video recorder will be available at retail stores sometime this month. The combination box is expected to sell for $399.
HNS and DirecTV are sister companies of Hughes Electronics Corp., which is widely rumored to be close to finalizing a deal to merge with News Corp.'s SkyGlobal Networks.
Two other DirecTV receiver manufacturers -- Philips Consumer Electronics Co. and Sony Corp. of America -- also make integrated DirecTV/TiVo boxes.
Later this spring, Thomson Consumer Electronics is expected to market a new DirecTV receiver with a competing PVR from Microsoft Corp.'s 'UltimateTV.' Earlier this week, Microsoft began running teaser television ads for its UltimateTV service, which combines Internet access and other interactive-television services with the PVR.
Also Wednesday, ReplayTV Inc. announced that Panasonic Consumer Electronics is shipping a 27-inch television with a built-in ReplayTV PVR. The combination unit should be available at retail later this month for $899.95.
And EchoStar Communications Corp. chairman Charlie Ergen said in an on-air customer chat Monday night that the company's new 'DishPro 501' DBS receiver and PVR should be available in April.
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