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I can reveal that MultiChoice is working on next generation, intelligent HD PVR decoders, as well as a next generation user interface to replace the existing one that will have to work on, and be compatable with all different sized kinds of (TV) screens.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice is planning bigger HD PVR decoders with larger hard drives to increase the amount of video-on-demand content available to subscribers.
MultiChoice envisions a future where the pay TV platform will have multiple high definition (HD) channels and where the HD channel is the ''standard'' or default channel. Only one three digit channel number will exist on the DStv platform for a specific TV channel, although that TV channel will in fact have an HD feed as well as a ''simulcast'' standard definition (SD) feed. It would work in the way that MultiChoice currently has M-Net (DStv 101) and M-Net HD (DStv 170) but the channels will work from one similar three digit number.
''The primary source will be the HD feed. The new MultiChoice HD PVR decoders will be intelligent enough to - where it's not an HD enabled television set - to automatically show a standard definition feed but still appear on the same channel number,'' says a MultiChoicer executive.
''In future if a channel is available in HD on a specific channel number and a TV can show it, the decoder will automatically know to pick the HD feed. If it's only SD, it will be SD but still on the same number.''
I can also reveal that MultiChoice is looking at and working on a next generation user interface as well - a new future version of the current iPlate that pops up when buttons are pushed on the DStv remote control.
''Because television is going everywhere, the big thing is that the interface of the future will be seen on normal TV sets, on big screens, on cellphones and computers and all different kinds of screens with different sizes. So the big question is how that interface has to look to accomodate various sizes of screens,'' says a MultiChoicer.
