TopTV promises better technology, a better interactive TV guide, an easier on-screen user interface and a PVR with more recording space.

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TopTV, the new satellite pay TV platform from On Digital Media (ODM) promises a PVR (digital personal video recorder) that will be introduced within a year after TopTV launches in May as well as superior, premium technology in terms of its broadcasting infrastructure, as well as premium but affordable decoder and software technology, TopTV has told me.

TopTV also promises a better, more responsive and interactive user interface on-screen for subscribers coming from the small TopTV set top box (STB). The TopTV decoder will also give subscribers and TV viewers much better access to information, programming information and will feature an innovative electronic programming guide (EPG).

''Everything being used in our data centre is state of the art and has never before been used in this country before technology wise,'' Elouise Kelly, chief marketing officer of ODM told me. ''We have been testing our launch product and we've been testing some of our PVR offerings that will come in the future. We feel quite comfortable that we will be able to surpass - definitely in terms of the PVR - what is currently in the market.''

To read what else TopTV has to say regarding the new satellite broadcaster's STB, the technology, the LONGER RECORDING TIME, the user interface and functionality, click on READ MORE below.

TopTV tells me that they're looking to launch their PVR within a year after On Digital Media launches the TopTV service in May. Then, they are mulling the possibility of maybe simply downloading the PVR functionality right onto the existing set top box, instead of having subscribers having to acquire new hardware and a new PVR set top box.

''We're looking at PVR functionality -  for instance whether it could be put onto the decoder and onto the set top box later, but still the same one that we will be launching with,'' Elouise Kelly, ODM's chief marketing officer said to me.

''So we might not need to tell the subscriber to get a new set top box. We can just add on software to the existing set top box as it's needed. Those are the kinds of things we are looking at currently and testing at the moment.''

''It will be great technology but it will also be affordable technology for consumers. What we will be looking at as well, regarding recording time and functionality on the PVR, is that we are looking at ensuring that there will be a lot more space to record a lot more programming. There's an easier user interface in terms of navigating through the electronic programme guide (EPG) on the TopTV service and finding your stuff and what you want to watch. Just getting access to information is something that will be a lot simpler as well. Those initiatives are what we're looking at right now.''