Bristol - June 26, 2007

DTG member, Ocean Blue Software, says the market needs a single standard for Digital TV recorders, also called Personal Video Recorders. The company is calling for a single brand to avoid consumer confusion, like the recently-announced Freeview Plus, but extending across satellite, cable and even IPTV broadcast.

"It has taken Sky two years and many £millions to establish its PVR brand amongst a small number of consumers," commented Ken Helps, Managing Director of Ocean Blue. "Introducing Freeview Plus has been a step in the right direction and will help consumers looking to replace their VCRs before the digital switch-off.

The market is fragmented and most PVR products contain proprietary software due to the lack of industry standard guidelines. We need to create consumer confidence via product standards and compliance. The introduction of a single PVR standard would simplify the market for consumers and increase take-up of the new technology, says the company, a specialist digital TV software developer.

Ocean Blue is a member of the Digital Television Group, the body behind the recently-introduced Freeview Plus standard.

Ocean Blue's Surfsoft Freeview Plus PVR version contains features such as record, save, play, conflict management, series link, indexing and trick modes. Manufacturers can now specify and build a PVR machine which will meet their exact customer requirements.

The market for PVRs is set to expand rapidly, and Ocean Blue offers clients software product developed to industry standards. Ocean Blue also provides clients with a comprehensive European support centre; test methodologies and facilities for client product testing and accreditation. Ocean Blue also offers full integration and support services of its software components into clients' digital TV products.