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freitasm

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#169711 23-Mar-2015 19:20
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Just received:


New Zealand’s first multi-screen report recently released by Nielsen found Kiwi’s love affair with the TV set continues to beat strongly after 46 years on the market. As of this year, nearly 3.6million watch content on a TV set (92% of the population) with around 10% of homes having a hybrid or smart TV.

TVNZ Chief Executive Kevin Kenrick says FreeviewPlus responds to Kiwis desire to watch content on bigger screens. “FreeviewPlus is a smart, simple solution that seamlessly brings OnDemand onto the big screen. There is nothing technical required of the viewer beyond being able to turn on their TV and yet they will have the best of both worlds – free to air television and the freedom of our OnDemand service.”

MediaWorks Group CEO, Mark Weldon says FreeviewPlus is an important new development in the New Zealand media landscape.

“By enabling viewers to move between linear free-to-air TV and ondemand services in a frictionless manner, FreeviewPlus delivers clear benefits for audiences and customers. MediaWorks is delighted to be announcing FreeviewPlus alongside our JV partners."

Maori Television CEO Paora Maxwell says he’s excited to be a part of improving New Zealand audiences’ viewing experience. “Freeview Plus will allow easy access to the wealth of programmes we have available on our two traditional channels, combined with our extensive catalogue of on-demand content, now all available to them in one place, on their TV screen.”

FreeviewPlus features:

 

  • Switch seamlessly between live and ondemand TV with a click of a button
  • Scroll through an 8-day TV guide that displays multiple channels at the same time
  • A catch up guide goes back a week so you can catch up with ease
  • Search across live and ondemand TV content
  • Featured sections showcase selected programmes
  • Browse TV and movies libraries by genre
  • Set reminders and favourites
  • More than 600 ondemand shows and movies
  • And of course viewers will continue to receive all the benefit of Freeview|HD with many of their favourite shows broadcast in high definition and surround sound free from subscriptions.
FreeviewPlus is planned for release on the Freeview|HD platform in mid-2015. LG, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic FreeviewPlus Smart TVs and Dish TV FreeviewPlus set top boxes will be available in all leading electronics retailers from April / May 2015.  Viewers who upgrade to these Smart TVs or boxes and connect them to their UHF aerial and home broadband, will automatically pick up the FreeviewPlus service on go live. 




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Glassboy
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  #1266111 23-Mar-2015 19:23
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So bigger brighter X-Factor?

 
 
 

Shop now on Mighty Ape (affiliate link).
mattwnz
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  #1266119 23-Mar-2015 19:28
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Wonder how long these smart tvs will support it for though? Presume it will only be new smart TVs to enable manufacturers to sell new tvs. 

freitasm

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  #1266121 23-Mar-2015 19:30
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Only if you want the new service.





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nickb800
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  #1266127 23-Mar-2015 19:35
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freitasm: Just received:

 Nielsen found ... around 10% of homes having a hybrid or smart TV.



Does anyone else find this rather low? 10% of all TVs perhaps, but I would have thought a good chunk of households would have at least one smart TV. Perhaps a lack of understanding of what qualifies a smart tv?

butlerboy
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  #1266189 23-Mar-2015 20:33
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So, can anybody tell me will my 2 month old Panasonic smart TV be able to pick up FreeviewPlus with a firmware upgrade or not?

mattwnz
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  #1266198 23-Mar-2015 20:47
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nickb800:
freitasm: Just received:

 Nielsen found ... around 10% of homes having a hybrid or smart TV.



Does anyone else find this rather low? 10% of all TVs perhaps, but I would have thought a good chunk of households would have at least one smart TV. Perhaps a lack of understanding of what qualifies a smart tv?


From the freeview website, it looks like this new service will only be on 2015 TVs or newer , as it specifies the brands, and says 2015 models. Then there is probably no guarantee they will continue to support it for more than a couple of years. I certainly wouldn't buy a TV now because it is advertised as a smart TV, as the manufacturers can just drop support for smart apps at a whim.

mattwnz
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  #1266199 23-Mar-2015 20:48
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butlerboy: So, can anybody tell me will my 2 month old Panasonic smart TV be able to pick up FreeviewPlus with a firmware upgrade or not?


Only 2015 models according to freeviews own website, and I am guessing yours is a 2014 model?



logo
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  #1266243 23-Mar-2015 21:03
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mattwnz:
butlerboy: So, can anybody tell me will my 2 month old Panasonic smart TV be able to pick up FreeviewPlus with a firmware upgrade or not?


Only 2015 models according to freeviews own website, and I am guessing yours is a 2014 model?


And that is why I'm not fussed about smart tvs

Give me a set top box that I can replace/upgrade any day




alasta
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  #1266249 23-Mar-2015 21:15
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It's a shame DishTV is the only manufacturer committing to set top boxes because I have found the quality of their product to be pretty dubious. My TV is only three years old so I won't be upgrading to one of these fancy new ones for at least a couple of years.

Dunnersfella
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  #1266264 23-Mar-2015 21:22
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Panasonic make set top boxes... and they're on board.

butlerboy
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  #1266282 23-Mar-2015 21:36
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mattwnz:
butlerboy: So, can anybody tell me will my 2 month old Panasonic smart TV be able to pick up FreeviewPlus with a firmware upgrade or not?


Only 2015 models according to freeviews own website, and I am guessing yours is a 2014 model?

yeah it's a 2014 model bugger it.

mattwnz
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  #1266291 23-Mar-2015 21:50
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butlerboy:
mattwnz:
butlerboy: So, can anybody tell me will my 2 month old Panasonic smart TV be able to pick up FreeviewPlus with a firmware upgrade or not?


Only 2015 models according to freeviews own website, and I am guessing yours is a 2014 model?

yeah it's a 2014 model bugger it.


You never know, they may release a new app for it. But I suspect not, because they will want to sell new tvs with new feature.

littleheaven
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  #1266305 23-Mar-2015 22:22
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I hope this will be available on my brand new top-of-the-line Panasonic Freeview recorder. I've had it about 2 weeks and it wasn't cheap.




Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.


joshhill96
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  #1266309 23-Mar-2015 22:27
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alasta: It's a shame DishTV is the only manufacturer committing to set top boxes because I have found the quality of their product to be pretty dubious. My TV is only three years old so I won't be upgrading to one of these fancy new ones for at least a couple of years.


Were out with the old and in with the new.. trust me you will enjoy what we have to offer in the next few months. :-)




Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies. 

 

Travel Geek: Brazil, Chile, New Caledonia, United States, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Cook Islands


littleheaven
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  #1266325 23-Mar-2015 22:52
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I've done a bit of Googling, and if our service is the same as Australia's, it will require hardware that has HbbTV 1.5 functionality. Apparently all the latest Panasonic PVRs got a firmware upgrade in November which enables that. As mine is even newer than the models mentioned, I'm hoping I'll have that already. I'm certainly holding off buying a Windows TV box, which is what I was intending to use for TVNZ On Demand.




Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.


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