Re: Re: digital TV

["David Buckley" <db@xxxxxxx>]

NEWS RELEASE.

17 January 2002

Pace Puts Digital TV in the Frame for Millions of Viewers


Pace Announces Plans to offer free-to-view Digital TV Adapter to Consumers
for £99.99


The primary barrier to widespread take-up of digital TV has been removed
with the announcement today from Pace Micro Technology of the worlds first
low-cost, Digital TV Adapter enabling consumers to receive digital channels
for a one-off cost of £99.991 . The announcement from Pace is expected to
accelerate take-up of digital TV in the UK, providing a new and
cost-effective path to digital for those who have yet to make the switch.


Available from 30th March 2002, the Pace Adapter is set to make digital
television more accessible because it can be bought off-the-shelf,
self-installed and will ultimately open up a range of news, information and
entertainment channels that have previously been unavailable to analogue
viewers. Consumers purchasing the Pace Digital TV Adapter will be able to
instantly view digital TV, without a payTV subscription, by simply plugging
the device into the back of their existing analogue TV sets. The Adapter
converts any television into a digital TV and provides viewers with the
option to upgrade to payTV services at a later date without purchasing
extra
equipment.


Malcolm Miller, chief executive, Pace Micro Technology said: "Today's
announcement brings us one step closer to the goal of affordable digital TV
for all, and in turn cements the UK's global leadership in digital TV
take-up as we work towards the target digital switch date of 2006-2010.


"However, low-cost free-to-view technology is just one part of the
solution
to full take-up of digital TV; to achieve full switch, we need to take a
fresh look at digital content to ensure it is both useful and compelling.
The BBC's launch of three non-subscription Digital TV channels in March is
a
prime example of the content needed to ensure we achieve our goal. The onus
is now on the Government to continue to support industry initiatives by
providing clear, unbiased information to the public about Digital TV."


The introduction of a low-cost, easy to install Digital TV Adapter will
make
it easy for multiple TV households to convert to digital without having to
invest in expensive integrated digital TVs. Similarly, the Pace Adapter is
the perfect solution for multiple TV environments such as hospitals,
schools
and apartment blocks, where it would be cost prohibitive to replace every
TV
set with a new integrated digital TV.


Independent research conducted on behalf of Pace in November 2001 revealed
as many as half the UK population did not realise that digital switch was a
possibility in this decade and one third of those surveyed had no idea
about
the benefits of digital television and what it will mean for them2 . The
findings threw a shadow over the Government's plans to convert the
remaining
60% of the population to digital by 2006-2010. But today's announcement of
a
low cost, digital TV without subscription receiver, will ensure that the
switch from analogue to digital remains a realistic goal.


The Pace Digital TV Adapter has a modern, curvaceous design, is lightweight
and compact enough to fit into the palm of the hand. The Pace Adapter will
be available from 30th March 2002, in all the usual retail outlets.


1Anticipated price including VAT

2Research conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres between 2nd - 4th November 2001