Australia: Freeview unveils HbbTV STB
May 26, 2015
By Colin Mann
Australian free-to-air service Freeview has unveiled the aerialBox T2100, the first set-top box (STB) certified for FreeviewPlus, the new TV hybrid TV service that provides access to more content and services from the Freeview networks.
The FreeviewPlus technology seamlessly combines broadband and broadcast TV, also enabling the free-to-air networks to introduce a range of new broadband services.
The aerialBox set-top box can be connected to any digital television to access all the FreeviewPlus services and applications.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dish TV as a manufacturing partner. The arrival of the first FreeviewPlus STB is an exciting development for Australian consumers as an affordable way of accessing all of FreviewPlus’s many great new features,” commented Liz Ross, CEO of Freeview.
“FreeviewPlus has been developed so that Australians can benefit from the best free-to-air TV experience in the world, and from today, viewers can enjoy FreeviewPlus via the new aerialBox STB,” she added.
Launched in September 2014, FreeviewPlus is claimed as a “world-first” TV service for Australia, incorporating an most advanced, user-friendly free-to-air EPG experience, delivering the Freeview networks’ Catch Up services from one place on TV screens for the first time.
“Dish TV is proud to be the first manufacturer to bring a FreeviewPlus-certified STB to the Australian market,” stated Dish TV’s Nipuul H Patel.
The aerialBox STB is on sale for A$149 at Dick Smith and David Jones.
FreeviewPlus is also available on a range of TVs from Sony, LG, Bauhn and Hitachi.