BBTV to go Japan-wide with new STB, functionality and pricing Internet / Other Posted by sar7501 on Jun 21, 2005 - 11:04 PM |
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One of Japan's largest ISPs, the Softbank Group, is expanding the coverage of their IP-based video-delivery service, BBTV, to all of Japan's 47 prefectures from July 1. The price of the service is pretty reasonable (approx $20-30/month) but I'd want to check out the video quality before committing to the service.  BBTV user interface Four Softbank Group companies - Softbank BB, Yahoo! Japan, Nippon Telecom and BB Cable - have announced they will expand the service area of the "BBTV" video-delivery service for Yahoo! BB subscribers to all of Japan's 47 prefectures. A new set-top box (STB) will be introduced and the BBTV pricing structure will also be revised. Until now, the BBTV service has been available via ADSL to "Yahoo! BB ADSL" subscribers in 10 prefectures. The expansion of the service area will allow subscribers in all 47 prefectures to access the service. In addition, the service will also be available via optical fibre to "Yahoo! BB Hikari TV package" subscribers. In conjuction with the service area expansion, the STB used with the BBTV service will also be changed to a new model. The new model has a revised user interface and new functionality including video title search by title/actor/director, 2/4/8/16 speed fast-forward/rewind, EPG (electronic program guide), auto bookmarking and "Last View" resume playback.  BBTV set-top box and remote control In addition to composite video, S-video, analog audio and 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX, the STB's interfaces include a digital audio output and two USB2.0 ports to support future functionality expansion. The STB is W260 x D196 x H50 mm in size and weighs approximately 850 grams. The included remote control is labelled in Japanese. Existing users of the current model STB will be upgraded to the new model at Softbank's expense. Changes to the pricing structure include the introduction of a "Basic Channel Pack" that offers 26 channels (including free channels) and a "Basic Video Pack" that offers 1000 video titles per month. The number of basic channels will be progressively increased to 40 from August. Users on one of the existing pricing packages will be able to continue on their current package or transfer to one of the new packages. Some of the existing packages will gradually be phased out. Each pack will cost 2079 yen/month with a set containing both packs available for 3129 yen/month. There will also be a monthly discount for users connected to Yahoo! broadband internet services - 1260 yen for Yahoo! BB ADSL and 525 yen for Yahoo! BB Hikari TV. However, Yahoo! BB ADSL users will be liable for a 1260 yen/month STB rental fee and a 105 yen/month setup fee (for the first 60 months). Softbank Group will launch new advertising campaigns from July 1 to promote the new service. The "Yahoo! BB ADSL Doki-Doki 0 yen" and "Hajimeru nara hikari mo Yahoo! BB" campaigns will both offer up to two months free internet access and BBTV usage. The first 300,000 customers who subscribe to the BBTV special pack will also receive up to two months free access. Inspired by: http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/10032.html [1] News release: http://www.softbankbb.co.jp/press/2005/p0621.html [2] |
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This article is from TechJapan http://www.techjapan.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1011 Links in this article [1] http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/10032.html [2] http://www.softbankbb.co.jp/press/2005/p0621.html |