On the back of their new ad campaign being launched last night, today Freeview have announced which companies will be releasing Freeview badged equipment. And there are some biggies in there.The following companies are participating:
· Arista Electronics Pty Ltd
· Digital Products Group (Beyonwiz)
· Hills Industries Ltd (DGTEC)
· Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Ltd
· Kogan Technologies
· LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd
· Panasonic Australia Pty Ltd
· Pixel Magic Systems Ltd
· Sharp Corporation
· Sony Australia Pty Ltd
· Strong Technologies Pty Ltd
What will be really interesting here is to see what products the main players stick the Freeview badge on. Because if Sony, Panasonic, LG and Sharp are just releasing Freeview branded TVs, then issues like lack of ad-skipping aren’t applicable. It’s only when you get into discussing DVRs that the issue becomes murky (even though their marketing has been one confusing, misleading clusterf^%k).
I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more on the development of Freeview and Freeview branded products in the very near future. Stay tuned.
Sam
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 4:45 PMFirst one missing to pop in to my mind is Samsung.
andrew
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8:41 PMInteresting timing. IceTV wins in the high court and a few days later Freeview finally announce partners.
Surely this freeview thing is the TV channels getting together to save money on marketing and also to try and control which devices you can use and what you can do just so you can access their ‘licensed’ EPG.
Jenny Bray
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 8:48 PMFreeview stinks. It is a very misleading campaign and the government should intervene. They make it seem like you have to buy Freeview branded equipment or you will miss out on the “new” channels (which apart from three channels aren’t new for a start). They are pushing for their own EPG (digital TV guide) – What will happen to the current one we receive?
It totally conflicts with the federal governments education campaign and adversely affects competition in the marketplace for digital receivers and related equipment. Well done to the manufacturers who will sell non-Freeview branded equipment (providing more features) and resist the Freeview marketing pressure.
Trent
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 9:41 PMToshiba, ChangHong.
And where are my Freeview badged Monster Cables? How am I supposed to connect Freeview gear with Monster Freeview??
Shaun
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 1:44 PMNew add still does not show when. Are they waiting on more court cases or what. I thought it was supposed to be happening Feb/Mar/May