nPVR technology to boost the DVR market

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

ABI Research, a technology research firm, released a report on the possible effects of Network-based personal video recording (nPVR) on the DVR market.

NPVR works almost the same way as the DVR technology. The main difference is that with the nPVR technology the content is not stored locally (on the device hard drive) but resides instead on a network.

It is handy because the previously broadcasted content is available without the need to schedule the recording. The user just has to browse the schedule and select what he wants to watch.

In the past there were some legal issues because all the schedule’s content had to be licensed so several cable companies changed their approach to the nPVR technology. One of the solution for example was to offer remote space to register licensed content marked by the user.

If this legal issues are resolved the New York firm states in the reports that nPVR can bring great profits to the DVR market. The nPVR technology combined with other solutions could provide a boost that will make it possible to reach the 250 million subscribers threshold in 2011.

The company using this technology should just provide a basic device equipped with the software necessary to browse the schedule and select the program to watch. This solution would require a little outlay so companies would be able to invest in content and in the infrastructure necessary to deliver it to the user.

According to ABI Research the main benefits will be experienced by companies operating in countries where client-side DVRs are not available. The firm cited China and India as two potential market while for the U.S. the legal problems would have to be tackled before expanding the nPVR technology use. The main issue is on what basis the companies must pay the rights holder: for each viewing or on a one-time basis?

One these issues are solved the nPVR technology there is no reason why should not become as popular as DVR. For less advanced users this would be a great solution to enter the DVR world indeed.