Today, Sony Japan announced a new line of Bravia LCD TVs that feature a 500GB hard drive. As Sony states on their press release relative to the storage capabilities:
- The built-in 500GB HDD, recording a maximum of about 65 hours HDTV programs
- “Book” button on the recording reservation program table now viewing it easier to find
- “Record” button on the record now shows that a single button now to see
- “View” button to see from a program list find quickly your savings program recorded
- “Delete” button to easily erase and record programs that are watching recorded programs now
- “External hard disk recording” for recording TV shows with ease
According to CrunchGear, the available models include: a 40-inch KDL-40EX52H, 32-inch KDL-32EX42H, and 22-inch KDL-22EX42H. Sony plans to make these available in Japan on March 20th.
What does this mean?
Obviously it means potentially one less component in the home theater rack…the DVR, or does it? Does Sony see a sea change in DVR market, one in which it currently plays? Just last August, they introduced six new DVRs with capacities ranging from 320GB to 2.0TB with the capability to record and playback 3D content. The new Bravia TV with 500GB does not provide 3D support. So perhaps the DVR market is just evolving to meet the changing landscape of TV broadcasting and content consumption in terms of quality (i.e. 3D).
Hard drives in the TV are not the only thing changing the landscape of on-demand video. Hard drives in the cloud could be more disruptive. With the growth of mobile video, tablets, Internet TVs, almost anything can be viewed on-demand without the use of a DVR, even in HD…virtually anywhere and on anything. Comcast for one, with its Xfinity TV allows subscribers to do just that. On your TV, laptop, IPhone and now an iPad. The same service also allows subscribers to control their DVR remotely, so the DVR still has its place in Comcast’s strategy.
Bigger picture here is that Sony must see an opportunity in Japan at least to integrate basic DVR functionality into the TV, but I would guess that they see TVs with hard drives, DVRs, mobile video, etc will all co-exist for sometime because it still is and always will be to enable consumers to consume content however, wherever, and whenever they want, and ultimately the market will decide what is best. That’s the way it has been and always will be.
At least that’s how I “view” it.
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While this is a great product that is coming out I don’t think it will take the place of DVR’s. I am an employee with DISH Network and can say that the DVR has other things in the hard drive that isn’t put on a TV. In order to get any service you have to have a receiver so why not make it a DVR. You can also access you bills and customer support through our receivers. Like in the article DISH Network DVR has the option on integrating with your Iphone or Ipad and you can access your TV from anywhere.
@rose Thanks for the comment, and I am with you on this!