Sony To Launch New Slimline Digital Set Top Box

Sony is to launch a new digital set-top box in this country on 1 September. It will have a slimline design which it is hoped will appeal to image-concious consumers and will form part of Sky Digital’s free digibox and minidish offer.

Steve Dowdle, deputy managing director and head of consumer products group for Sony UK, said “The Sony set-top box is the first digibox to feature a digital audio output (DAO). This feature allows digital audio recording of most channels, including the many audio channels now available and is ideal for downloading directly to your MiniDisc.”

Sky and Sony are currently working on the development of integrated digital television sets which could receive both digital satellite broadcasts and free-to-air terrestrial channels. These could be on the market by summer 2001.

In an effort to ensure that the supply problems which dogged Telewest earlier in the year (see Set-Top Box Shortage Puts Telewest Three Months Behind), shipments to retailers began this week. Sony has committed to producing more than 200,000 units by the end of 2000.

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