Montréal, December 19, 2005 – illico Digital TV customers with a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) or a High Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD-PVR) will be pleased to know that they can now increase their storage capacity by adding a 160 Gb external hard drive which can store up to 100 hours of conventional programming or 20 hours of high definition programming. The exclusive new offer for Vidéotron customers reflects the growing popularity of Personal Video Recorders (PVR, HD-PVR).
This new offering will delight many of our customers, said Manon Brouillette, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development, Consumer Division, Vidéotron ltée. With extra storage capacity, customers will be able to record two of their favourite programs at the same time, store more recorded programs, films and so forth, and watch them whenever they please.
The new external hard drive from international hard drive leader Western Digital can be purchased from Vidéotron online (www.videotron.com), at Vidéotron outlets in shopping centres or at Vidéotron customer contact centres. Shipping is available via Canada Post at applicable rates. The hard drive is compatible only with the Scientific Atlanta 8300 PVR and HD-PVR or with refurbished set-top boxes of the same model. This offer does not apply to leased units.
Vidéotron PVR and HD-PVR
The PVR supports the same functions as a VCR (pause, fast forward, rewind, programming, weekly recording). It also has many other capabilities, such as pausing a live program, watching two programs simultaneously using the picture-on-picture feature, and storing up to 50 hours of programming on the hard drive.
In addition to all the features of the basic Personal Video Recorder, the High Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD-PVR) delivers unparalleled image quality with resolution five times better than that of conventional digital TV. It can record up to 100 hours of programming and lets the viewer record two programs while watching a third.
Vidéotron's PVR and HD-PVR open the door to the digital universe for Quebecers and are expected to have a significant impact on the entertainment market in 2006.
Western Digital
Western Digital (www.wdc.com) is a data storage pioneer and a leader in the hard drive industry. The company provides cost-effective storage solutions for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. Customers rely on WD hard drives in desktop and notebook computers, mobile and handheld devices, corporate networks and home entertainment applications to keep data secure and close at hand.
Vidéotron ltée (www.videotron.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, Internet access services and residential telephone service. Vidéotron is a leader in new technologies with its illico interactive television system and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable television, and other services. As of September 30, 2005, Vidéotron was serving 1,472,000 cable television customers in Québec; including over 425,000 illico subscribers. Vidéotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 607,000 subscribers to its cable modem and dial-up services. n addition, Vidéotron provides residential telephone service to more than 96,000 customers in Montréal, Montréal South Shore and North Shore, Laval and the Québec City area.
