Sky starts to install PVRs

Sky Network Television has begun to install its new My Sky personal video recorders after a hold-up in the first shipment delayed the introduction of the service.

PVRs, or personal video recorders, store programmes to a hard disk.

They constantly record an incoming TV signal, allowing "live" television to be paused or rewound after a short buffer period - and allowing viewers to fast-forward through ads.

Communications director Tony O'Brien said the first installations took place early last week.

Several thousand people had registered their interest in the new product, in line with the company's expectations.

O'Brien said many people had phoned or emailed even before the company began marketing the service.

When the company unveiled My Sky in September, chief executive John Fellet said he had made the minimum order of 20,000 PVRs, but would be happy to sell 10,000 of the boxes in the first year. TiVo is the most well-known brand of PVR.