New Sky box will record hours of television

If you can't stand television adverts, or keep missing your favourite shows, help is on the way - if you're a Sky subscriber.

Next week, Sky launches its digital video recorder (DVR), the long-awaited set-top box which effectively replaces the VCR.

If it takes off, the new device will mean a new way of watching television, where schedules mean little because you record programmes to a hard drive to replay when it suits you.

The box tipped to be used in New Zealand is expected to be the same as the one already used by Australian pay-television operator Foxtel.

The iQ, as it is known, has a hard drive twice the size of the average computer, and is capable of recording up to 60 hours of broadcast-quality television.

It can be used the same as a DVD player, by skipping forward, rewinding or playing in slow motion.

You can record two channels at once while you watch a recording on the hard drive.

The set-top box will not be of any use to those who are not Sky subscribers, as the recording system is based on Sky's electronic programming guide, which contains information Sky holds the copyright for.

In Australia, box office movies and pay-per-view programmes can be downloaded to the iQ for a set fee and are viewable for three days before being erased from the hard drive.

Sky's on-demand video service is likely to be available on the DVR.

Sky had nearly 620,000 subscribers at the end of June. Each Sky connection has a decoder box that will need to be replaced with the new 4kg iQ box for the services to become available.

Kiwis have been quick to convert to DVD and hard drive-based recorders, but if the Foxtel model is anything to go by, the DVR won't be cheap.

Sky has yet to reveal its pricing plan, but the Foxtel iQ costs A$395 (NZ$430) and A$6 (NZ$6.50) a month for those not on its Platinum plan. There is a A$100 (NZ$109) installation fee.

Foxtel retains ownership of the DVR, but your saved programmes are yours as long as you keep up your subscription.

The iQ has had largely favourable reviews but there is lingering disappointment that it's not as intelligent as the TiVo DVR, which has a cult following in the US and can learn the viewing habits of users and making recording suggestions.

TiVo's greatest virtue, allowing users to skip the adverts in recorded material, is also missing from the iQ.

Still, the arrival of the DVR will give many a reason to ditch their VCR for good.