Bravia TVs to feature built in Freeview

Media Release

Sony’s much awaited new range of BRAVIA TVs to feature built in Freeview HD™ tuners

Making the leap from Standard Definition to High Definition is about to become a whole lot easier for television viewers!

Auckland: 24 June, 2008

Available from July 2008, the new Sony BRAVIA V and W series LCD televisions will enable viewers to enjoy Freeview HD™ broadcasts without having an additional digital receiver box. This will mean there’s no longer a requirement for a separate set top box, and no fuss when it comes to installation or set up.

Aware that many television owners are yet to consider making the upgrade from standard definition to high definition sets, Sony believes the new BRAVIA range will help make the transition much easier and boost the uptake of digital television in New Zealand.

“Thanks to this latest innovation and the wealth of benefits it provides Kiwi consumers, receiving high definition broadcast couldn’t be simpler,” says Matt Walton-Smith, Sony’s general manager of marketing.

“With no external Freeview digital receiver to plug in, users can simply connect their regular UHF aerial to their new BRAVIA to receive Freeview| HD™. There is less cable clutter and you only need one remote, so with these valuable features we’re confident the new innovation will prove popular with the public,” he adds.

The Freeview| HD™ service is currently available to around 75 per cent of New Zealand homes via UHF transmission with ten free-to-air TV channels and two radio channels currently available on the platform. Users outside these areas can still use the new BRAVIA televisions as the built-in tuner can also receive regular analogue broadcast.

With prices starting at $1899, the V and W series BRAVIA ranges are available in screen sizes from 32” to 52”. For more information about Freeview| HD™, or to learn more about the UHF signal in your region, visit www.freeviewnz.tv

For more information on Sony, please visit www.sony.co.nz

ENDS

FAQs

What BRAVIA models are available with built in Freeview| HD™ tuner?
V4000-series
KDL-32V4000 32” BRAVIA television SRP$1899.95
KDL-40V4000 40” BRAVIA television SRP$2799.95
KDL-46V4000 46” BRAVIA television SRP$3499.95
W4000-series
KDL-32W4000 32” BRAVIA television SRP$2199.95
KDL-40W4000 40” BRAVIA television SRP$2999.95
KDL-46W4000 46” BRAVIA television SRP$3799.95
KDL-52W4000 52” BRAVIA television SRP$6999.95

What is the difference between the V-series and W-series?
V-series BRAVIA features a full range of connectivity options including three HDMI inputs, PC input, USB input and a Digital Media Port for playing back content stored on portable media devices. Built-in BRAVIA Sync functionality also allows seamless connectivity with other Sony AV products, with the ability to control multiple devices with a single remote control. W-series BRAVIA is even more advanced with an improved wide colour backlight system and 10-bit panel, allowing the TV to display a wider colour range for increased colour vibrancy and accuracy.

What is Freeview| HD™?
Freeview was established by New Zealand's leading broadcasters to bring New Zealanders their favourite TV channels in crystal clear digital quality for free.
The Freeview| HD™ service does this via regular UHF aerials, not satellite dishes. But the real benefit of the service is that a lot of the content is being broadcast in high definition. For more information visit www.freeviewnz.tv

What is high definition?
With greatly increased resolution, high definition television offers up to 5x the picture detail of standard definition TV. This means vastly improved image quality. It’s the most significant development for the television industry since the shift from black & white to colour.

What channels are available?
Currently the following channels are broadcast on Freeview| HD™: TVONE, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori Television, TVNZ6, TVNZ7, TVNZ Sports Extra, Parliament TV, tvCentral (Waikato/BOP only). Two radio stations are also currently broadcasting, Radio New Zealand National, Radio New Zealand Concert. For more information visit www.freeviewnz.tv

What aerial do I need to receive the service?
An ordinary UHF aerial is all you need, when connected to a BRAVIA television with built in Freeview| HD™ receiver. Most New Zealand houses already have a UHF aerial on the roof. Please note however that in Freeview| HD™ is not broadcast to all areas. Visit www.freeviewnz.tv for coverage details.

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