The Telstra branded service is expected to be launched early in 2010.
According to David Thodey the CEO of Telstra the Company is also building out their own content delivery system after rejecting a content delivery system from Cisco.
Also rejected was the Scientific Atlanta set top box which is popular in the USA.
The new Telstra branded PVR will be used to spearhead the launch of several new home services including movie, music and gaming content as well as free to air TV. Telstra will also offer a home security service as well as the sale of products and services.
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The communications Company will also sell media advertising over their content network.
A key feature of the new box is that users will be able to fast forward through TV commercials at more than double the 30 frames per second set down by Freeview.
The new Telstra PVR which is built around the new NetBox 7600 PVR has features that enable the set-top box to become a HD home media Centre allowing any TV to display content stored on the home network, including videos, music and photos.
Telstra will also have access to a complete portfolio of audience and usage analysis tools, which will allow them to measure audience usage in real time.
SmartHouse has also been told that Telstra has also held discussions with both the AFL and the NRL about the forming a joint venture media Company that could in the future deliver AFL and NRL sporting events to the new Telstra set top box service.
The Telstra branded box will compete head on with Foxtel and free to air TV networks with some observers claiming that if Telstra is forced to divest their 50% shareholding in Foxtel they will simply roll out programs to their own 100% owned PVR network.
