accessDTV Receivers On The Market

accessDTV Receivers On The Market

accessDTV, a technology company in which Capitol Broadcasting Company invested, has introduced its digital television receivers for sale. For $479.95, consumers can purchase the HDTV decoder to allow their personal computers to receive digital television signals. The package began sales via the accessDTV website on Friday, March 23.

Manufactured by iTech group, Inc., the accessDTV Digital Media Receiver System includes a PCI Card, a Silver Sensor Antenna, and a one-month free subscription to accessDTV's Personal Program Guide (PPG). The normal subscription rate is $9.95 per month. The subscription service includes the PPG, DTV forward recording, and accessDTV interactive services such as chat, instant messaging, and program related internet links.

Minimum system requirements to support accessDTV are:

Pentium II 500MHz or faster processor
64MB or RAM
Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000

Both high-definition and standard TV programming can be viewed via the card, and the system supports either 4:3 or 16:9 ratio. Receivers can display the picture on a computer monitor or larger digital display.

accessDTV launched earlier this year, with the support of CBC. Shortly after the launch TechTV honored accessDTV as a "Best of CES" at the Consumer Electronics Shows in January.