<font color=cc0000>EXCLUSIVE:</font> Amstrad in negotiations for 2nd Sky+ licence

Digibox manufacturer Amstrad is reported to be in negotiations with Sky over a licence to produce Sky PVRs.

At a presentation given at the University of Essex earlier this week by Amstrad Engineering Director, Ian Saward discussed how the group were in negotiations with Sky to win the licence to produce Sky+ boxes.

Our source says the product is unlikely to be priced cheaper than the original Sky+ box, but that it is probably going to have slightly different features to the current one on offer.

If Amstrad win the contract, it is expected that the product would be available "within the next couple of months" - with both the original Sky+ box and the Amstrad one sited in retail outlets. It is at this point that consumers can choose which model they prefer. It is not yet known if the Amstrad model would be offered to those subscribing to Sky+ by telephoning Sky.

Plans are also underway to produce a similar product for the DTT service, for which customers would be charged for an enhanced EPG with recording and dual-tuner facilities.

The price for the DTT box was not discussed, but owing to the much fewer number of channels available on DTT, it is expected to be far lower than that of the Sky PVR.

We hope to bring you more on this in the near future.