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Humax has announced its FVP-5000T, the first Freeview Play recorder with three integrated tuners, allowing up to four programmes to be recorded while watching a fifth.

The set-top box comes in three HDD flavours – 500GB (£230), 1TB (£260) and 2TB (£300) – and will hit stores in the second week in October.

Humax says its new PVR is its easiest-to-use yet, thanks to a revamped menu design and installation wizard, boosted navigational speed, and intuitive search functionality.

Freeview Play provides access to catch-up TV content (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 and UKTV Play) direct from the box's EPG. Additional connected services include YouTube and Netflix.

Connections on the svelte PVR include an HDMI output (v1.4), optical digital audio, Ethernet and twin USB ports. Wi-Fi is built in. 

The Humax FVP-5000T is UPnP compatible, and can share its recorded content with networked media players. It will also play back file types from your networked gear or USB devices, and can function as a repository for music and photos.

'We've always looked at the STB as the obvious place to have a hub in your home,' explained Humax marketing manager Michael Gabriel when HCC had a preview of the new PVR. 'There are product developments in the offering where we're trying to expand on that...' 

Gabriel also revealed that the multi-channel recording feature may extend beyond four channels, depending on specific circumstance. 'You may be able to record more simultaneously. It depends on your local area reception, signal strength and available multiplexes. We've had six recordings going at one time, but every region will be different.'

The FVP-5000T serves up 85 subscription-free TV channels, of which 15 are in HD.

UI features include a Top Picks TV recommendation service, where the most popular On Now (live), On Demand, Recordings and Freeview Play content can be selected by genre. The Smart Search function will intuitively pull up shows based on just a trio of characters entered, from a variety of sources.

Additional navigation is offered through a Surf and Scan banner, allowing live TV viewers to pull up a navigation bar that enables a quick view of other shows screening at the same time.

Control is via a handset with hot keys for Freeview Play, on-demand, and Netflix. Users can also partner the FVP-5000T with Humax's Live TV app – this grants smartphone/tablet viewing of the box's recorded/live content when on the same network, plus remote scheduling. 

The FVP-5000T is also compatible with Humax's Eye HD cloud camera, and H3 Smart Media player multiroom box.

Says Graham North, vice president sales at Humax:, 'We’ve taken another leap forward in home entertainment with the FVP-5000T. This new Freeview Play box offers exceptional value and an extraordinary choice of entertainment for the whole family.'

The PVR will be available from retailers including John Lewis, Currys, Argos, Amazon, Richer Sounds, Maplin, Hughes, Tesco, Euronics, AO.com and Humax Direct. 

See www.humaxdigital.com/uk for more info.