Sony and Panasonic are rumoured to be joining forces for a new OLED TV venture, looking to share resources in order to cut consumer costs for the must-have latest technology in home entertainment.

Nikkei reports that the two tech giants will aim to pool together their teams in order to mass produce the new sets, looking to undercut the pricey televisions rocking the same technology due soon from Samsung and LG. Both LG and Samsung have 55-inch OLED TVs waiting in the wings since CES 2012, expected to retail at around the £5,000 mark.

Despite being the first company to show off an OLED TV (an 11-inch offering back at CES 2008), continued losses from Sony's Bravia TV arm mean that the firm are in a dire financial position, and would have the means for a far greater stab at the new OLED Tv amrket if a partner came onboard.

LG and Samsung may have the head-start here, but a partnership between Sony and Panasonic could offer consumers cost-cutting sets to turn heads.

Via: Bloomberg

With analogue TV signals dying the death, now's the perfect time to grab a digital set-top box if you didn't already have one. Which means it's also the perfect time for Echostar to launch the HDT-610R, what they're claiming is the world's slimmest PVR.

Also known as the Ultra Slim Box, it measures a slight 14mm thin, despite housing a HDMI connection, twin tuner and 500GB hard drive.

Recording Freeview+ and Freeview+ HD channels, the HDT-610R also offers on-demand services like BBC iPlayer and Box Office 365. The box also offers live TV rewinding and pausing functionality, as well as intelligently seeking out HD versions of shows when available and offering the ability to set shows to record from advertisements.

"Consumers are looking forward to an exciting summer of sport and facing a packed viewing schedule, digital video recording will be one of the key features that viewers will be looking for," stated Freeview MD Ilse Howling. Because everything is linked to the Olympics, right?

Up for pre-order from May 4th, Echostar's Ultra Slim Box will be in shops by the end of May. Pricing is yet to be announced.

Sharp have posted a gigantic loss of 117.1 billion yen ($1.4 billion) for the financial year ending March 2012.

Citing restructuring costs and inventory losses as the key reasons for the dramatic figures, Sharp have also stated that they expect to lose a further 18.7% of its projected sales from their TV business in the coming year.

As a result, some of the company's production lines that once focussed on large-screen LCD production will now be converted to cater for greater mobile display production.

"In order to reinforce mobile LCD business toward an optimal LCD production framework, the Company is converting its production lines to produce mobile LCDs at the Kameyama No.2 Plant, where it used to focus on production of large-size LCDs for TVs," reads the company's press statement.

It's the end of a difficult year for Sharp, which saw the company sell part of its LCD manufacturing business to Hon Hai, Sony pull out of a proposed joint venture (and all future business with the company, and an overall drop of 86% in profits.

Sony's PlayStation branded 3D TV has finally made its way to UK shops.

Originally meant to land back at the tail end of 2011, the 24-inch TV uses active-shutter 3D "SimulView" technology to allow two gamers to each view a fullscreen when playing what would otherwise be a split-screen experience.

The 1080p, 240Hz display also comes with two pairs of active shutter glasses and two games; Killzone 3 Platinum and Gran Turismo 5 Platinum.

Other specs for the set include a 1 contrast ration, 176-degree viewing angle, two HDMI inputs and a component input, perfect if you want to hook up an old PS2 or rival Wii console.

Available now, the bundle will set you back £449. But hurry - Amazon have already sold-out due to pre-order demand alone.

Sony have confirmed rumours of major restructuring plans that will see 10,000 jobs lost and TV production slow 40%.

The news of job cuts was leaked last week, and now Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has confirmed that downsizing plans are in place, vowing that "Sony will change".

It's been a rough time for Sony of late, with a strong yen putting pressure on their exports, especially when compared to the growing Korean market. It's lead to a forecast from Sony of losses of around $4 billion for 2011, meaning that the 6% cut in their global work force was somewhat inevitable.

Sony will now shift focus onto gaming, mobile and digital imaging sectors. In terms of gaming, more emphasis will be put on downloadable titles through the Sony Entertainment Network, while in the mobile sector Sony will "launch new mobile products and establish new business models". Though they were less precise on their plans for digital imaging, it appear Sony may be looking to expand their reach into the medical sector.

Sony will still look to innovate in the TV market though, with the intention to advance the development and commercialization of next-generation display technologies such as OLED and Crystal LED Display", as well as looking to expand its 4K offerings.

Philips Lifestyle will no longer make televisions, an announcement from the Dutch electronics giant has today revealed. After 87 years of dipping in and out of the TV market, the company are finally calling it a day, handing over duties to Hong Kong-based-company TPV Technology.

A joint venture between the two companies (which sees Philips retain 30% of its TV business) they have formed TP Vision. Though the sets made under the TP Vision banner will be manufactured by TPV Technology, they will in fact retain Philips branding.

"TP Vision will continue to bring the high level of innovation consumers expect from a Philips TV," said new CEO of TP Vision, Maarten de Vries.

"Our recently launched 2012 series have everything to enjoy the world of digital content delivered via broadcasting and the Web. We believe in creating products that touch the human senses and are within reach of all consumers in the markets we operate in."

Proprietary Philips technologies including Ambilight and their impressive 21:9 offerings will also make the jump over to TP Vision, as well as Philips TV staff.

The deal however does not cover the design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing or sales of Philips' televisions in China, United States, Canada, Mexico, India and select South American territories.

It's an acquired taste for many, but the magic of 3DTV may be being spoilt before consumers can try it in its optimal state, according to a key executive from Twentieth Century Fox.

Speaking at the PEVE conference in London, Danny Kaye, executive vice president, Global Research and Technology Strategy at Fox, said that while his team believe 3D will still grow to be a thriving format, those who have experienced poor quality glasses-free 3D and real-time 2D-to-3D conversion will be turned off.

"As long as a film is made in high-quality, you may never tell the difference between a true 3D movie and a post-converted one," said Kaye.

"But, what is harming the idea of 3D [for consumers] is real-time conversion. Whether it is 2D to 3D conversion in real time on a TV set or versions of no-glasses 3D TVs... we do not need [these technologies] yet as they cannot match the quality of professional conversion services or the filmmaker shooting it in 3D to begin with."

Kaye also suggested that unless studios and manufacturers push to show 3D content shining at its best, it could damage the uptake of the technology

"3D is a very complicated technology to get right, it's not so hard to get wrong. We shouldn't stunt the growth of 3D at this early stage by introducing techniques that do not show off 3D in the best light."

Via: Tech Radar

LG's fancy 55-inch OLED sets are lining themselves up for a red carpet launch at the Cannes film festival in May, according to new reports.

LG's 55-inch 55EM9600, first revealed at CES 2012 back in January was first expected to launch in July to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. However, with LG eager to get their display out into stores before rivals, the decision was made to push for an earlier release date and to bump the speed of production up significantly.

A beauty of a screen, the 55EM9600 is only 4mm thick and weighs just 7.5kg thanks to a WOLED-CF design on an Oxide-TFT backplane.

Expected to retail at around 9 million Won - or about £4,950 - LG will gauge interest in their first OLED offering until July before deciding whether or not to make further investment in OLED technology.

Via: OLED Info/ The OLED Association

Sky Anytime+, the broadcaster's video-on-demand offering that opens up a massive catalogue of shows and movies to be streamed whenever a viewer chooses, is now available to users connecting to the internet over a far broader range of ISPs.

Initially, Sky Anytime+ was only available to Sky subscribers who also chose Sky Broadband as their internet service provider, but now more than 5 million homes will be able to enjoy the service, regardless of their provider.

"It's great to be able to bring our on demand service Sky Anytime+ to even more customers, helping them to get more out of their Sky subscription," said Luke Bradley-Jones, Sky's Director of TV Products.

"We already know how popular Sky Anytime+ is and how the flexibility of the service gives customers more choice and control over how they watch an amazing range of content. We've seen strong demand for it to date which we hope to increase now that the service is available with any broadband provider."

For more info on how to access the service, head over to Sky's FAQ page.

Sky are to launch a brand new video on-demand offering called Now TV, which will open up their catalogue of shows and movies on pay monthly and pay as you go deals.

Though details are scarce at the moment, Sky's Now TV offering will be a web-based streaming service, and will be available through PCs, Macs, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, games consoles and connected TVs. It will be the first time Sky's premium content will be available without a long-term contract.

"The launch of a second brand is an exciting opportunity for us and the rationale is very simple. Having two brands will allow us to meet the needs and preferences of different customer segments more effectively," said Sky's chief executive, Jeremy Darroch.

"We'll offer two distinctive ways to watch: the market-leading full Sky service for the whole family, complete with the widest range of channels, high quality products like Sky+, HD and Sky Go, and the peace of mind of a monthly bill; or the flexible, more spontaneous, pay-as-you-go service of Now TV.

"Because Now TV will also be 'powered by Sky', customers will still know that it will give them the best, exclusive content and a high quality experience, from a provider they can trust. Either way, we believe we can offer even more customers a product that's just right for them."

The move puts the broadcaster into direct competition with other streaming services, such as Netflix and Lovefilm.

Head over to nowtv.com for more details.

Name: Roku 2 XS

Type: Streaming Player

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £99.99 from Amazon

Already holding the title of the most popular TV streaming box in the US, Roku are now setting their sights on the UK market. The Roku 2 XS, with its Bluetooth motion controlled gaming capabilities and access to Netflix movie streaming, is their top of the line streaming box. Read on for our verdict.

Sitting snugly in the palm of your hand, the Roku 2 XS is as small as streaming players get. An 84mm x 84 mm x 23mm box with rounded corners, it weighs just 85 grams, with a gloss-black finish that will see it hide away easily among your other AV gear. Connecting to the internet over 802.11n Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection, the rear of the Roku 2 XS player has four simple connections; HDMI (with 5.1 surround sound pass-through) an A/V out port (which uses an included bespoke mini-jack to left/right/composite video RCA cable), the afore-mentioned Ethernet port and an AC socket. Using less than 2W of power when streaming HD video, there's no power button, with an auto-standby mode kicking in after a short period of inactivity and using only minuscule amounts of energy. You'll also find a USB port on the left hand side for playback of a modest range of media files.

Once everything is plugged in, you'll need to head online to activate your Roku 2 XS box. A reasonably short web form has to be filled out on the Roku website (which includes your credit card details, though these will only be used if you purchase premium content through the box), after which you'll be given an activation code for your streaming unit. It's a shame that this couldn't have somehow been achieved with a set-up process through the XS itself, and if you're a subscriber to the likes of Netflix, you'll also have to manually add your credentials to some of the streaming channels too.

Considering how clunky the initial set up is, using the Roku 2 XS after that point is as simple as can be. The XS comes with a Bluetooth-enabled remote, which looks much like a squat black Wii controller, complete with a D-Pad, A and B gaming buttons and Home, Back, Return and playback controls. There's even a little wrist-strap to stop it flying out of your grasp. The remote is used to navigate the tile-based UI, as well as the odd bit of text entry in search fields. It can also be used for motion-based gaming, which we'll get onto in a minute.

The first, home screen of the Roku 2 XS box has the settings and Channel Store tabs, and also houses the channels you download from the store, scrolling left to right. With hundreds of channels available and more on the way, this area may quickly fill up and become a little unwieldy, but for now works well enough.

Heading over to the Channel Store tile brings up the wide-range of content available to be streamed through the Roku 2 XS box, some available for free, others requiring a subscription to access.. As well as big name providers like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Flixster and Vimeo, there are tons of niche channels whose content ranges from everything from religious sermons to retro public announcement videos. There are a few notable omissions however, and we'd have loved to have seen for instance a YouTube channel, as well as some other UK broadcaster's catch-up offerings, such as Channel 4's 4oD and the ITV Player. Having said that, there are also some excellent, rarely seen VOD offerings, such as the inspirational lectures from the TED channel, as well as plenty of web radio options.

Though not officially supported by Roku, you can also use the Roku website to access a large number of "private" channels, which are downloaded to your Roku 2 XS player by inputting a code on the website. These range from international video content streams to adults-only movies. Some really useful channels, like a third-party Last.fm build, are available, and if you do fancy putting a bit of blue on your Roku, there are password protection options to keep young eyes from stumbling on what they shouldn't. As "private" channels are often beta builds or made by enthusiasts, there is however no guarantee they will forever be available on the streaming box.

For the most part, the channels make use of a tile-scrolling navigation set up, barring a few exceptions, such as the iPlayer's bespoke UI (familiar to anyone who has browsed the platform on any number of other devices). It's easy to browse with the directional pad, but not so easy to search; few channels allow you to look for specific content by keyword, and when you do, it's a painstaking task of scrolling around a virtual keyboard, press by press. As such, it's mostly a curated experience. With such a vast array of video content to browse through, we'd have loved the chance to favourite videos for later viewing, but the functionality is missing. On one isolated occasion we found that the UI inexplicably slowed down to a crawl making it impossible to use, but a hard reset achieved by disconnecting the XS from the mains solved the problem, and it hasn't happened again since.

The quality of the streams however are uniformly excellent. Thanks to an adaptive streaming system, you'll rarely, if ever see a buffering sign on the Roku 2 XS, with the stream's visual quality adapting to match that of your web connections capabilities. Even with a modest connection however you should be able to view stutter-free 1080p HD streaming. Using the Netflix app as an example, its 1080p high resolution output was pretty much a match to that found on the PS3, with clear, sharp images that just fall short of Blu-ray quality.

Also available from the Channel Store are a dozen or so gaming apps. Though most are premium, paid for downloads, Angry Birds is included for free. Thanks to the Roku 2 XS's motion capabilities, it controls much like a Wii game, with a wave of the hand translating to a yank of the in-game catapult. While admittedly basic stuff, it worked surprisingly well for what is first and foremost a TV streaming box, and we look forward to more big-screen gaming on the Roku XS. Also, thanks to the Bluetooth nature of the controller, playing games doesn't require line-of-sight with the Roku box, meaning it can be tucked away behind a TV without disrupting play.

If there's one real disappointment with the Roku 2 XS, it's with its lack of robust media playback options from a local USB storage device. The only formats supported are MP4 (H.264) video, AAC and MP3 audio and JPG and PNG image files. Pair this with a lack of DLNA functionality and the Roku 2 XS falls short of being a comprehensive multimedia experience.

Verdict

The Roku 2 XS streaming box is a great bit of kit. With access to so much online TV content, much of it of a high quality nature thanks to the likes of Netflix, TED and the BBC iPlayer channels, it's more than a match for its Apple TV rival. Of course, you're going to have to have a paid subscription with a few of the channels to get the most out of the box, but that's no different than with the Roku 2 XS's competitors. The visual quality of the streams, particularly where HD content is available, is superb, and navigating all the features is fairly simple.

The real question is whether or not you need the Roku box. If you've got a HD games console or a Smart TV, you've probably already got access to many of the Roku's features. If you don't already have access to these services, the Roku 2 XS does however come highly recommended.

YouView, the long-delayed TV catch-up streaming box that pulls together online TV content from all the major terrestrial broadcasters in the UK, may finally have a launch window.

The Freeview-based TV-on-demand system is now expected to launch on May 14th according to The Telegraph's Emma Barnett, with TV executives at the Digital Television Group conference letting slip that YouView's trials this year have been fruitful.

The question is, does anyone really care any more, let alone will they care by May? With Smart TVs offering portals to catch-up TV alongside games consoles, tablets and smartphones, there is already a plethora of ways to access catch-up TV, not to mention the likes of the Roku boxes which also throw into the mix web-based video content too. A dedicated catch-up TV box may sound like a very limited, dated idea come YouView's long-delayed release.

Via: DTVE

Sony are looking to expand their 3DTV offering in 2013 by shipping Passive 3D TVs as well as the Active 3D sets they've championed since the dawn of the 3DTV push, according to a new report from The Register.

Expected to make their debut at September's IFA technology show in Berlin, Sony's Deputy President of home entertainment products, Noriaki Negishi, stated that:

"Our engineers don't really like [passive] because it has half the resolution of active shutter 3D, but consumers appreciate the convenience of passive."

With that in mind, Sony are now thought to be preparing an aggressive Passive 3D push over the next year, with 3D tech overall still not reaching the sales heights AV companies had hoped for.

With Sony entering the Passive 3D fray, it leaves Samsung as the only manufacturer still exclusively pushing Active 3D TV sets.

The Passive 3D sets will also be accompanied by Sony's next generation of OLED TVs, with Negishi stating that "2013 will be the year when we will really fight back with new technologies."

Via: The Register

Rovi and Dixons have announced a partnership that will see the Rovi Entertainment Store white-label digital storefront power the electrical retailer's KNOWHOW Movies digital store.

The KNOWHOW Movies store will offer an "extensive catalogue" of film and TV video content to a range of web-connected devices, including HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and games consoles.

"Consumers can use it to get content quickly and easily," said Rovi's David Burton, Director of Marketing Services, EMEA.

"They want their media on any device, and don't want to have to worry about how it's being delivered as a Windows Media Video file on one device and being picked up and continued on another as a Flash file. People don't understand why it can't be that simple; they'll say 'Why can't I have this movie on every device? I've got all these smart devices, why isn't it possible?' Our delivery service makes it easy and simple to do that."

Movies streamed through the store will also make use of Rovi's DivX Plus Streaming method, which adapts the quality of the delivered video to match the speed of your broadband, resulting in stutter free playback. It also offers support for 1080p, subtitles, multiple language tracks, and trick-play functions such as smooth fast forward and rewind.

The store is designed to capitalise on the growing use of over-the-top-distribution movie services, which Burton believes will only increase in popularity as the world increasingly becomes broadband and 4G connected:

"By 2016 it's estimated that 70% of homes will be broadband connected, and then there's also satellite services and 4G to come too. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the idea of being able to pass HD movies around wirelessly through the home, which the storefront caters for".

The KNOWHOW Movies store will launch on March 1st. iOS and Android apps are to follow shortly afterwards.

Onkyo have revealed their 2012 entry-level AV receiver range, packed full of enough bells and networked whistles to rival other brands higher-end gear, such as Spotify streaming.

Kicking off with the cheapest model, you've got the £299.99 5.1 Onkyo TX-NR313. Though it doesn't have networked capabilities, it boasts 5 3D compatible HDMI ports, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and sARC (Audio Return Channel) to pump a compatible TV's audio back to the receiver. Power output is 5 x 100W, and there's also a USB port on the front for hooking up an iPod, iPhone or memory stick.

Next up is the £399.99 Onkyo TX-NR414. It's again a 5.1 reciever (with a slight power bump to 5 x 130W) but also comes with networked capabilities, such as internet radio, and Spotify access. You can also use it to stream music from a networked PC.

The receiver also features InstaPrevue technology, which lets you peek at a thumbnail preview of your HDMI sources before switching between them, and a Hybrid Standby feature, which lets the audio and video source bypass the receiver when it is in standby mode to save on the bills. The TX-NR414 also has a Zone 2 line-out, allowing it to pump a separate audio source to a different room in the house.

Moving up the ladder again is the Onkyo TX-NR515 at £499.99. It's a 7.2 channel networked receiver, with a 7 x 130W power output. It has MHL badging with its HDMI (letting it play back 1080p video with 7.1 audio from a smartphone or tablet). It has all the other features of the TX-NR414 and TX-NR313 receivers, but also adds 4K2K upscaling for compatible displays, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, and pushes the 3D HDMI port count up to 8.

Lastly, the £599.99 Onkyo TX-NR616. It has all the features of the TXNR515, but adds Audyssey DSX expansion for extra front wide channels, and Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction to ease the set-up process. It also comes with THX Select 2 Plus certification, and has a power output of 7 x 165W.

All models will be available in silver or black from March, with the exception of the TX-NR616 which touches down in April.

Philips have revealed their 2012 Smart TV line-up, pushing web connected online content into screens as small as 19 inches.

Top of the range is the 7000 Series, available in 40, 46 and 55-inch sizes. The screens use active shutter 3D tech, have five HDMI ports, smart TV functionality, three USB ports, both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity and come complete with 20W speakers and two-sided Ambilight for a room-filling light show glow.

Next down the range is the 6000 Series, available in 32, 37, 42, 47 and 55 inch sizes. The 6000 Series uses passive 3D tech, has four HDMI ports, smart TV functionality, again three USB ports and 12W speakers.

Hitting the mid-range is the 4000 range. It drops the 3D tech, but keeps four HDMIs, three USBs, and Wi-Fi smart connectivity. Sizes range from 32, 37, 42 and 47 inches.

Lower again is the 3500 Series, the cheapest of the batch to house Smart TV functionality. Sizes range from 19 inches to 42 inches. 720p and 1080p variants are available, but you'll need an optional Wi-Fi adapter for wire-free web access on the telly.

If web connectivity and 3D tech aren't important to you, then check out the 3000 Series. Sizes go from 19 to 42 inches, with three HDMI ports and one USB.

All due in Q2 2012, pricing has yet to be announced.

As well as a stonking 55-inch OLED display, LG will be using CES 2012 to show off their giant 84-inch "Ultra Definition" 3D TV.

That's right, not HDTV, but UDTV, running at 3840x2160 resolution.

First hinted at during last year's Las Vegas show, the UDTV, pictured above, also has LG's Cinema 3D and Smart TV web-connected features built in. The 3D tech uses the same Film Pattern Retarder (FPR) screen and passive glasses that result in lowered resolution on LG's standard 3DTV screens, but with the extra resolution shouldn't cause much as notable a loss in definition.

"LG is pushing the limits of home entertainment innovation with this 3D UD TV," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company.

"We are bringing together all our Smart TV and 3D knowledge in the 3D UD TV in order to demonstrate to the CES audience that LG is committed to being the world's leading brand for immersive home entertainment in 2012 and beyond."

No word on pricing or release dates yet, but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for this set when we hit the show floor next week.

The long-awaited Apple TV seemed a dead-cert to make an appearance at some point in 2012, rumoured to be putting iOS and it's famous App Store front and centre in the living room. However, a new report from USA Today puts a substantial hurdle in the way of the project, as they claim the Cupertino tech firm are struggling to secure valuable TV rights.

Calling it a "major roadblock", US Today believe it puts the whole device in jeopardy, with consumers potentially seeing no reason to stump up the cash for TV apps were they not easily able to access the shows they wanted to.

Though Apple are still thought to be sourcing panels for the eventual displays, head designer Jonathan Ive is said to already have a working prototype in his office.

"Apple is said to be looking at a 42-inch or larger LCD TV with built-in Wi-Fi. Inside the locked-down studio of Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design at Apple, there's a slick 50-inch TV, according to the source who worked at Apple," reads the report.

So far we've only heard word of Apple TVs up to about the 37 inch size, meaning the company could be hoping to go really high-end with a 50 inch set.

Yesterday we brought you news that Apple, alongside Google, were looking to secure the rights for Premier League Football coverage for their Apple TV sets.

LG are already expected to wow home cinema fanatics at CES 2012 by revealing the world's biggest OLED display, and now they're ready to tout a speaker system to bring the audio/visual thrills onto an even footing.

LG's BH9420PW 9.1 surround sound system is the kit in question, equipped with LG's latest 3D sound technology.

It uses LG's 3D Sound Zooming Technology to synchronise audio output with the action on screen, with the aim being to ensure viewers always feel as thoguh they are at the heart of the scenes being displayed.

Designed to be paired with LG's Cinema 3D sets, it uses "a complex algorithm that analyses the varying depth of numerous on-screen objects displayed on the 3D TV".

As well as the unique 3D effect DSP algorithm, LG also make use of Sound Field Expansion technology in the BH9420PW, which should boost the horizontal sound field pumped out of the package's four upright 3D speakers, alongside the more traditional 5.1 set up.

"Whether it's TVs or audio systems, LG continues to offer the most immersive 3D home entertainment experience possible," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company.

"Our CINEMA 3D Smart TVs will now be accompanied by a wider variety of CINEMA 3D SOUND HOME THEATER products that offer consumers a complete 3D experience and further strengthen LG's leadership in 3D."

The BH9420PW will be shown at next week's CES in Las Vegas, before hitting stores in March 2012. No word on pricing as of yet.

Spotify, the world conquering music streaming service, is now available through the Virgin Media Tivo set-top box.

Great news for folks planning on blasting out their favourite tunes in their living rooms (particularly if they've got home cinema set-ups sorted) Virgin will be bundling Spotfiy Premium deals in with their mobile and broadband contracts.

New and existing Virgin Media fibre optic subscribers will nab 6 months worth of the Premium version of the streaming service for free, an offer worth £59.94 if purchased separately.

Virgin Media pay monthly mobile users get 3 months of the Premium service, worth £29.97, and have the added benefit of incurring zero data charges for streaming tracks over 3G while on their network.

Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media said: "Our goal to deliver a truly unique experience for our customers and we're really excited about bringing Spotify to our TiVo service as part of our ongoing initiatives to develop the platform further with new features, applications and content."

Spotify's Andreas Liffgarden, global head of telecom business development added: "What used to be a big cube is now a flat screen connected to the speakers and surround sound system in your home. Since we like our users to enjoy the world's best music under the best possible conditions, it made perfect sense for us to develop this great Spotify app for Virgin Media TiVo."

You can find the new Spotify app in the games and apps area of your Tivo box menu.

Click here for our Christmas gift guide to the best set-top boxes.