Back in 2002, Time Warner set out with an ambitious network
PVR project, known as "Mystro TV", which aimed to make its entire program schedule available on-demand to
cable viewers, but was ditched in 2003 due to a combination of pressure from Hollywood over copyright, and a lack of
demand from users.However, the company has now relaunched its initial plan under the title "Start Over", a software-based PVR service which seems very like the video-on-demand service TVDrive from Telewest here in the U.K., where users can pause and rewind live TV or time-shift a programme if they've missed the start. (Hence the "Start Over" title).
However, unlike a regular PVR user, Start Over customers can't fast fast-forward or skip through ads -- which might put a smile of the face of the advertising execs who are currently chewing their fingers off at the prospect of the forthcoming "PVR Apocalypse."
Start Over was introduced to 10,000 digital cable customers in Irmo, SC back in November 2005, and features programming from 60 broadcast and cable networks - but is now available to 25,000 subscribers in the Columbia area, with expansion plans well underway.
More: Time Warner Cable.
