The company TV Box, in partnership with StarNet, provide free access to a number of national and foreign TV channels through the agency of a special device called Magic TV Box. Those who want can purchase this device and will be thus exempted from subscription. In a news conference at IPN, representatives of StarNet said this project is an alternative for the digitization of television that the authorities aim to achieve by 2015.
StarNet marketing director Alexei Munteanu said that Magic TV Box provides unique applications and facilities, including Internet access directly from the TV, connection of the keyboard and mouse to the TV, media player and access to the flash drive, video games, karaoke, social networking sites, which are all available on the TV screen. The equipment also enables to record TV programs on an external memory device and to view photos and videos from the USB drive, to have access to radio stations from the Internet and to different providers of media, video, programs, and photographs.
The device costs 750 lei and is available from the StarNet shops. It comes with a two-year guarantee and unlimited technical assistance. The clients will be spared from any TV subscription. It’s enough to have Internet connection, regardless of the operator. The connection can be though 3G or 4G modem, not necessarily through optical fiber.
Alexei Munteanu said the device now ensures access to 33 TV channels, which are mainly national. But StarNet is negotiating with other holders of copyright so as to increase the number of available TV channels. This piece of equipment also allows monitoring the TV channels accessed by users. Afterward, the company will be able to make data about people’s preferences public.
According to Alexei Munteanu, many European states gave up creating multiplexes for digital television and switched to Magic TV Box. The multiplexes will enable to transmit at most 15 TV channels.
StarNet IPTV manager Diana Moraru told the journalists that work is now done for different courses and an education project to be launched through Magic TV Box. A webcam and a microphone can be attached to this device so that distance learning will be possible.
