Sony talks up PS3 TV tuner

The PS3's capabilities could be expanded to include a digital tuner, enabling it to double as a programmable TV recorder, a Sony spokesman said. The changes are due to come into effect next year, but it's uncertain how many countries will benefit.

Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand marketing head Warwick Light told a New Zealand-based publication that it hopes to launch a PS3 tuner in March 2008, around the same time Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service in the country.

DVB-T is already used by Freeview in the UK, as well as several other countries, but Light's statement does not clearly indicate if it will roll the digital tuner out to countries other than New Zealand.

Light's statement also fails to address if, or how, PS3 owners will be able to play games while recording TV. If it does, questions could be raised over how this will affect gameplay.

Sony has already come under heavy criticism from gamers after its decision to launch the PS3 Starter Pack in Europe, while offering North American gamers a $100 price cut for the 60GB model and by announcing that they would be among the first fans to receive the recently launched 80GB model.