The latest YouView box from TalkTalk will straddle the gap between traditional dumb set top boxes and digital recorders.
The ISP’s new box lacks the recording facility of top of the range models but, unlike most non-recording boxes, will still allow users to pause and rewind live TV.
It will also offer YouView’s standard 7-day scroll-back EPG access to catch-up players from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, plus UKTV’s Dave channel.
Plans to release a non-recording ‘zapper box’ were first mooted by former YouView Chairman Lord Sugar at the service’s launch last year and were reiterate earlier this year at a media briefing.
TalkTalk customers will also be able to opt-in to subscription and premium content such as Sky 1 and Sky Sports on a month to month basis.