There is a small groundswell of support among U.S. IPTV players to see network-based digital video recording become part of the video ecosystem, enabling high-definition content to be more easily delivered over bandwidth-constrained copper networks.

“I think we are going to see network-based DVR become commercial here the way it is in places like China,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice-president of Microsoft TV. “In five years, it will be a natural part of the industry.”

One reason IPTV is taking off much faster in Asia and Europe is that they allow network-based DVR services. Content providers in the U.S. have been very hesitant to allow network operators to store their content in massive amounts for distribution into the home, and successfully sued the only operator – Cablevision – to attempt such a service.

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