Nokia 'Mediamaster' set-top box, 1997-2002

Nokia Mediamaster television set top box for use with ONdigital prepaid digital television service, made by Nokia, Sweden, 1997-2002.

In Britain the first terrestrial digital television services, which were introduced in the late 1990s, were pay-to-view rather than free access. Viewers subscribed to a service and a set top box, like this example, to use with their television to access the services. ONdigital, later ITV Digital, offered an early digital television service. However, the service closed in 2002 as it was unable to compete with the better established satellite services offered by Sky.