atsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. announced that it will launch its first Hi-Fi VHS video deck called NV-HVH1 with a built-in HDD on June 1. The HDD will hold 40GB and is capable of recording a maximum of 40 hours (using "EP" recording which accommodates three times more than a VHS recorder). It will have a broadcast satellite analog tuner.

The product will be open priced, and the expected retail sales price will be around 90,000 yen. Monthly production is expected to be 3,000 units. (130.64 yen = US$1)

The functions of NV-HVH1 include: (1) two-way dubbing between the HDD and a videotape, (2) a "chase playback" function with which one can play the already recorded scenes on the HDD even while recording, (3) simultaneous recording of terrestrial broadcast and satellite broadcast to the videotape/HDD.

In addition to these, it has an IEEE1394 terminal that renders digital recording to the HDD by connecting a satellite broadcast digital tuner. It has a RCA pin jack as an image/sound input/output terminal. Its dimensions are 430mm by 315mm by 89mm, and it weighs 5.5kg.

Since November 2001, similar video decks with a built-in 40GB HDDs have been available. For example, Toshiba Corp. offers the A-F40G1 and Victor Co. of Japan Ltd. (JVC) offers the HM-HDS3 for S-VHS. The retail sales prices are about 70,000 yen for the A-F40G1 and 110,000 yen for the HM-HDS3.