Sky has today announced that it will be launching a trio of limited edition Sky+HD 1TB boxes to mark the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The football-themed receivers, available later this month, will be priced at £249 each and are being touted as "a must have for any football enthusiast looking to soak up every detail of World Cup drama".
The first design, created by English fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, is inspired by England's sole World Cup triumph in 1966, ending with a 4-2 victory over Germany.
"What do we all remember about the only time we won the World Cup? The date and the score," said Hemingway on his inspiration for the design.
"What would you say to a German football fan? 1966, 4-2. They are just numbers but they say so much. Any fan would instantly recognise the meaning of these iconic numbers.”
A more colourful design, by English actor Phil Daniels - star of 1979 movie Quadrophenia - was inspired by a previous trip to 2010 host nation South Africa:
"I was out in South Africa filming Zulu Dawn with Burt Lancaster and I just remember being visually blown away by the proud display of culture and heritage – such bold vibrant colours and shapes," said Daniels.
"I used those memories as a starting point when designing the World Cup box, and out came a flood of energy, colour and football."
The third option, created by English cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, is said to capture "what could be a wonderful moment of English glory and unity".
With the majority of World Cup games scheduled to be broadcast in high definition on BBC HD and ITV1 HD, Sky will be hoping that the rapid increase of HD subscribers continues after 428,000 households signed up in the first quarter of 2010.
Consumers wanting to register their interest in the designer Sky+HD boxes can do so at www.sky.com/designerboxes.
