PlayStation 3 owners in Australia will from later this month be able to watch and record live high-definition TV as Sony moves to position its video games console as the leading home entertainment device.

Separately, in the first quarter of next year Sony will launch a download store offering movies and TV shows that can be delivered directly to the PS3 and Sony's handheld games machine, the PSP.

On November 26, the PlayTV accessory for the PS3 will go on sale in Australia at a price of $169.95.

The device includes twin HD tuners, meaning it will allow users to watch one program while recording another. It also works in the background, so users can play games or watch movies while a program is recording.