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Tag: tivo

  • TiVo Releases its best DVRs yet, the TiVo Roamio DVRs


    A major TiVo release was last seen three and a half years ago and while the company has constantly hit the market with new features since – via software updates, hardware revisions, and accessories – it is back with a bang. TiVo Roamio Plus is the DVR the world has been waiting for since it first saw the Premiere and it is now out alongside two other new Roamio DVRs, released in the price range of $200-$600.

    The DVRs feature built-in WiFi and at least four tuners. The user interface has been refreshed to include new and quick-launching YouTube and Netflix apps, as well as a What to Watch Now feature. There is also a new remote that is now independent of IR.

    The Plus and Pro come integrated with TiVo Stream functionality. A cool new trick that the stream feature delivers is out-of-home streaming for recorded and live shows along with the ability to download shows to iOS devices when out of home. The feature will be coming to the Roamio in the fall but it has been tested with a Tivo Stream transcoder.

  • BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand Coming Through TiVo


    Blockbuster is to be the latest online video-on-demand service to appear on TiVo DVRs.

    The pair announced today that they are working to make Blockbuster’s service available on all TiVo Series2 and Series3 DVRs (including the HD and HD XL models) in the second half of 2009.

    The deal means TiVo’s hardware will appear on the shelves of local video rental stores, while Blockbuster’s service will get exposure to millions of new users.

    It also means that TiVo adds Blockbuster to a list of available streaming video that already includes Netflix, CinemaNow and more.

    In November, Blockbuster launched a movie rental service via set-top boxes.

    It offered a STB made by 2Wire that plays downloaded movies.

    Jim Keyes, Blockbuster chairman and CEO, said working with TiVo enabled subscribers to access movies not only through his company’s OnDemand service but also from their stores and by-mail service as well.

    "Regardless of a film’s availability – through VOD or on DVD – we want to work with TiVo to provide their subscribers unprecedented access to movie content," he said.

    Tom Rogers, president and CEO of TiVo, said joining with Blockbuster made TiVo a "one-stop shop" for any content thru broadband or linear distribution straight to the TV.

  • Higher sales of HD devices helps TiVo report soaring Q1 profits


    Digital video recorder maker TiVo has reported soaring income for the first quarter of 2008 boosted by higher sales of HD devices and reduced advertising costs.
    The California-based company said it earned $3.6 million, or 4 cents per share, for the three months ending April 30.
    This is up from a profit of $835,000, or 1 cent per share, in the same period a year earlier.
    Revenue totalled $54.9 million, down 5.5 per cent from $58.1 million for the same period last year.
    Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo, said the most significant activity being worked on to boost stand-alone sales of HD devices was relationships with third parties.
    He said tests were begun last quarter with bundling with HDTV set sales.
    This was working either directly with a consumer electronics manufacturer or retailers on the bundling of the TiVo sales and potential content partners who have particular reasons to see TiVo sales driven.
    “Several of the bundling programs we ran during the quarter were promising, increasing sales for both TiVo and the consumer electronic manufacturer, while allowing us to acquire subs at lower costs.
    “For example, we ran a bundle in conjunction with Amazon.com and Mitsubishi that increased not only TiVo sales but Mitsubishi’s as well.”
    Rogers said an expansion of these bundling efforts was planned and he was hopeful that the early successes would translate on a broader scale.

  • Amazon Unbox to upgrade service to include HD content

    Amazon Unbox to upgrade service to include HD content

    TiVo users are to get access to HD content from Amazon.com’s Unbox service, which currently only allows users to rent and buy SD movies.
    The move will bring TiVo’s offerings into line with competitors such as Vudu and Apple TV, which already offer HD downloads.
    Jim Denny, TiVo’s VP of product marketing, said the service would come into effect “in the not too distant future”.