http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/ Engadget Comments for Why TiVo and DirecTV fell out of love http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/
Now if they would just unlock the serial port on the back of the box now so I could plug in my series 2...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/
DirecTV's acquisition of NDS (the supposed supplier of their new PVR) was at best wishful thinking and at worst a bluff to get TIVO to make a deal on Rupert's terms. Rupert lost that one (poor Rupert) and now he'll have to suck it up and do a deal on TIVO's terms or look the fool.

There will soon be both legitimate products using TivoToGo's technology (for viewing your pre-recorded programing on portable devices) as well as unlicensed hacks (can you say PSP?) Tivo's always been HACKER friendly (e.g. early ethernet support left in, 30 second skip left in, etc.)

Today investors started accumulating TIVO shares in anticipation of an announcement of a new CEO. (following the announcement of the new head of HR.) TIVO's future looks very very bright.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/
TiVo eventually lost their manufacturing partner in the UK and it's not possible to buy a new TiVo in the UK, although the service continues (and long may it). Sky+ has many more times the subscribers than TiVo and has become the generic name for a PVR in the UK.

As far as the Sky+ box goes, it has some benefits over TiVo in the UK as it records the original data stream and has dual tuners, which TiVo does not here. However, the Sky+ software is known to be unreliable and while for most people it's great (because it's so much better than using videotapes) it does't come close to the power and flexibility of TiVo.

Clearly the situation in the US (where TiVo is a household name) is different from that in the UK, but my message is: underestimate NDS, and Rupert Murdoch, at your peril.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/
No. TiVo 'better be able to' cut dealS (plural) that make up for the lost projected revenue (semantical note: certainly not "projected loss of revenue"). Even if the Comcast deal is a bust, who knows what might be around the corner as a result of any potential freedom from DirecTV.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/04/why-tivo-and-directv-fell-out-of-love/
Tivo's problem is that their design and UI are overrated. It's not a complicated task to begin with and their UI has its problems.

They need to keep on top of their innovation and market the hell out of it. High subscription fees were a short sighted way to begin the company. And now advertising will make us flee.

Any product basing its business model on look and feel will eventually just have to compete with all the me-toos.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM