In an attempt to differentiate its product from the flood of DVRs and HTPCs on the the market today, TiVo has just announced a partnership with video publisher Brightcove to provide their broadband-capable customers with on-demand content. TiVo owners with Series 2 boxes will have access to "an as-yet-undisclosed set of Web-based programs" from the Cambridge, MA startup when the new service goes live this June, and although the initial round of programming will be free, the two companies plan on allowing content providers to charge for their material in the future. This move would seem to strengthen TiVo's position in the marketplace -- which may already see a boost in the near future if the
rumored deal with Cox Communications materializes -- as their core business of providing hardware and guide services is quickly being being usurped by cheaper, and some might say better, alternatives.
[Thanks,
Dave Z]
posted May 10th 2006 9:09AM
Excellent article and comments about the TiVo partners with Brightcove.
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com
Interesting to see how Tivo is further prying people away from the "broadcast" model of content delivery. If you are just waiting for a show to appear on your Tivo, who cares how it got there.
"Live" TV is dying... as people move to access live event coverage from broadband web, and access serial television shows there is no longer any reason to have a programming schedule.
"some might say better, alternatives"? While there is plenty of evidence of CHEAPER alternatives, there seem to be few who would go so far as to claim other PVR solutions are better than TiVo.
Those who claim superiority over TiVo often say that their cable-company supplied PVR "does everything I need". Hey, a bucket on the back porch might be all I NEED to drop my daily loaf in, but I'm not willing to give up my comfy Kohler throne to save a couple of bucks a month.
That said, having a revolutionary product doesn't guarantee that you'll make money. The fact that TiVo still hasn't turned a dollar of profit has certainly hampered their delivery of new hardware. They do continue to deliver upgraded software to current hardware, and a vibrant user community adds functionality to the original TiVo platform. The new partnerships that TiVo is forging will hopefully keep them moving forward.
Beyond the opvious integration on IP-TV into Tivo, there are also some creative steps they could take to leverage the Brightcove releationship. I think that Tivo will need traditional broadcast television for the near future, so it is in their interest to work with the broadcast folks in ways that make the DVR capability an asset to them. Tivo and Brightcove can take them a long way down that path by offering something they don't have - a narrowcast IP infrastructure directly into a set-top box.
I discuss this in a post I did if anyone is interested:
http://web.mac.com/digitalpodium/iWeb/TheDigitalEdge/Blog/22D1E57F-6427-4B69-AF7E-F50B9ADC35DB.html
-john