TiVo Series 3 HD Box officially announced

As we predicted, the TiVo Series 3 HD Box has finally been officially announced today, with availability coming "mid-September" according to the press release (or October?) -- but as we already know, you can order one from TiVo.com immediately. Like we've reported countless times before, dual CableCARDs enable the recording of two different shows in HD simultaneously, and the whole package has THX certification. And yes, our pricing was spot on: $800 for this bad boy. Oh, and don't forget to check out the new television commercial, featuring the little TiVo guy bouncing around and getting out of a limo, transitioning to the ever-popular Shanan presenting the features of the Series3 -- you know, the one who looks like she's straight out of the Broadway musical Cabaret.

Read- Official Series 3 press release
Read- Promo vid

[stegmaier @ Sep 12th 2006 10:59AM]

for the lifetime transfer, hit tivo.com/vip. i managed to find it on the tivo forum, since noone else seemed to have it.

put my order in 5 minutes ago... can't wait!

[Rob Stekson @ Sep 12th 2006 10:15AM]

Just ordered and called Cablevision to get two cable cards... Prepare for absolute hell when trying to get them. Literally spent 15 minutes telling the lady all I wanted was two cable cards and she was trying to tell me that the TiVo didn't need them and that CableVision doesn't do it. Good luck everyone. Sunday install for the cards!

[Dubya @ Sep 12th 2006 10:15AM]

It's Showtime anyone?? Coincidence? Maybe not... Maybe a good time to buy some Tivo Stock... Dubya

[Pete @ Sep 12th 2006 10:19AM]

What a joke!

Only a 250GB HD, no multi-room, TiVo-to-Go, etc. That means I'd need to keep my old TiVos around just for that. Huh?

.. And I need to pay $1000 for being a loyal customer ($800 + $200 lifetime transfer).

I think I'll keep my Comcast/Moto $5/mo box even with the world's worst UI for now. Doesn't seem like the TiVo adds much more value than a better UI.

[whateva @ Sep 12th 2006 10:22AM]

werd. $800 is too rich for my blood, especially with a $8/mo viable option

[Tim Dorr @ Sep 12th 2006 10:37AM]

"Good luck everyone. Sunday install for the cards!"

Lucky you. I have to wait until October. I think I'm going to call back and just pay some extra to have them shipped to me...

[Lou @ Sep 12th 2006 10:27AM]

This will be entering my life in the coming months. As for whether it is worth it or not. My TiVo Series 2 is now almost 3 or 4 years old now and is still working perfectly. So I think that I have gotten my money back on that one, as I expect TiVo HD to last for well over 5 years.

Still when you spend $800, I kind of wish I had a lifetime service agreement. Luckily with 2 TiVos it isn't that expensive ($6 a month)

[Alric @ Sep 12th 2006 10:37AM]

No tivotogo? I guess I'll wait..

[Michael @ Sep 12th 2006 10:37AM]

Yeah, I'm with Pete. I have an Explorer 8300HD DVR from Cox Cable for $10/mo. That already doesn't connect to anything outside it's self and can record 2 shows at once. I'll save my $800.

[Steven @ Sep 12th 2006 10:37AM]

Until Tivo offers lifetime subscriptions again I will just continue to enjoy my ReplayTV. $799.99 plus $399 for three years of service is a joke! Oh wait, there is a one year free offer on the three year service. Let me get my credit card out now before its too late!

[Hintertux @ Sep 12th 2006 10:41AM]

Well, my series 2 is less than 2 years old with a lifetime subscription. I will wait until the wave of newness is gone and the cable cards more reedy available. Not to mention the price to come down. Gee did I say that I got my series 2 Tivo for the price of the lifetime $199 at the time. There was an $80 rebate at the time and it only cost $80. I am hooked though so I can not wait but so long. My Comcast box will suffice for now but I will be biting at the bit for lower pricing, or Comcast / Tivo deal to come to fruition. Tivo is great but $1089 for a Series 3 with 3 years subscription is a rip off.

[Tim Dorr @ Sep 12th 2006 10:40AM]

"...no multi-room, TiVo-to-Go, etc. That means I'd need to keep my old TiVos around just for that. Huh?"

Wait, where does it say no TivoToGo? I'm not seeing them saying that anywhere.

[Hintertux @ Sep 12th 2006 10:43AM]

My bad

Service plan $299.00 (3 years)
Box fee $799.99
Subtotal: $1,098.99

At least they are offering free shipping.

[Rob Stekson @ Sep 12th 2006 11:26AM]

"Lucky you. I have to wait until October. I think I'm going to call back and just pay some extra to have them shipped to me..."

They wouldn't let me just go and pick it up... Forced me to have a technician come and install so I can pay 40 bucks for that.

[Chris @ Sep 12th 2006 11:26AM]

For those that are NOT transfering their lifetime service from their S1's or S2's, I'd wait. I'm fairly certain that you'll see some deals coming out later with required committment rebates, at least by early next year. Right now, they want to get all the must have it now early adopters out at the maximum $$'s.

[Eric @ Sep 12th 2006 11:38AM]

What? No Cablecard 2? We STILL need the box from the cable company?

AND it's $800?

Please, Apple, bring us a REAL DVR.

[F.R. @ Sep 12th 2006 12:07PM]

Can someone tell me how this would work with something like Dish Network? I don't have cable, I have a dish. What are these "cards" that people keep talking about and does my dish from Dish Network have them?

[Grant @ Sep 12th 2006 12:17PM]

http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2006/09/ad_to_tv_indust.html

Doesn't work with satellite

[Grant @ Sep 12th 2006 12:25PM]

Tim,

"Wait, where does it say no TivoToGo? I'm not seeing them saying that anywhere."

It's listed in their FAQs:
http://www.tivo.com/2.0.3hdDvr.faq.asp#8

Will the TiVoToGo™ feature and Multi-Room Viewing be available on the Series3 HD?
As always, TiVo's goal is to make all of the Emmy® award-winning TiVo service features available on all of our hardware platforms. Because TiVo worked directly with Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs®) to enable the recording of digital standard definition and high definition channels with the TiVo Series3 HD box, this product has unique requirements, including what content can be taken off of the DVR and in what form. TiVo is working with CableLabs and our own engineering team to enable both Multi-Room Viewing and TiVoToGo functionality in a future release.

[pyro @ Sep 12th 2006 1:01PM]

I get mine today.

[Andrew @ Sep 12th 2006 2:48PM]

wats the big deal, my motorola DVR records 2 HD shows at once, and ive had it for months...

[DaveTehWave @ Sep 12th 2006 4:16PM]

Eric,

You don't need a cable box.

Andrew,

A Moto box is not a TiVo. If you've never had a TiVo, you wouldn't understand the difference.

[Daniel @ Sep 12th 2006 5:01PM]

I am deeply dissappointed. I love Tivo but was forced to switch to a crappy Cablevision DVR due to the HD content. I have been anxiously awaiting an HD Tivo and hoping it would come at a reasonable price...Apparently not. Tivo is great and it is the ultiamte DVR. While it is heads above the Cablevision DVR, I do not feel that any DVR is worth $800 when the other "working" alternative is free. Yes Tivo is better and Cablevision sucks...but Cablevision's DVR is free...maybe there will be a big X-mas sale...

[Philip @ Sep 12th 2006 5:16PM]

"Yes Tivo is better and Cablevision sucks...but Cablevision's DVR is free...maybe there will be a big X-mas sale..."

Since when has any cable co offered a free DVR? My Motorola from Cox sure ain't free.

[George @ Sep 12th 2006 5:20PM]

Is 250 GB all you can get? How many hours of HD programming is that?

[DaveTehWave @ Sep 12th 2006 5:52PM]

George,

After some time, TiVo will enable the eSATA port allowing you to use an external HDD to expand the amount of programming.

[Jay Tierney @ Sep 12th 2006 6:33PM]

I've been awaiting Tivo HD's release, but now I think I'm going to hold off... if the lifetime transfer was, say, $50, I'd do it, but $200 isn't much of a "loyalty" deal given how much the box costs anyway. Looks like I'll have to go for a cable company HD DVR in the meantime...

[Phil W @ Sep 12th 2006 7:22PM]

Does it lag like the Tivo Series 2's do after the 7.3.1 update? Was the recent massive slowdown of existing Tivos a ploy to get us all to upgrade and that's why there's no ETA on a fix?

[Ted @ Sep 13th 2006 12:54AM]

ALL: You don't have to wait to get this, I saw it in the flesh at Fry's today. don't wanna tell you which one cuz when I go back on thursday, it might be gone!!!!!

$699

Also, it wayyyyy sucks of TiVo not to make this work with satellite providers. I'm sure there's a logical reason for it but they ostracized a large amount of tech saavy people who use DN due to the large # of HD content channels.

[Bill S @ Sep 13th 2006 11:40PM]

I arranged for Comcast to provide two cablecards today. Total pain. Had to explain and reexplain it to the sales person two or three times. She then flipped over to talk to a talk, who told her Tivo doesn't take cablecard, can't get indemand, etc. They finally relented after two or three MORE explanations. Idiots.