TiVo raises rates, limits WPA to own WiFi adaptor

Doing away with the generally well-regarded lifetime subscription was unfortunate albeit bearable, but now TiVo is really pressing its luck. Just in time for folks to slash that pricey Series3 off their holiday wishlist, the widely adored DVR company is not only upping its monthly service rates for new customers and those currently on prepaid plans, but also limiting WPA support to its own TiVo Wireless G Adapter. Just days after teasing high-rollers with its chromed-out $50 "premium remote," TiVo has announced that monthly rates are being raised to $19.95 per month for those in one-year commitments (up from $12.95 monthly), $14.95 per month if you're locked in for 24 months, and $12.95 monthly if you make the huge mistake of signing up for three solid years. For additional units in your crib, the extra $6.95 per month is now up to $13.95, $8.95, or $6.95 depending on your 1/2/3-year commitment. In a move to seemingly further limit your choices (and make things easier on its own tech support personnel), your only option for utilizing WPA on that Series2 / Series3 box is to fork out for TiVo's own 802.11g device. Apparently TiVo either thinks we're all made of money, or there's simply a lack of alternative DVR solutions waiting to take its place on your AV shelf -- both of which are probably incorrect assumptions.

Read - TiVo's wireless adaptor supports WPA [Via Zatz Not Funny]
Read - TiVo's new service rates

[MegaZone @ Nov 7th 2006 12:19AM]

Josh - Which sounds better? The Series3 TiVo, which is why I bought one. Because money isn't the primary factor. A used Yugo could get me to work and back, and it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than my '06 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona, but I have no regrets about buying the Dodge. I have no regrets about buying the TiVo either. A quality product is worth the money. I've used the cable DVR offered in my area, the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD, and I wouldn't allow that crappy box in my home.

I also make very regular use of features that TiVo has and the cable DVRs lack, like Wishlists and music playback.

Some people are happy with an econobox that just gets them from A to B. I'm not.

[bigglare @ Nov 7th 2006 1:56AM]

Well Duh! With FCC regs banning the sale of all devices with out digital tuners, aka Tivo Series 2 in a fewmonths once 2007 clicks over they will lose a HUGE portion of their future revenues since only their current Series 3 will be legal. They have to raise rates or sue someone else to stay in business. Or come up with a Digital Series 2 thats SDTV. Guess they decided to milk their current subscribers some more.

[MegaZone @ Nov 7th 2006 3:20AM]

bigglare - Sorry, that's incorrect. The Series2 could no longer be sold, as it has an OTA NTSC tuner and no OTA ATSC tuner. However, the Series2DT has no OTA NTSC tuner and is therefor exempt from the ATSC requirement. That was deliberate.

The current S2DT and S3 will continue to be sold.

[GhostDoggy @ Nov 7th 2006 5:21AM]

With the advent of multi-threaded CableCard features and CableCard-enabled Vista, I would think it wouldn't be too long before CATV-developed and external-developed STB developments will become less of a desired solution for modern consumers.

While CableCard has had limited development and support thus far, we can thank the likes of TiVo (and hopefully Microsoft) for getting the FCC to lean on the CATV industry to not hinder CableCARD development and support, and thence enbrace home-theat PC based on Windows Mediacenter and the CabelCard for HTPCpvr.

[andy @ Nov 7th 2006 9:29AM]

I have an S3 that I transferred lifetime service onto and I absolutely love.

The S3 lost the tivo2go functionality and the multiroom viewing. that sucked.

Now you're (people who don't have lifetime on teh s3) suppossed to pay even more money for less functionality? I'm pretty sure that's a bad way to run a tech business.

I love my S3, but I couldn't pay 20/mo for the service in addition to 800 for the unit.

They're either going to have to sell the unit cheaper, put the S2 functionality back, or lower the monthly fees. They don't have a big enough war chest to just sue everyone else out of the business.

[GadgetGav @ Nov 7th 2006 9:48AM]

MegaZone - you don't download shows from your Dogdge Charger Series 3 Tivo do you..? They took that functionality away, along with multi room. I'm sure you're getting ready to reply to andy that that is the FCC's fault, but to the end user, it doesn't matter whose fault it is, just that the old features are not there any more.
I've had Tivo since 2001 and I ran an S2 Tivo to my HDTV for nearly two years while I waited for the S3. In the end it just wasn't worth it. The Comcast 3xxx series DVR is no used Yugo.

[MarkF @ Nov 7th 2006 10:47AM]

Everyday my MCE box just looks better, and better. Already needed the PC and no additional fees for fork out each month. Not to mention the Media Center Extenders made from old X-Boxes.

[Gabriel Lowe @ Nov 7th 2006 12:58PM]

Yay! 2 more reasons I will wait for Vista MCE to do my encrypted QAM recording!

[number40one @ Nov 7th 2006 5:53PM]

Never got it, never will. Comcast and ReplayTV for me, thank you very much.

[Billy @ Nov 7th 2006 6:04PM]

Ha! I am paying $6.95/month with my Series 1 Sony Tivo! When (if) it ever dies, I will just move to the cable company DVR.

[MegaZone @ Nov 7th 2006 7:44PM]

GadgetGav - The FCC has nothing to do with it, CableLabs does.

And I've talked to TiVo about it multiple times and I'm comfortable with their responses that they're working with CableLabs to enable the features. It is just a software update to turn them on.

I can live without TTG and MRV in exchange for the HD with TiVo. I like them, sure, but they aren't a key part of the experience for me. YMMV.

[Trent @ Nov 7th 2006 10:48PM]

This isn't a change. This was announced in June.

This pricing also includes the $800 Series 3 for NOTHING!

[rliberty @ Nov 8th 2006 10:23AM]

So long Tivo.....

[C.Fred @ Nov 8th 2006 10:04PM]

Wow, they did raise their Service Only rates.

So, let's see, when my contract is up, Tivo is giving me the option to, for the same price, keep using my old box or get a new box. Let's assume (I know, bad assumption here) that the new box is nicer than my current one, so I ditch my old box and get a new box.

So, instead of $0 cost for me to continue with my old box, they're now out the cost of the new box, with no extra revenue in their pockets.

Oh yeah, I love the business sense there.

[Evan @ Nov 9th 2006 2:28PM]

Ya know sometimes the answer to make ends meet is not raise prices continually, but to institute pusiness/operational reforms (Pink Slips?) they have name recogniton, but thy can't keep charging these rates