RCN launches TiVo in Chicago, credits positive customer response for accelerated rollout
Completing a process that began in April, RCN now offers the TiVo Premiere in all of its markets. Following up D.C., New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Lehigh Valley, PA, Chicago's launch includes some demo time at the RCN Booth during Northalsted Market Days this weekend. Of course, this unit still differs from retail models like the one we reviewed because it adds RCN VOD access and subtracts internet offerings from Amazon and Netflix, plus it doesn't yet run the new Flash based UI -- which may be a good thing. While we wonder what the pair will pull out of their bag next, interested customers can hop over to RCN's website and get to ordering, the pricing should be very familiar by now.
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TiVo Premiere From RCN Debuts in Chicago, Completing Rapid Rollout to Five Markets in Just Three Months
The Future of Home Entertainment Is Now Available to All RCN Customers; RCN to Offer Product Demonstration at Northalsted Market Days
CHICAGO, IL, Aug 03, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
RCN Corporation (NASDAQ: RCNI), a leading provider of all-digital and high definition video, high-speed Internet, and premium voice services, and TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced the launch of TiVo(R) Premiere from RCN in Chicago. A true one-stop-shop for entertainment, the TiVo Premiere box offers RCN's customers a universe of television and broadband delivered entertainment all accessible through one box, one remote and one user interface.
RCN is the first all-digital TV and broadband provider to have TiVo as its primary provider of DVRs. Beginning with Washington, D.C. in May, RCN has rapidly rolled out TiVo Premiere to all of its markets including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, PA, and now Chicago.
This co-branded, uniquely configured product for RCN's residential customers goes dramatically beyond the traditional DVR, combining digital TV with a universe of broadband delivered entertainment. With built-in broadband capabilities, customers get entertainment from a variety of sources including the ability to access RCN's Video On Demand (VOD) library, rent movies from broadband video on demand providers, watch YouTube videos, stream music and more. Additionally, TiVo Premiere can access music, photos and movies saved on a personal computer.
"Due to the overwhelming number of positive customer responses we've received with the rollout of the TiVo Premiere for RCN across other markets, we are very excited to launch it in our Chicago market ahead of schedule," said Tom McKay, general manager of RCN Chicago. "Customers who have been using the system are already giving a thumbs up to TiVo Premiere's ability to connect to the Internet, schedule recordings remotely and for its increased storage capacity -- all of which are simply unmatched by other cable providers in Chicago."
"We are very excited that the TiVo Premiere from RCN is now available in all of RCN's markets," said David Sandford, VP and GM of TiVo's service provider business. "With this offering, RCN customers have access to an experience no other operator currently provides, combining traditional television programming with cable video on demand and the rapidly expanding world of online content. This is a true one-stop-shop for all of your television entertainment."
For a demonstration of the TiVo Premiere, visit RCN's booth at Northalsted Market Days(R) August 7 and August 8 from 11 am - 6 pm.
TiVo Premiere is offered as part of a bundled package of digital TV and high-speed Internet services. Pricing, availability, and more information is available by calling 1-800-RING-RCN (746-4726) and on http://www.rcn.com/tivochicago.
Features offered include:
-- Vast Video On Demand and Music Library: Access thousands of hours of
VOD from RCN, as well as broadband content options such as
YouTube(TM), Rhapsody(R) and more.
-- Integrated search: Instantly scans across all programs -- TV, VOD and
online content -- to find exactly what a user wants to watch.
-- Interactive applications: Allow viewers to access local news, sports
and weather, as well as Facebook and Twitter(TM), right from the TV.
-- Automatic recordings: Records a user's favorite shows each week (minus
the repeats, of course) automatically with TiVo's Season Pass(R)
Recordings; plus TiVo WishList(R) finds programs based on the
user's interests and records them whenever they're on.
-- Remote scheduling: Search for shows and schedule recordings from the
Web or from a mobile phone at http://m.tivo.com.
-- TiVoToGo transfers: Take shows anywhere by transferring them from the
TiVo DVR to a laptop, media device or smart phone.*
-- Multi-room viewing: Record a show on one TiVo DVR and watch it on
another in the house.*
-- Control live TV: Allows pause, rewind, slow-mo and instant replay
functions from live TV.
-- Content storage: Records up to 45 hours of high-definition (HD)
programming or up to 400 hours of standard-definition programming --
that's more than 16 days of content!
-- Full HD support: 1080p and 1080i HD formats are fully supported.
*Only unprotected video programming may be transferred using multi-room viewing or TiVoToGo.
About RCN Corporation RCN Corporation (NASDAQ: RCNI), www.rcn.com, is a competitive broadband services provider delivering all-digital and high definition video, high-speed internet and premium voice services to residential and small-medium business customers under the brand names of RCN and RCN Business Services, respectively. In addition, through its RCN Metro Optical Networks business unit, RCN delivers fiber-based high-capacity data transport services to large commercial customers, primarily large enterprises and carriers, targeting the metropolitan central business districts in the company's geographic markets. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago. (RCNI-G)
About TiVo Inc. Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite, and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry. www.tivo.com.
TiVo, 'TiVo, TV your way.', Season Pass, WishList, TiVoToGo, and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. Copyright 2010 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: TiVo
