Cox to offer retail TiVo Premiere DVRs next year, first with cable VOD & Amazon, Netflix access
By Richard Lawler 
posted August 12th 2010 12:01AM
posted August 12th 2010 12:01AM
The only bad news here? While TiVo plans to start testing later this year, it won't see a wide rollout (in "all major markets") until 2011. Check out the press release for all the details before calling your cable company, why should Cox customers get to choose between two different modernized, integrated set-top box platforms while the rest of us are stuck with interfaces and access rules that have been around since before the X-Games?
COX COMMUNICATIONS TO PROMOTE TIVO PREMIERE WITH COX VOD SERVICE TO ITS SUBSCRIBERS
Cox Plans to Promote TiVo Premiere, Offer the TiVo Solution Through its Call Centers, and Provide Free Installation
First-Ever Integration of Cox On DEMAND service in a Retail Device to Provide A Full Service Cable Solution Along with Broadband Content
ALVISO, CA and ATLANTA, GA – August 12, 2010 - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs) for consumers, content distributors and consumer electronics manufacturers and Cox Communications, the third-largest U.S. cable television company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby the two companies will offer TiVo Premiere with integrated Cox On DEMAND service to Cox subscribers. This represents the first time that a cable operator will make its entire video on demand (VOD) library available via a retail DVR and TiVo Premiere will become the first retail product to fully integrate a cable VOD service, along with linear television and broadband content accessible through TiVo's user interface and intuitive search capabilities.
As part of the agreement, Cox will promote TiVo Premiere to its subscribers, support TiVo Premiere as an optional set-top, and provide free installation for TiVo Premiere boxes purchased by subscribers at Best Buy and other retail and online outlets including TiVo's own website. Customers will need a CableCARD for access to Cox services. Cox will promote TiVo Premiere via its website, cross-channel advertising, and via direct marketing to its video and high-speed internet subscribers.
"We recognize that consumers are attracted to a growing range of devices that enable them to access broadband content and interactive capabilities," said Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications. "With TiVo Premiere, Cox is providing consumers even more choice. Our subscribers will not only have access to TiVo's user experience but Cox's robust Advanced TV offering including On DEMAND service."
"Making our video on demand library available to customers who are using TiVo Premiere ensures that they can continue to enjoy all of the great television and movie choices available through our offerings but now have it seamlessly combined with access to a myriad of broadband content in addition to what we offer today," said Steve Necessary, Vice President of Video Strategy and Product Development for Cox.
"This is a major opportunity for TiVo, the cable industry and television viewers alike," said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo Inc. "We are extremely pleased that Cox has elected to integrate its VOD library into TiVo Premiere and offer it to subscribers along with simple and free installation. This is a terrific cost-effective solution for cable operators looking to deliver broadband content and over-the-top television to subscribers. We couldn't be happier than to be teaming with Cox to bring this fully integrated converged television and internet experience to our shared customers."
In addition to having access to Cox's vast VOD library and Advanced TV content, subscribers using a TiVo Premiere box will also be able to enjoy TiVo's entire suite of advanced features including access to near infinite broadband content including movies and music, remote scheduling, multi-room viewing, interactive applications and TiVoToGo functionality.
Cox plans to make its video on demand service available on TiVo Premiere boxes to subscribers in all its major markets.
###
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves more than 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for five years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and the company holds a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.
About TiVo Inc. (www.tivo.com)
Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO - News) 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.
TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. © 2010 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, the timing, promotion, and support of the future availability of the Cox ON DEMAND service integrated with TiVo Premiere service. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the other potential factors described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q since then, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. TiVo disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Cox Plans to Promote TiVo Premiere, Offer the TiVo Solution Through its Call Centers, and Provide Free Installation
First-Ever Integration of Cox On DEMAND service in a Retail Device to Provide A Full Service Cable Solution Along with Broadband Content
ALVISO, CA and ATLANTA, GA – August 12, 2010 - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services including digital video recorders (DVRs) for consumers, content distributors and consumer electronics manufacturers and Cox Communications, the third-largest U.S. cable television company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby the two companies will offer TiVo Premiere with integrated Cox On DEMAND service to Cox subscribers. This represents the first time that a cable operator will make its entire video on demand (VOD) library available via a retail DVR and TiVo Premiere will become the first retail product to fully integrate a cable VOD service, along with linear television and broadband content accessible through TiVo's user interface and intuitive search capabilities.
As part of the agreement, Cox will promote TiVo Premiere to its subscribers, support TiVo Premiere as an optional set-top, and provide free installation for TiVo Premiere boxes purchased by subscribers at Best Buy and other retail and online outlets including TiVo's own website. Customers will need a CableCARD for access to Cox services. Cox will promote TiVo Premiere via its website, cross-channel advertising, and via direct marketing to its video and high-speed internet subscribers.
"We recognize that consumers are attracted to a growing range of devices that enable them to access broadband content and interactive capabilities," said Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications. "With TiVo Premiere, Cox is providing consumers even more choice. Our subscribers will not only have access to TiVo's user experience but Cox's robust Advanced TV offering including On DEMAND service."
"Making our video on demand library available to customers who are using TiVo Premiere ensures that they can continue to enjoy all of the great television and movie choices available through our offerings but now have it seamlessly combined with access to a myriad of broadband content in addition to what we offer today," said Steve Necessary, Vice President of Video Strategy and Product Development for Cox.
"This is a major opportunity for TiVo, the cable industry and television viewers alike," said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo Inc. "We are extremely pleased that Cox has elected to integrate its VOD library into TiVo Premiere and offer it to subscribers along with simple and free installation. This is a terrific cost-effective solution for cable operators looking to deliver broadband content and over-the-top television to subscribers. We couldn't be happier than to be teaming with Cox to bring this fully integrated converged television and internet experience to our shared customers."
In addition to having access to Cox's vast VOD library and Advanced TV content, subscribers using a TiVo Premiere box will also be able to enjoy TiVo's entire suite of advanced features including access to near infinite broadband content including movies and music, remote scheduling, multi-room viewing, interactive applications and TiVoToGo functionality.
Cox plans to make its video on demand service available on TiVo Premiere boxes to subscribers in all its major markets.
###
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves more than 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for five years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and the company holds a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.
About TiVo Inc. (www.tivo.com)
Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO - News) 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.
TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. © 2010 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, the timing, promotion, and support of the future availability of the Cox ON DEMAND service integrated with TiVo Premiere service. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the other potential factors described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q since then, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. TiVo disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Cox....
*snickers quietly*
Comcast has been promising the TiVo interface to replace their own truly horrible software for what seems like forever. The last I heard it was being tested in "limited markets." That was probably two years ago.
Cox.
@HotFuzz I have a ComcastTivo box and while the interface is far better than the POS that is standard on the Moto boxes, it is no real Tivo. It slow, buggy (though much less so than 3 or 4 revisions ago) and generally inferior. I would much rather get a real Tivo with OnDemand access than be limited to the Moto box running Tivo's overlay software.
@mburstin I contend that the COX DVR is much worse then anything Comcast has ever had. If Comcast doesn't spontaneously forget the shows you record... it's already won!
@Joseph9307 I only wish Cablevision would adapt Tivo as it's default STB...
Cox suckers!
@Joseph9307
You know I grew up in an area with Cox service my entire life and never noticed that innuendo. Until I met people in college who hadn't grown up with it pointed it out. Seriously I think their advertising team intentionally puts innuendos into the writing. Examples of one that I just saw a minute ago: (Two men talking to the camera) "Our business was saved thanks to Cox!".
Honestly though, they are one of the most supportive cable companies out there, and are great at getting new networks, (We already have Epix, and the SWRV interactive music video channel), and at getting good hardware.
Sounds good, hopefully other providers will hop on the bandwagon, or at least maybe the FCC will push em eventually, in one word, WOOT
I'll stick with windows media center
I wonder how much of this is the cable companies trying to show the FCC that cable card devices do work and see they work with third party companies.
@brennok
Not really proving much when it's only Cox it works with.
@brennok I think you have it backwards. Cable companies have been trying to prove CableCARDs are not in demand, and have drug their feet making them readily available to consumers.
@redfish If you read all the comments to the FCC though, the MVPDs are fighting the AllVid solution. Yes they are saying the cable cards aren't in demand, but they seem to be even more opposed to the new solution. As a result this might be them positioning to say they are working with third parties similar to the TA rollout and there is no need for the FCC to get involved.
Cox (Insert Cock Joke Here)
@Pedobear
in your mouth
The Premiere is easily the biggest piece of garbage TiVo has ever put out. Stuffing it with Cox, won't help.
@WhatDeficit
Damn I have a dirty mind
@WhatDeficit That's what she said...
So wait, Cable Card CAN do VOD and they (the cable co's) have just been feeding us a load of CRAP all this time?
@Frankenstein Black
CableCARD has always been able to do VOD. They make an effort to point out this common error on the CableCARD site.
http://www.cablelabs.com/opencable/primer/cablecard_primer.html
The lack of VOD stems purely from the host box. If the box is not designed for VOD it won't work. Blame the box makers not CableCARD.
The internet has made this common mistake worse because one person with little technical knowledge writes an incorrect article blaming the cards and then it spreads around.
@arkweld I think its all a matter of software. Tivo doesn't have access to an interface to "authorize" the purchase of OnDemand or present the menus of items available - for lack of a better word. Is that a fair description?
If comcast could do this, they might be able to get me to keep forking over money for cable TV. Sadly, it isn't worth the cost for a DVR rental plus basic digital which doesn't have anything I want to watch anyway.
C'mon TiVo - come back to Blighty!
My UK series 1 unit is very long in the tooth!
How about a dual-tuner Freeview HD-enabled unit for the UK? Beat Sky at their own game!
So, is the usual Tivo subscription fee waived if one gets the box through Cox? Please ignore the vague Seussian vibe of that question.
@TheHoldSteady I am pretty sure that you are just paying the fees to your Cable company who send some if on over to Tivo than paying directly to Tivo.
@TheHoldSteady The monthly fee for Tivo is about $12 to $15 per month so that is what Cox charges for HD with their DVR. My guess is that they would charge about the same as they do now with Tivo getting a share of that fee. Wonder if you are a current Tivo subscriber and you paid for 2 or 3 year or lifetime if your fee would be waved?
No sorry, the article is wrong. RCN offers the Tivo and it does VOD... And YOU even posted about it: http://hd.engadget.com/2010/04/20/tivo-premiers-rcn-vod-menu-is-based-on-the-classic-interface/
And no it isn't just the box makers fault that we don't have VOD on our 3rd party boxes. The Interface to most VOD systems hasn't been exactly easy for third parties to interact with. Seachange made a bridge to allow the Tivo to interact with the VOD system via its IP connection which is what makes this possible.
http://pr.tivo.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=CA934452BA6418EF&version=live&prid=567085&releasejsp=custom_150
@syzygy Try reading the article before you say it's wrong. It says the RCN box has VOD and it works the same way as it will on Cox. What the RCN box doesn't have is Amazon or Netflix. This one does. That's what the title says.
Thanks and god bless.
Waiting for TiVO to open up that small window of time when I can upgrade my TiVO HD lifetime subscription to the new Premier unit. Then I will be able to use my old TiVO HD and a new TiVO Premier on my new Cox subscription.
Well, I had a tech (an actual Cox employee, not a contractor) come out and fix my cable cards last week (have a HDXL and HD). He asked why I don't just use their box. "Well, because your box sucks. The storage is laughable for HD and the GUI is terrible."
He was kind of butt hurt and proceeded to explain that they're going to release an updated GUI in a few weeks and hence will no longer suck.
And he complained the whole time about how Tivo's were a pain in the ass to fix, how terrible and overpriced they were. I agreed, but reminded him he works for Cox.
Tempe, AZ
so I guess they finally got True2Way up and running, I just hope this means existing Tivo premiere customers using cablecards on Cox's service will get VOD through some sort of patch.
@ryonavin from what they're saying, it's not tru2way.
@RichardLawler
How are they able to do VOD without True2Way? It was my understanding True2Way replaced cablecard 2.0 as the means for bi-drectional communication along the cablecard which is needed for VOD
@ryonavin as linked in the post powered by SeaChange technology, i don't know the specifics, but it's not tru2way, and RCN is already using it.
http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/02/tivo-inks-vod-related-deals-with-seachange-and-alticast/
Fuck cox cable and I say that with a smile
If this works anything like my current TiVo HD, cablecard, Tuning Adapter kludge together from Cox, they'd better begin hiring more techs. My system drops off about once a month for no reason and requires ingenious and huge amounts user intervention to keep working.
I hate Cox DVRs as well...19th Century User Interface. Maybe I'll get a media PC or just go back to simple over-the-air which my grandmother has and swears by.