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TiVo: One Step Forward One Step Back
Posted by Ernest Miller on Thursday, December 12 @ 19:37:10 EST Consumers
The New York Times (reg. req.) publishes a Reuters wirestory on some announcements from TiVo (TiVo System to Offer Home Music, PC Pictures). Apparently, you will now be able to save and play MP3s and JPEGs on your TiVo. How you will get this data on the TiVo wasn't revealed, but there was an intriguing quote from CEO Mike Ramsey:
"There's a whole set of packages that we are doing and the main theme is around broadband and home networking. It is our next big thing,'' Ramsey told Reuters after the presentation.
Hmmmm ... broadband ... Hmmmm ... home networking. Could TiVo be taking a step or two down the path to effortless shifting of television data in the home? Possibly, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Whatever capabilities they implement will likely be burdened by digital rights management at the behest of their broadcast network investors.

Additionally and highly unfortunately, all these neat new initiatives (including such as being able to tell your TiVo to record a show remotely through the Internet, for example) will also be subject to premium pricing. That is, an increase to the already high subscription fees. Doesn't TiVo realize that one of the main issues holding back adoption by consumers is monthly fee? Paying more to do things I already should be able to do for free just isn't going to cut it. The faster TiVo accepts that they are in a commodity business, the better (for them and the consumer).

 
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Tivo is Doomed. (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Friday, December 13 @ 11:39:41 EST
Tivo's business model is great... For a few years.

But I would be surprised if the company manages to charge more than 5 bucks a month a decade from now. It is already possible to replicate everything Tivo does with a PC. And PC's are only going to get faster, cheaper, and more convenient.

It is entirely conceivable that a $30 Radio Shack cable kit and some shareware could displace Tivo altogether. We just need some entrepreneur to put it in a nice consumer package.

Full disclosure: I have a Tivo, and I absolutely love it. (But I love email, too, and I am not paying exhorbitant fees for the privelege.)

Stephen W. Stanton


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