My TiVo digital video recorder has been gathering dust for the past couple of years since I replaced it with free DVRs from Dish Network that did more or less the same thing and had bigger capacities.
But TiVo is giving current and former users a reason to consider buying its boxes anew with the launch of its Premiere and Premiere XL units on Wednesday.
They mark a major shift by TiVo to differentiate itself from growing competition – it is combining its service for traditional TV broadcasts with aggregation of internet video and audio content.
This is a welcome blending of regular TV services with the so-called “over the top” online content currently aggregated by services such as Boxee.
It could make TiVo seem relevant again to the extent of making it the centre of the TV viewer’s experience.
“TiVo Premiere is your new cable box, it’s your movie box, it’s your web box, and music box; it’s the one box that can give you access to almost anything you want, whenever you want it,” said Tom Rogers, TiVo chief executive, in a statement.
At $300 for the basic Premiere version, which includes a 320Gb hard drive and HD recording,Tivo seems to be pricing things right as well – previous HD TiVos have been beyond most people’s budgets.
Remote accessory with keyboard
TiVo is leveraging its powerful search function with the Premiere to find not just relevant TV programmes but also internet content for viewers such as YouTube videos or movies from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, or Blockbuster On Demand.
Music from Pandora Radio and internet channels from FrameChannel will also be available, in a similar offering to that of Roku’s sub-$100 streaming device and the Popbox.
The Premiere and Premiere XL, which has a one-terabyte drive and costs $500, will be available in April. A $13 monthly fee for the TiVo listing service still applies.
