Switched video on cable coming to TiVo in 2008
By Erik Hanson 
posted Nov 26th 2007 10:45AM
posted Nov 26th 2007 10:45AM
TiVo and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) have announced a new external adapter that will allow cable operators to roll out switched video while still playing nice with third-party devices like the TiVo HD and Series3 DVRs. The devices will hook up to a CableCARD host device via USB and use software to choose channels, eliminating yet another set-top box but giving cable providers a break on bandwidth requirements. The devices will begin shipping to TiVo customers -- and other compatible CableCARD devices -- in the second quarter of 2008.
Would this also apply to Windows Vista PCs that are CableCARD compatible? Please say yes!
I assume with some software upgrades to Media Center, sure. Seems like it's just a USB device needing driver support and the usual infrastructure in your cable company. I don't see Microsoft's name in the press release, just TiVo's, so we can thank them (at least for now) for getting the ball rolling on third-part switched video support!
Why so long? Cox cable here in Gainesville, Florida is already using SDV for all there new channels. I Can't get them on my current HD tivo, why do i have to wait 6 months?
My guess is, the cable companies see no "benefit" to them to add support for third-party devices like the TiVo, so they drag their feet and try to say that CableCARD is a dead product, all the while never promoting the fact that they even offer CC or support for other cable boxes. They have sweetheart deals with their preferred set-top box / DVR provider, and so don't see any reason why you, the customer, should be able to connect some foreign device to their network. I think only because TiVo begged and cajoled them into providing broad base support for a (third) third-party box to be able to two-way communicate -- what, that couldn't have been included in CC 1.0?? -- that you're even seeing support for it.