Motorola might be looking to sell set-top business, we've got $5 on it

We mostly have a tolerate - hate relationship with the Motorola branded boxes (though it's probably the software's fault) delivered to us by various pay-TV providers, but the possibility floated today by the Wall Street Journal that the company could be looking to sell its set-top biz piques our interest. Though real details beyond a potential $4.5 billion price tag are scant, what can't be ignored is the conspicuous timing of this news, immediately after the launch of the latest Call of Duty. While someone at Moto may be trying to avoid another Ryan Block takeover attempt from his new digs at GDGT, we figure if someone can pull him off the Xbox 360 long enough to rattle a saber in the general direction of Schaumburg, Illinois, in 18 months or so there should be a sleek, sexy Android powered DVR croaking out annoying sounds every time we record a new show.

[JDM Posted Nov 11th 2009 11:12PM]

It seems like Motorola has sold off a lot of business units in the last decade. I expect that in another decade, they will have sold off everything including their own logo, hopefully to someone with more competent management, but I'm guessing not.

[Maxx Posted Nov 11th 2009 11:52PM]

I just want them to make a box that doesnt cook eggs....... and then reading xbox 360 in the same article........ champions of smoldering boxes.... anyone make a quality piece of gear these days ?

[chumley Posted Nov 12th 2009 3:30AM]

Tivo does. :)

[Onazuka Posted Nov 12th 2009 7:23AM]

Apple

[UnnDunn Posted Nov 12th 2009 7:13AM]

As bad as Motorola boxes are, Cisco boxes are much, much worse. If Motorola's exit paves the way for a more innovative company to enter this space, then I say bring it on.

Of course, that's unlikely to happen. :(

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2009 9:33AM]

Richard, D'Angelo is dead, he don't need no boxes!

[jvillain Posted Nov 12th 2009 1:33PM]

How about we get some teeth into making access cards the standard and then let these crap, over priced monopoly boxes fade away. My moto PVR couldn't possibly be a bigger POS.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2009 1:49PM]

Motorola Connected Home Solutions is in Horsham, PA. I would be shocked if they got someone to pony up 4.5 billion for this division.

[cypherx Posted Nov 12th 2009 7:16PM]

Maybe Motorola should be pressuring operators and software developers to write an operating system that showcases everything the DVR's can do. My DCX3400 with 320 GB hard drive is a nice piece of equipment, but it's running such a shitty operating system. It's fully capeable of a 16:9 HD guide with transparancies and alpha blending, but were stuck with this DOS looking program from Comcast.

Seriously, it's like installing Windows 3.1 on a Core 2 Duo with 2GB of RAM. What the hell is the point? I can't believe these guide programmers are completely OBLIVIOUS to Windows Media Center, Boxee, Apple TV, XBOX 360, PS3, WII, the I Phone and all the other advanced UI devices out there. You mean to tell me not ONE employee of Rovi or Comcast has ever seen an XBOX 360 Dashboard? They never seen Aero in Windows Vista or Windows 7? They never used an Apple product? That just CANT be the case. Let these developers out of their jail cells already! They are living in the late 80's!