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TiVo Q4 results bring first sub growth in years, DirecTiVo is imminent

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:14:00 EST

While many consumers are still waiting for something new from TiVo -- finally enabling the second processor core on Premieres this weekend is a nice step, but how about more HD menus? -- said company has found growth for the first time in four years by turning to a more traditional way to sell set-top boxes in the US. Yes, the growth is mostly thanks to six months of success with Virgin Media and other provider deals like the one with RCN. TiVo netted an additional 117,000 this quarter, bringing the total to just over 2 million and even more growth is expect in the coming months -- despite the continuous drop in retail subscribers -- thanks to the expected limited release of the DirecTiVo in December, with a more widespread release next year. This helped TiVo realize a 25 percent year-over-year growth in revenues, but still wasn't enough to hold off a net loss, which came in at a cool 24.5 million for the quarter. You have to stop going down before you can go up, but more TiVos in more homes is a good thing for just about everyone involved.

Continue reading TiVo Q4 results bring first sub growth in years, DirecTiVo is imminent

TiVo Q4 results bring first sub growth in years, DirecTiVo is imminent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo talks cable, satellite deals in Q2 results; DirecTiVo exposed! (video)

Richard Lawler — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:33:00 EST

TiVo's results for the second quarter are here and there were a few tidbits that let us know where its products are going in the future. Despite reporting a net loss for the quarter, its cash position was up after receiving the first $300 million payment from its settlement with Dish Network. Things appear to be going well with Virgin Media in the UK where it reported 50,000 TiVo's live by the end of July and ONO is closing in on a launch in Spain, while closer to home RCN is almost ready to officially offer a whole-home DVR setup based on the quad-tuner TiVo Premiere Q. Charter and DirecTV are mentioned as "progressing towards launch", but the company seems particularly excited to see the current state of patent warfare going on, trumpeting its 210 issued patents and 389 applications.

Speaking of the DirecTivo, an apparent training video has leaked. ZatzNotFunny has more information, but it reveals the hardware and UI, which disappointingly harken back to the days of older Series3 hardware instead of the updated HD menus on the new Premiere boxes. Check out the video and Q2 press release after the break.

Continue reading TiVo talks cable, satellite deals in Q2 results; DirecTiVo exposed! (video)

TiVo talks cable, satellite deals in Q2 results; DirecTiVo exposed! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo app jumps from iPad to iPhone, adds support for Series3 and HD DVRs

Richard Lawler — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:32:00 EST

A magazine ad revealed it was on the way, and today TiVo came through by releasing a version of its remote app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. v1.5 does more than just get the existing iPad interface ready for smaller screens, it also increases compatibility by adding "limited compatibility" (search, browse and schedule recordings, plus the virtual remote) with older TiVo Series3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL DVRs, as well as TiVo Premieres supplied by cable providers RCN and Suddenlink. Still waiting in the wings is the promised Android version -- unless you're in the UK. Check out the press release after the break or just click the iTunes link below and give it a download yourself, especially since even the TiVo-less can browse its wares thanks to a new guest mode.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob & Larry]

Continue reading TiVo app jumps from iPad to iPhone, adds support for Series3 and HD DVRs

TiVo app jumps from iPad to iPhone, adds support for Series3 and HD DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app

Richard Lawler — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:18:00 EST

An early release over the weekend took any surprise out of the news, but now TiVo has officially announced its plans for the new TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview set-top boxes and an update for its iPad app at the 2011 NCTA Cable Show. Both boxes are firsts for TiVo, the Premiere Q (pictured above) because it has four tuners and can stream video to up to three other boxes in the home, and the Preview because it lacks a hard drive or any DVR capabilities entirely. The Preview can function on its own or as a multiroom thin client streaming from TiVo DVRs, and both promise full integration with video on-demand and other cable-provided services. There's no word on any retail plans and as expected RCN and Suddenlink will be the first to offer the boxes. The TiVo iPad app is also getting a cable-friendly makeover with a new version that can browse video on-demand offerings and flick them to any available TiVos for viewing, just like it does for internet video. We complained about the slow pace of updates for the existing Premiere DVR yesterday, so we'll try to have a fresh outlook on the official announcements (PR and more pictures are after the break) and consider a future where TiVo isn't tied to DVRs or being offered at retail.

Update: @BrennokBob points out a post on DSLReports revealing the Premiere Q will ship (at least for RCN) with a 500GB hard drive, up from 320GB on the standard Premiere but less than the 1TB of the XL model or Virgin's TiVo in the UK.

Continue reading TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app

TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere Q, Preview boxes bring quad-tuner or non-DVR options to the lineup

Richard Lawler — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:42:00 EST

In an early preview of TiVo's plans for The Cable Show this week in Chicago, TMCNet has posted information on two new set-top boxes that will be offered by cable operators RCN and Suddenlink. As suggested by recent surveys and forum posts, the Premiere Q is a quad-tuner DVR with multiroom streaming of up to three HD feeds via MoCA or Ethernet, while the Preview is TiVo's first box without a hard drive and serves as a client to the main box. Another revelation is news that an updated version of TiVo's iPad app will include be able to browse cable VOD, allowing users to select it on the tablet and then "flick" it to their box where it starts playing. If the information holds up the new hardware seems competitive and modern enough, but we're wondering if TiVo will continue to serve end users who prefer to buy equipment instead of lease and are waiting for things like the new DirecTiVo or software updates that enhance performance on the Premiere and finish off its HD menu system.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob]

TiVo Premiere Q, Preview boxes bring quad-tuner or non-DVR options to the lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN exec confirms TiVo Premiere multiroom streaming in latest update

Richard Lawler — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:21:00 EST

Over on DSLReports, RCN's Director of Video Product and Video Operations revealed details about the 14.8 software update coming to the cable company's TiVo Premieres, including the multiroom streaming support that posters at TiVo Community have already found evidence of in retail boxes. Apparently this is all a part of RCN beta testing a move to the Premiere's HD UI on its boxes (currently still using the classic interface) and adding support for features like the TiVo iPad app and even TiVo-styled menus for browsing VOD. As Zatz Not Funny points out, we still have no idea when the streaming may actually get activated, but hopefully it will get knocked off the list of features we're still waiting for (dual-core support, DirecTiVo) sooner rather than later.

RCN exec confirms TiVo Premiere multiroom streaming in latest update originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN launches TiVo in Chicago, credits positive customer response for accelerated rollout

Richard Lawler — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:57:00 EST

Completing a process that began in April, RCN now offers the TiVo Premiere in all of its markets. Following up D.C., New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Lehigh Valley, PA, Chicago's launch includes some demo time at the RCN Booth during Northalsted Market Days this weekend. Of course, this unit still differs from retail models like the one we reviewed because it adds RCN VOD access and subtracts internet offerings from Amazon and Netflix, plus it doesn't yet run the new Flash based UI -- which may be a good thing. While we wonder what the pair will pull out of their bag next, interested customers can hop over to RCN's website and get to ordering, the pricing should be very familiar by now.

Continue reading RCN launches TiVo in Chicago, credits positive customer response for accelerated rollout

RCN launches TiVo in Chicago, credits positive customer response for accelerated rollout originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN offers TiVo Premiere in Boston; Philadelphia, Chicago are next

Richard Lawler — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:43:00 EST

For your daily TiVo update, those RCN distributed Premiere units have found their way up to Boston after first being unleashed in Washington D.C. and New York City. The blog post mentions Chicago, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania will be next, and a bit of URL finagling on RCN's website easily reveals promotional pages for those areas. The 12 month promo deals vary by location, but if you're just adding the box to current service, the $19.95 fee is consistent, as is the classic TiVo menu. Of course, over the top video options are still limited to YouTube and cable VOD, but we're wondering if RCN will get the same multiroom tweaks Suddenlink has promised.

RCN offers TiVo Premiere in Boston; Philadelphia, Chicago are next originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN starts offering TiVo Premieres in NYC

Richard Lawler — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:36:00 EST

RCN's Netflix, Amazon VOD and HD UI-lacking TiVo Premiere boxes are now available to Empire State customers, the first region outside of Washington D.C. to get access. It looks like the bundle packages vary from D.C.'s slightly based on internet speed, but adding a Premiere on is still a $19.95 per month charge. So New York City TiVo fans, the choice is yours: RCN's VOD or everyone else's, which do you prefer?

[Thanks, Dave Zatz]

RCN starts offering TiVo Premieres in NYC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN ready to ship TiVo Premiere DVRs in D.C.

Richard Lawler — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:51:00 EST

Washington D.C. residents who want TiVo and their cable company's video on-demand are in luck -- our friends at ZatzNotFunny gave us the heads up they're the first to get access to RCN's Premiere box. Of course, you don't get the slick new HD interface (yet) but all in all that could be a good thing. The pricing breakdown is above with a $5 premium for existing customers to ditch the old Motorola box -- don't hurt your fingers clicking through too fast, please.

RCN ready to ship TiVo Premiere DVRs in D.C. originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere's RCN VOD menu is based on the classic interface

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:49:00 EST

Oh TiVo we'd really beat you up about this one if the new HDUI wasn't so painfully slow. We'd love to go on and on about how lame it is to be upconverting a UI even though HD has been around for years and how sick we are of that 10 year old TiVo interface. But no, instead we're just happy that at least some cable viewers will have access to VOD on a 3rd party device, and no matter how bad it looks, we wish every provider made the effort that RCN did to bring all of its services to every device on its network. We're also happy to read that no matter how bad it looks to us, it is an upgrade from the existing RCN VOD interface and is much more responsive than the TiVo Premiere's HDUI -- RCN does expect to roll out a version with the new UI in the 3rd quarter of this year.

TiVo Premiere's RCN VOD menu is based on the classic interface originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo's 3Q results reveal Virgin Media UI deal, new remotes on the way -- but no new boxes

Richard Lawler — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

Besides linking up with Google, TiVo has some other big news coming out of its third quarter results, first that it lost less money than expected, a mere $6.7 million instead of the $8-10 predicted. Bigger than that for UK denizens, TiVo has cut a long-term deal with Virgin Media to put its software and UI on the cable company's next gen set-top boxes, including access to online features, due in 2010. On this side of the Atlantic, besides resuming marketing in New England, the company's work with Comcast will continue, including a tru2way mention, while Cox and RCN also deploy boxes throughout next year. The future for TiVo? Expect Best Buy's digital video delivery store to find its way on the box soon, while the company also expands beyond just DVRs expecting to create "some very interesting product opportunities for our next generation TiVo products and services." All that online content means the old peanut isn't long for this world, with development of a new "keyboard remote control" under way, we just can't wait to see if it's beaming commands to any new DVRs at CES.

TiVo's 3Q results reveal Virgin Media UI deal, new remotes on the way -- but no new boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RCN making cobranded TiVo boxes its 'primary DVR platform' in 2010

Richard Lawler — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST

Remember that "lots of other providers" TiVo could be coming to? Looks like RCN is one of them and best of all, this isn't some stripped down Comcast TiVo overlay, the cabler plans to go all in with support for Amazon VOD, TiVoToGo, DVR Expander hard drives, multiroom and RCN's own VOD programming, and the ability to search across all of them at once. Expect this sometime in early 2010, when the cobranded TiVo DVRs will become RCN's primary DVR platform, the first offering of its kind. Of course we'd prefer a tru2way box we could take to the provider of our choice, but until the Series4 drops, this might be the best option. Maybe now that the DVR company has cracked the cable market they can get to work on that new interface we've been waiting for.

Update: Multichannel News notes these could be available as early as January 1, for a premium of $3 - $5 per month, and new HD DVR subscribers will receive a CableCard-enabled HD TiVo, with "limited migrations" available for existing customers.

[Thanks, Jason]

Filed under: Industry, DVRs, Set-top boxes, Cable

RCN making cobranded TiVo boxes its 'primary DVR platform' in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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