New TiVo DVR Records150 Hours of HD Fare
George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 9/16/2008 4:59:00 AM
TiVo has launched a new digital video recorder, the TiVo HD XL, which can record up to 150 hours of HD content — the largest recording capacity of any DVR currently in the market.
The new box, which retails for $599.99, works with CableCard technology in digital cable and telco households and in homes receiving digital over-the-air signals but does not currently allow satellite subscribers to record content in HD.
“It has massive storage with a 1 terabyte hard drive capable of storing up to 150 hours of HD content,” TiVo director of product platforms Andrew Morrison said.
The box is aimed at the premium DVR and home theater market.
“We think of this product as the core entertainment device in your living room,” Morrison said. “With one remote and one box, you have the DVR experience with high-capacity HD recording and access to broadband content that encompasses video as well as music.”
The DVR allows users to record two programs while watching a third, as well as download online content from Amazon.com and other providers, offering users thousands of hours of on-demand programming.
The box works with either single-stream or the new multistream CableCards; but like all CableCard boxes, it has a number of limitations. Because CableCards are currently one-way technology, users can’t access VOD services or interactive program guides from their cable or telco providers.
In a period when cable operators are using VOD platforms to expand on-demand offerings, that limitation can seriously limit the user’s ability to access free on-demand HD content. Comcast and Verizon both plan to have over 1,000 HD titles by the end of this year.
“If you want to access the cable company’s VOD service, then the option is to rent a box from your cable company directly and plug it into a separate input on the TV,” Morrison said.
“Amazon.com is our VOD offering,” said Morrison. “We offer a broadband alternative with a wider variety of content.”
Users can also access content from other services like YouTube and musice services Rhapsody and Music Choice.
The large capacity HD XL is unlikely to be deployed by operators anytime soon but TiVo does have some alliances with operators that is making parts of its technology available to users.
In early September, TiVo and DirecTV agreed to extend their intellection property rights deal. As part of that arrangement, DirecTV will deploy a large capacity HD TiVo DVR in the second half of 2009, Morrison said.
TiVo also has deals with Cox Communications and Comcast to deploy its technology on their systems.
In some areas, Comcast is already allowing users to download a software upgrade that lets subscribers search and record titles with a modified version of the widely applauded TiVo interface. The interface will run on Comcast’s existing set-top boxes, however, not the TiVo boxes, which generally have more storage.
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