TiVo, Amazon Sell Movies Directly to TV Viewers
Move May Renew Debate on Network Neutrality
By Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 7/9/2007 7:12:00 PM
In a move that may miff Comcast, Verizon Communications and other pay TV providers, TiVo and Amazon.com plan to sell movies directly to TV viewers with TiVo receivers, AP reported Tuesday morning.
TiVo and Amazon cut a deal in March that allowed TiVo subscribers with Series2 or Series3 receivers to buy movies from Amazon, but subscribers first had to download the movies to a PC before transferring them to a digitlal-video recorder.
Under the “Buy on TV” product TiVo and Amazon launched Tuesday, subscribers will be able to buy movies with their TiVo remotes and have the films downloaded directly to their TiVo DVRs.
Since the service will rely on high-speed-Internet connections from cable operators and telcos, it could draw the ire of broadband providers. It could also renew the debate on network neutrality. Amazon has been one of several Internet providers that have pushed for network-neutrality regulations that would prevent cable operators and telcos from limiting their ability to deliver content through their high-speed pipes.
Amazon and TiVo have already cut deals with several top Hollywood studios to supply movies for the Unbox service, including Sony Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios.
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Interesting that the article states this move might provoke the ire of ISPs. I don't see why AppleTV or Slingbox are any different. AppleTV does the exact same thing (allow movies and TV shows over broadband to PCs/TVs).
I personally favor "network neutrality". I pay for a pipe of a certain speed. I want to use it for what I want.
Steve - 7/11/2007 12:30:00 PM EDT -
You have an error in the article. The Amazon Unbox on TiVo system has never required you to download the video to a PC first. Until today's update you DID have to use a web browser to order the video, but in the Amazon Unbox web interface you selected the TiVo you wished to receive the video. So ordering was done from a PC (or any web browser) and the download was directly to the TiVo.
Today's update just cuts the web browser out of the loop. (I run TiVoLovers.com)
MegaZone - 7/10/2007 12:10:00 PM EDT
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