TiVo Dials Up Mobile DVR Site

Beta Version of Mobile Site Lets Subscribers Schedule Recordings

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 11/25/2008 12:01:00 AM

TiVo will let subscribers set DVR recordings from any Internet-enabled cell phone in the company’s latest attempt to distinguish its service from cable and satellite DVRs.

The new mobile site, at m.tivo.com, lets subscribers with broadband-connected Series2 or Series3 TiVos schedule recordings, while it’s also available to anyone to browse and search television shows.

M.tivo.com is in beta beginning Tuesday and will be available on a wide scale within a few weeks, TiVo said. The company built the site in conjunction with mobile applications development firm Mobui.

The site lets visitors search for TV shows by actor, title, director or keyword; provides a list of the most popular programs; and includes a recommendation feature that suggests other shows a user may be interested in.

“TiVo started out making television a more convenient, personal experience, and this is the next step to give television lovers total control over their media,” TiVo vice president of product marketing Jim Denney said, in a statement.

TiVo is scheduled to announce third-quarter results Tuesday after the market closes.