GIZMO DOWNLOAD: SUDDENLINK THINKS SMALL WITH TIVO’S IP SET-TOP

The Hype: Do good things come in small packages? Suddenlink Communications has launched the TiVo Mini DVR client set-top — less than one-fourth the size of TiVo’s full HD digital video recorder — in more than 100 communities.

What It Means: The 6.1-inch-square TiVo Mini provides a smaller and less-expensive option for Suddenlink subs who want multiroom DVR features. The device uses the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) spec to deliver Internet-protocol-based video from a customer’s main DVR. It provides access to live and recorded TV, as well as video-on-demand programming.

Pricing and Availability: Suddenlink is offering TiVo Mini for $6 or $7 per month, depending on location; it’s available in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. The MSO generally prices primary TiVo HD DVRs at $15 and $17 monthly. TiVo Stream, which transcodes IP video and delivers it to up to four Apple iOS devices, is $10 per month.