DailyTech - Comcast Starts Testing its Own TiVo Boxes

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Gadgets Comcast Starts Testing its Own TiVo Boxes
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - June 7, 2006 6:39 PM

9 comment(s) - last by nowayout99.. on Jun 8 at 11:22 PM

The partnership between Comcast and TiVo begins to emerge

In a deal with TiVo, Comcast has entered beta testing of its HD TiVo DVR. The two companies had announced a partnership together several weeks ago. Many had speculated that TiVo was in search of a large cable company to sustain growth since prior relationships between TiVo and DirecTV was starting to erode.

Reports began circulating last week that Comcast was quietly working on its own unit but now actually supplying its own TiVo-based unit makes more sense. While the hardware itself isn't from TiVo, the software driving the DVR is, and this is what Comcast is testing according to reports.

Several weeks ago, DailyTech reported that TiVo was actually trying to decide whether or not to give out its DVR boxes for free, to promote it services and draw in new customers. While not everyone will be able to get a DVR from TiVo for free, discussions were open to making the free boxes available for certain subscription plans.

TiVo itself is currently in the court room with EchoStar, claiming that EchoStar "willfully" infringed on patents that belonged to TiVo. The case is still open and reports suggested that EchoStar was pleased with the results and actually has a countersuit on hand.

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well

By GhandiInstinct on 6/7/2006 6:41:08 PM , Rating: 1

On demand is a joke, they only put up a small select number of programs per major category. Not only that but the image often stutters and becomes distorted. DVR is a much better solution.

RE: well

By Anh Huynh on 6/7/2006 7:01:55 PM , Rating: 2

I enjoy on-demand, albeit I have Starz and HBO :)

Parent

RE: well

By Aquila76 on 6/7/2006 9:49:13 PM , Rating: 2

Dunno, there's plenty of stuff in the categories on mine and it runs fine (no stutter or distortion). Are you distant from the area's cable HQ?

I gotta admit, it feels like I'm the world's laziest dude when I rent a movie off On Demand instead of driving the 10 minutes to the video store.

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So does that mean?

By Trisped on 6/8/2006 1:39:15 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
The case is still open and reports suggested that EchoStar was pleased with the results and actually has a countersuit on hand.

So is the case still being tried or is it over? It is hard to be open still, but have results.

RE: So does that mean?

By nowayout99 on 6/8/2006 11:22:46 PM , Rating: 2

A jury already found EchoStar guilty of copyright infringement. Other than that, I dunno the latest in the case.

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friggin comcast

By Chernobyl68 on 6/7/2006 7:03:15 PM , Rating: 2

Is this why my Philips HDRW DVR can't find the free TV guide programming on my Comcast service anymore????

Sweet..

By Enoch2001 on 6/7/2006 7:07:41 PM , Rating: 2

I love my Comcast HD-DVR, but the software sucks @ss. I love TiVo's interface, features, and functions - if Comcast and TiVo can get this to work in HD I'm on board.

Poor article summary

By on 6/8/2006 1:33:24 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Reports began circulating last week that Comcast was quietly working on its own unit but now actually supplying its own TiVo-based unit

That doesn't make much sense, because its been known for months that Tivo has been working on writing software for some of Comcast's DVR units... some of the Motorola ones, IIRC.

It's still unclear how much more (per month) it is going to cost for the "Tivo" software to run on these Comcast boxes, as it seems to be optional. I've heard as high as $10 extra just for the "Tivo"(tm) features.

The other linked article (from Feb) also doesn't make much sense. Tivo already began offering their so-called free units, but you pay a higher $19.99 per month "subscription fee" for a year to get it. It's more of a numbers game, under that Tom Rogers joker.

On Demand is "OK"

By rushfan2006 on 6/8/2006 10:15:32 AM , Rating: 2

I used to have HBO and Showtime, but when I got laid off 11 months ago I got rid of all premium stations to save money. Now that I've been employed for 6 months now soon I'll get HBO back (Band of Brothers 2 YEAH BOY!!)...:) Anyway, my whole point is when you don't have any premium stations the free side of on-demand is pretty lame. I mean first I'm not impressed with the meager selection, then out of that meager selection there are only maybe 2-5 movies *out of ALL* categories mind you, that are even slightly worth-while to give up 2 hours of your life for. When you have premium subscription the selection gets considerably better because the movies of your premium channels are added to the line up as well.

Strictly quality wise -- never had an issue beyond the first 2 months the service came out and I write that off as them getting the initial glitches out. My issue with on-demand (besides the crap selection) is if their whole deal is comparing to video stores -- why do you only get the movie for 24 hours? Even first run releases from blockbluster gives you the movie for 2 days...then once they are "degraded" from the first run status you get an entire week with the movie for the same $4. With comcast $4 gets you only 24 hours. I think that's pretty lame. The thing I think is more lame than that is the excuses you always get "well its the convienence, that's why"...yeah whatever that's as lame as "restocking fee" excuse for stores to get more money from a return.

Over all the Tivo move seems like a good one as long as they don't charge too much for it. In the end Comcast is lucky they are the only cable option in my area -- their extortionist prices are just insane and I'm sorry no one ON THE PLANET can justify to me how insane cable services cost -- talk all the market jib jab you want, FCC taxes, blah blah blah...its insane how expensive cable is.

But since its my ONLY option for fast internet (and I'm not allowed to use DirectTV in my condo) I'm kind of backed into a corner.