FOTV: Is TiVo Becoming A Software Company?

Authored by Jay Baage on November 9, 2007 - 5:48am.

From Future of Television Forum 2007 - Tom Rogers, President and CEO, TiVo (NSDQ: TIVO), gave the audience a glimpse into Tivo 2.0 in his morning keynote. While still a very strong brand, TiVo has faced tough competition from cheaper, generic DVRs integrated into the set-top boxes being offered by cable and satellite companies. However, TiVo has now found a way forward – selling its software and brand to the distributors generic boxes and broadening its focus to more than video content.

If you can't beat them, joing them - TiVo has struck a deal with Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA), allowing the cable company’s cable customers in the New England region to get TiVo on their generic DVR-players supplied by Scientific Atlanta.
“We’re very hopeful that this new opportunity will allow us to grow beyond our stand-alone business,” said Rogers.

TiVo is now on offering its service to Cox Communications cable uustomers with a generic DVR and Rogers hopes that, down the line, TiVo will be offered as a premium service by most cable and satellite providers.

Rogers also mentioned the possibilities to deliver and store other media, such as music (the company recently announced a deal with RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) Rhapsody service).

What is more, Rogers revealed that TiVo is talking to several owners of well-known magazine brands, because of the “enormous possibilities” for sorting and recommending in that world.
“It’s a world of collaborative filtering. The problem with TV today is that people can’t keep up with all the options.”
“We want to give people what they want, when they want, no matter the delivery mechanism. Then have the ad solution to hang off of that, not with 30-second commercials, but with other more engaging options.”

Joakim Baage

Published in DMW Daily, November 9, 2007

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Comments

Why not?

Submitted by software nederland (not verified) on February 20, 2008 - 12:53pm.

Tivo has been helping us to record our favorite shows while at work or too busy to watch TV. It's time Tivo took it's rightful place between the heavy named companies of profile.

The suppliers will be

Submitted by uitbesteden (not verified) on April 1, 2008 - 11:23pm.

The suppliers will be qualified out until only a few remain. This is known as down select in the industry. It is normal to go into the due diligence stage with two suppliers to maintain the competition.