Quote:
Originally Posted by weesteev
I wouldnt look too much into TiVo's position in the US, its very different to the commercial deals it has with VM and other US providers. TiVo is a direct reseller of cable boxes in the US, but cable cards are required to use the service which is extra cost. Also, no providers will allow TiVo to use the Cableco's VOD services so unless they have another cable box from their provider they will only get the standard TiVo services which makes it a very niche service.
Other providers are starting to sign up TiVo to provide bespoke PVR software (Virgin Media, RCN) which supplements existing services like VOD so very different to having a TiVo box, say with Time Warner, where you would only get Live TV and the TiVo functions.
US providers are forcing people into taking their own PVR equipment (plus rental charges) as they will get a complete service compared to TiVo.
I believe TiVo will slowly exit the consumer market in the US and only offer commercial resale of software to providers, like the current VM deal.
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You are forgetting that Cable Companies have their own implementation of Tivo too like Comcast (the biggest cableco and the service is very cheap too), Comporium, Northland and RCN who all offer their own Tivo kit which do indeed provide access to all their own own demand services but customers are clearly stiill preferring the basic, cheaper PVR's.
I understand and agree with some of what you say, however I don't think you lose that many customers so quickly without having some sort of a problem with your product. It can't all be the cableco's fault, I don't accept that.
Let's hope they get their act together.