TIVO-Do you think it will win over Sky subscribers?

[NuclearWinter]

Well I can tell you that it was a major factor in winning over this Sky customer!

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by pauldavies83

May well be, but on those numbers I found its still not mainstream after nearly 5 years of availability (IIRC first availability was the 2006 World Cup).

That could be down to people not understanding the technology - I'd guess a lot of people buy a HD-ready TV and think they are automatically watching in HD.

So I wouldn't use HD take up as any sort of indicator that your average punter would be interested in paying a premium for TiVo. At least not in the short term.

I'm talking about subscriptions to HD, not grannys buying an HD telly with a normal V-Box or Sky box.

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:11 ----------

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

I don't see why VM's only consideration with the Tivo would be poaching customers. That would be important but Tivo does also strengthen VMtv among its current customer base and also has the potential to increase revenues from its current customer base.

VM said there would be different versions of Tivo at different price points so it could be very good for its current customers, particularly those not on XL who have no equivalent alternative on Sky.

indeed, it's also about improving what current customers can get and adding customer loyalty/retention, as any good business should be trying to do.

[pauldavies83]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

I'm talking about subscriptions to HD, not grannys buying an HD telly with a normal V-Box or Sky box

Erm, so am I.

13% of the country have access to a HD source. What about the other 87%. Just don't care?

[mentalis]

Originally Posted by pauldavies83

Erm, so am I.

13% of the country have access to a HD source. What about the other 87%. Just don't care?

There are some people still using B&W TVs.

What does access to a HD source mean?

My Nan has a HDTV, but only has normal $ky (not even $ky +). But she is welcome to come round to my house any time...

[pauldavies83]

Originally Posted by mentalis

What does access to a HD source mean?

HD pictures are fed into the TV

i.e. the TV has a Freeview HD tuner built in, or is connected to a Freeview HD, Fressat HD, Sky+HD (with subscription), V-HD or V+HD box.

Think that's all of them

Oh, or a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player (but obviously that's not to do with broadcast TV)

[D4NNYP]

Ok, This is my situation, what would you do?..


Have had SKY for 8 years... have SKY+ now but haven't upgraded to HD as I have only just purchased a HD TV...

Have 20MB Broadband with virgin, and telephone with BT... Am paying just over £100 a month for these sevices, without Movies and ESPN which I now want...

Can't get fast Broadband with SKY in my area so changing my provider from Virgin is a definite no... Also I like the idea of TV on demand but can't get through sky because it also not available ...

I have been quoted by Virgin £103.00 for what sounds like the VIP Package. (160 Channels, Movies and Sports, and 50 MB BB and XL Telephone..

If I want to upgrade my TV package with Sky to HD, all Sport, ESPN and Movies they want £80 a month, and this not including my broad band and telephone... which works out about another £55.00..

This is without getting into Tivo.... Which I like mainly for the 1TB Hard Drive.. So thats £150 extra compared to £250 if I want 1TB with SKY..

It seems like a quite obvious choice but am I missing something apart from SKY Atlantic and a few HD Channels...

Also there is the small task of trying to convince the wife who is not as keen, just because she is used to Sky and likes it..

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by D4NNYP

Ok, This is my situation, what would you do?..


Have had SKY for 8 years... have SKY+ now but haven't upgraded to HD as I have only just purchased a HD TV...

Have 20MB Broadband with virgin, and telephone with BT... Am paying just over £100 a month for these sevices, without Movies and ESPN which I now want...

Can't get fast Broadband with SKY in my area so changing my provider from Virgin is a definite no... Also I like the idea of TV on demand but can't get through sky because it also not available ...

I have been quoted by Virgin £103.00 for what sounds like the VIP Package. (160 Channels, Movies and Sports, and 50 MB BB and XL Telephone..

If I want to upgrade my TV package with Sky to HD, all Sport, ESPN and Movies they want £80 a month, and this not including my broad band and telephone... which works out about another £55.00..

This is without getting into Tivo.... Which I like mainly for the 1TB Hard Drive.. So thats £150 extra compared to £250 if I want 1TB with SKY..

It seems like a quite obvious choice but am I missing something apart from SKY Atlantic and a few HD Channels...

Also there is the small task of trying to convince the wife who is not as keen, just because she is used to Sky and likes it..

Sounds like VIP50 which is our top package deal, currently.

Take the Mrs down to your local VM store and have a play. What I would say is, check that we carry all of her/your favourite channels on the VM website, just in case there is something we don't carry.

[D4NNYP]

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Sounds like VIP50 which is our top package deal, currently.

Take the Mrs down to your local VM store and have a play. What I would say is, check that we carry all of her/your favourite channels on the VM website, just in case there is something we don't carry.

I don't even get that much luck at home...

[gstadt]

For what its worth, I'm an existing Sky HD customer (with Sports and Movies), basically the top package without multiroom ... I've just ordered Virgin 30MB broadband + phone line as its broadly same as existing broadband + phone (O2+BT) and I can get 6 months 1/2 price. However, I can get Sky 1/2 price for 6 months but Virgin can only give TV without Sky Sports and Movies 1/2 price for 6 months. Unless Virgin can give me the same for at least the same price, there's no reason to move. Tivo itself is not enough, they have to provide something of better quality (proper HD VOD on demand) for people to spend more.

[Andy C]

To answer the OPs question, I already know of 14 people who have cancelled Sky in anticipation of the TiVo launch, a few have already had it installed. Everyone else that has seen it here wants to know when they can get one and that will be another 3 leaving Sky... So YES, TiVo will win over Sky customers. There's quotes on TCF such as...

I could not switch from Sky+ quick enough!

Sometimes I wish I never had a Series 1 TiVo, oh the daily pain of using Sky+ was darkening my soul!

And if Sky think 3D will win over Tivo, boy are they wrong! Very few people I know want 3D in the home, and the ones that do think it's too early to buy. I was tempted but the exact same TV but 3D enabled was £500 more, it's just not worth it.

Originally Posted by Masque

You are trying to compare a TiVo S1 though to the very latest TiVo that Virginmedia supply the is no comparison, that is like trying to compare a old Skoda 120 to a Skoda Superb they are completely different machines even though they have the same badge.

Hmm, I'd have to disagree to a certain extent. My S1 box is sat right next to the VM TiVo and yes, the new box is integrated, has more tuners, more features such as access to OD content, the discovery bar, TV window and a HD facelift which is great. However it's main "intelligence" such as instant search, wishlists, finding and recording repeats when there's a clash, thumb ratings and suggestions were all there and worked the same ten years.

It's still by far the best and only true PVR out there... Sky+ and V+ are basic DVRs, not PVRs.


A.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Andy C

Hmm, I'd have to disagree to a certain extent.

I do believe that you have not actually the the previous posts that my post is in answer to, also 10 years down the line the tech inside is rather dated.