TiVo Talks Upgrades

Although dual-tuner DVRs are commonplace these days, TiVo's Series2 DT DVR is the first stand-alone dual-tuner DVR made to work with TiVo. The DVR, which hit the market on May 1, makes it possible to record two programs at one time and allows you to incorporate the system into your home network via Ethernet and USB ports.




"We've been hearing from our subscribers that they wanted a TiVo DVR that could record two shows at once," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo, in a press release. "With the TiVo Series2 DT DVR, we've delivered that capability to our customers at a very affordable price."

The new DVR is included in current TiVo packages and can also be purchased separately for $99.99 after a rebate and activation of service.

Several convenient features (and TiVo favorites) that subscribers will have access to with the new DVR include TiVoToGo transfers, TiVo online scheduling, and other online services.

With TiVoToGo, you can transfer shows from TiVo to your laptop and take them with you wherever you go. TiVo online scheduling, in conjunction with Yahoo!, lets you use the Internet to program your recordings when you're away from home; and subscribers who have a broadband Internet connection can watch slideshows and check the weather too. Subscribers can also buy movie tickets from Fandango, check out new bands on Live 365, and listen to various podcasts.

In the future, TiVo subscribers who are also Verizon Wireless users will be able to schedule recordings from Verizon cell phones. TiVo Mobile is set to launch this summer and will be available by downloading a program into your cell phone. The service will cost an extra $5 each month.

"TiVo Mobile will add yet another unique benefit to the Verizon Wireless Get It Now service by allowing our subscribers to be the first mobile users anywhere to schedule television recordings on TiVo using their mobile handset," said John Stratton, Verizon Wireless Chief Marketing Officer, in a press release. "As a powerful consumer-entertainment brand, TiVo has the ability to help us attract consumers who value the leading multimedia capabilities Verizon Wireless offers."

The deal with Verizon is the second partnership that TiVo has entered into (the first was the partnership with Yahoo!) that has made it possible for subscribers to control their television sets when they are away from home. With these options, you can literally control your TiVo from anywhere—or at least anywhere with Internet access or cell service.

"This arrangement will allow the growing base of TiVo subscribers to integrate control of their TV life with the most widespread piece of consumer electronics, the wireless phone," said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo, in a press release.

TiVo's Product Watch service, another novel idea, gives viewers the option of watching commercials. Although a large chunk of the American population loves TiVo specifically because of the hours of commercial-free enjoyment it provides, Rogers thinks the Product Watch feature will actually make the overall television experience better for TiVo subscribers. He said it will "deliver real, relevant results for our advertising partners while at the same time enhancing the TV experience for subscribers."

The company has already lined up more than 70 advertisers and will offer them everything from 60-second commercial spots to longer infomercials. Advertisers that have already signed on include Jell-O, Kraft, and Ford.

The KidZone feature, set to be available as a free software upgrade in June 2006, will free parents from the confusing television rating system, giving them a simpler way to control what their kids are watching. However, it's more than just a way to block out programs. Partnering with Common Sense Media and The Parents TV Council, KidZone will generate custom TiVo menus and channels tailored to different children's age groups. Parents can then choose different programs from the kid-friendly menu and set TiVo to record them.

Parents are given a password to log in and out of the KidZone feature; and while in KidZone mode, children are denied access to all other TiVo programs, except those that have been approved by their parents.

TiVo, which was founded in 1997, made history with the creation of the first commercially available DVR. Since then, it has spawned a legion of followers madly addicted to its Season Pass, WishList, and TiVoToGo features.

"Rapidly becoming the focal point of the digital living room, TiVo's DVR is at the center of experiencing new forms of content on the TV, such as broadband-delivered video, music, and photos," a press release stated. "With innovative features such as TiVoToGo transfers and online scheduling, TiVo is expanding the notion of consumers experiencing 'TiVo, TV your way.' TiVo is also at the forefront of providing innovative marketing solutions for the television industry, including a unique platform for advertisers and audience-measurement research."