I think TiVo may be dead. Or at least have one leg in the ground.
We recently switched to a trial run with a Comcast DVR. We got it for $8/month for a year (after that it goes up to $16) and we don’t have to pay anything for the box itself.
We looked into getting an comparable HD TiVo. List price for such a device is $249 (although you can find refurbished ones cheaper). Plus $13/month.
The problem? TiVo is charging for both the hardware and the service. Nowadays, it’s gotta be one or the other:
- Give me the hardware for “free” and lock me into a monthly service contract, or
- Charge full price (and then some) for the hardware and the service is “free”
TiVo can’t have it both ways with Comcast and other TV providers handing out free hardware to everyone and charging (essentially) the same price for (essentially) the same service. Sure, TiVo’s UX (user experience) is far superior – Comcast’s not only looks horrid but isn’t all that intuitive.
But is it worth $249 and having to add an extra box to my TV?
I’m doubtful.
Tagged: Business
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3 Comments
Dish Network is only $6/month for DVR and it’s touted as one of the best available. Plus, with a provider-specific model, they can record the native stream of data, rather than undergoing a digital->analog->digital conversion, adding extra compression artifacts. Even if the TiVo uses component video for HD, it’s still analog. Plus, the only ads i get are those in the program i recorded.
I loved my Tivo and got mine originally back in 2002. But several years back I switched off of one when I went to HD. Plus they don’t integrate well with Satellite anyway and I use DirecTV. The pluses now are we are getting HD, have an integrated DVR, and it is only 8/mo (always) Plus DirecTV DVR software is very good and similar to Tivo in many ways. I am worried about Tivo, but the only good news hopefully is DirecTV has a deal in the works to actually use the Tivo software on their DVR’s coming up later this year.
James – Good points. I didn’t know about the compression issues.
Mike – That’s a good thought – TiVo could license its software.