Transferring TiVo subscription to someone else?

[DeadKenny]

I'm giving up on TiVo seeing how bad it looks on a decent HD LCD and given the cost of me going for mode 0 (and the issues with mode 0) aren't really worth it long term compared to just buying Sky HD (yeah I know it's a rubbish PVR, but sorry to say the picture quality, multi-channel record, 5.1 audio and upscaling SD abilities outweigh that by miles). Especially when more HD content will come out all the time and TiVo UK is still dead as a dodo and stuck in SD.

So I might sell or donate my TiVo and I'm wondering what happens about the subscription. Does the other person just plug in and off they go, or does the subscription need to be transferred to them? Do they need to register their phone number or something?

[cwaring]

If it's a LT sub then it will just keep on working. If it's Monthly sub'd then as long as you cancel your DD and the next user starts one (by calling Tivo CS of course) then again there should be no problem.

[DeadKenny]

Yeah, it's a LT sub, so should be no problem. Cool, cheers.

[healeydave]

I'm giving up on TiVo seeing how bad it looks on a decent HD LCD

I sold my LCD and got a Plasma. I originally chose LCD over Plasma because I was worried about the gas life issues reported years ago. I realised a lot of the stuff I watched was fast moving action and sports which looks worse on an LCD and the SD material looks fine on the Plasma despite the screen size increasing significantly after the swap-over

and given the cost of me going for mode 0 (and the issues with mode 0) aren't really worth it long term compared to just buying Sky HD

Costs nothing compared to switching to SkyHD[/QUOTE]

....Especially when more HD content will come out all the time

Really.......Seems to be stalling at the moment. The mount of people watching HD broadcasts at the moment doesn't justify the duplication of effort (e.g. a SKY 1 SD channel + a Sky 1 HD channel) , let alone expanding it.

So I might sell or donate my TiVo and I'm wondering what happens about the subscription. Does the other person just plug in and off they go, or does the subscription need to be transferred to them? Do they need to register their phone number or something?

There will be no shortage of takers, but as generous as you are, I would hang onto it for say 3 months after you have gone down this route (makes no difference to you, especially if your only intending to donate it). Most people choose to use the Tivo on another TV anyway rather than get rid, unless they are on a tight budget. I know those that have even had to end up buying one back again after a hasty decision!

As has been said already, the lifetime subscription belongs to the box not the person, so there is nothing to do, the new owner simply carries on using it.

[DeadKenny]

I sold my LCD and got a Plasma. I originally chose LCD over Plasma because I was worried about the gas life issues reported years ago. I realised a lot of the stuff I watched was fast moving action and sports which looks worse on an LCD and the SD material looks fine on the Plasma despite the screen size increasing significantly after the swap-over
Wow, I think you're the only person I know who's gone LCD to Plasma. Most go the other way. Everything I've seen of Plasma has put me off. Just not as sharp and smeary as hell. High contrast though which perhaps is where it's better for fast moving sports. I don't watch much sports. Films mostly.

Anyway, films on DVD look fantastic on my LCD, and even Sky on AUX looks okay. I'm not switching to plasma just to use TiVo.


Costs nothing compared to switching to SkyHD
I'd have to get a Cachecard, and likely doing that I'd get a hard disc upgrade at the same time. Looking at a couple of hundred in the end, what with the memory you have to buy for the card too. Plus the time and investment in fiddling about with it, opening up the case (and cutting my fingers to shreds), etc. I can't really be bothered spending the money and time on a box that has a limited lifespan as far as I'm concerned. Unless of course you know of a TiVo HD box on the horizon for the UK? ... hmm thought not ;-)

SkyHD is now the cost of the box (can be had for £150 to £200, and not just from ebay sources), plus the SkyHD fee (£10 a month, which gets you Sky+ as well. They dropped the requirement for Sky+ and SkyHD fees). Installation of course but you can get deals on it, sometimes free.


Really.......Seems to be stalling at the moment. The mount of people watching HD broadcasts at the moment doesn't justify the duplication of effort (e.g. a SKY 1 SD channel + a Sky 1 HD channel) , let alone expanding it.
A number of things I watch on Sky 1 I'd like in HD, and then there's BBC's HD stuff to come (yeah I know it's taking time). If Series 4 of Doctor Who was done in HD I just could not forgive myself for not having HD up and running by then :D


Most people choose to use the Tivo on another TV anyway rather than get rid, unless they are on a tight budget. I know those that have even had to end up buying one back again after a hasty decision!
I would use it on another TV but I don't have one (or rather have no need for one). Donation would likely be first choice to a relative though ;-).


I'd seriously love to have a good reason to keep it, but no HD and no upscaling of SD combined with the poor picture on an LCD, just means TiVo is becoming redundant for me.