RVU -- Will TiVo join the party? Or will it be left behind?

[bkdtv]

From this Engadget article (http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/08/19/directv-cisco-and-samsung-have-whole-house-dvr-plans-with-rvu-a/#continued) on RVU:

The concept is that you'd get a RVU server from your content provider (like DirecTV but it could also be cable or anyone else) and plug it into your home network. Then you'd buy HDTVs from the likes of Samsung with a RVU client built in, or you could even plug the RVU server directly into the TV. Then you can go to any TV in your house that is also an RVU client and access the exact same experience. This experience includes the ability to watch or record the same shows that you can from any other TV. Now the key part that get our minds going is the fact that Samsung obviously wants to sell TVs with this built in, otherwise why join the alliance? And then there is Cisco and DirecTV, both companies that make DVRs. So obviously they have interest in creating an RVU server. So as you can see this concept holds some real of potential.
In addition to DirecTV, Cisco and Samsung, the chip maker Broadcom is also one of the founding members of the alliance
According to our old friend Rômulo Pontual, DIRECTV's chief technology officer, "We are committed to the RVU technology and are planning to deploy it in media servers and clients beginning early in 2010."
If DirecTV plans such a media server in early 2010, then that suggests that the next-generation Broadcom CPUs are just a few months from volume availability.

Wouldn't it be great if you could access your TiVo -- including recordings and live TV -- from any new TV (supporting RVU) in your home, without the need for another box?

[richsadams]

Sign me up! :up:

[netringer]

Uh, huh.

And once again the movie industry and cable companies will mark every program as "Do not play along with RVU"

[bkdtv]

And once again the movie industry and cable companies will mark every program as "Do not play along with RVU"AFAIK, "RVU" uses DTCP-IP so streaming is permitted with copy protected content.

[mchief]

I wondering how this will play with the DLNA certified Samsung TV I just bought. I can stream movies from the desktop to the TV via ethernet and plug in a USB HDD or thumb drive containing movies, photos, music.

[zabolots]

Yeah, this will be out right after tru2way...

[moyekj]

Other issue not addressed is on the networking side. Unless server and client support something like built in MoCA capability this is always a problem especially for consumers using wireless for networking. You have to have a reliable/robust network connection or heavy buffering on the client side for video streaming to work flawlessly and often wireless just doesn't fit the bill.

[daveak]

And how would this effect any potential dealing between DirectTV and TiVo for a future box? Or is this something being factored in as a new box is designed/ constructed? I would think that if DirecTV and TiVo are really doing a new box - then it would have to work with this? A new series 4 might be quite the box...

[fyodor]

I thought I read somewhere that Broadcom is planning a SoC with built in MoCA.

F

Other issue not addressed is on the networking side. Unless server and client support something like built in MoCA capability this is always a problem especially for consumers using wireless for networking. You have to have a reliable/robust network connection or heavy buffering on the client side for video streaming to work flawlessly and often wireless just doesn't fit the bill.

[moyekj]

I thought I read somewhere that Broadcom is planning a SoC with built in MoCA.

F I think some of the newer DVRs being deployed by cable companies and Dish have built in MoCA capabilities already, so it would make a lot of sense if this so called RVU Server have it built in as well.

[bareyb]

Hells to the yeah. Count me in too.

[bdraw]

I think some of the newer DVRs being deployed by cable companies and Dish have built in MoCA capabilities already, so it would make a lot of sense if this so called RVU Server have it built in as well.

I had a nice talk with the CTO of Cisco and he actually mentioned MoCA when talking about the RVU client, so yeah, it's on the radar.

[ZeoTiVo]

early 2010? really??

[ntbert]

My money would be on 2020. :)

[lafos]

I didn't see any reference to a RVU client STB. Without it, they'd be counting on people replacing multiple TV's and getting the server, and paying the subscription fees. With TV's costs, I generally keep them for 10+ years. So yes, it'll be 2020 for me.

[JWThiers]

If I can get a client box and not replace my current tv's I just bough within the last 18 months. Count me in before I need to replace the TV. Otherwise 2020.

[bkdtv]

Verizon just announced that they joined the RVU group as a "founding promoter." [Source (http://www.multichannel.com/blog/BIT_RATE/22579-Verizon_Joins_TV_Interface_Group.php)]

[Adam1115]

Remember that 4 tuner whole house DVR that DirecTV demod at CES like 5 years back...?

Wonder how that's coming along....

[Allanon]

I doubt the cable companies will sign up because they are making too much money renting cable boxes and charging a digital gateway fee for each TV in your home.