what happens to my lifetime subscription if Tivo goes bankrupt?

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What is your issue with me? I was making a point that "lifetime" doesn't mean lifetime, if the company goes out of business, that's all!

 

and that was incorrect. The rest was just me replying in kind to your sarcasm you showed the poster. It seems you can be sarcastic but others should treat you with utmost respect. Ok.

 

This was asked back in the day and a TiVo employee (Richard B I think) {His last name is like the moose on Rocky the flying Squirrel but I cannot spell it right now} said that, "were TiVo to go out of business an unlock code would be released that would, at least. allow TiVos to do manual recordings.

Of course TiVos back then were much simpler and things like cable cards, MRV, and other advanced things did not exist, but I would hope that all TiVos would be able to perform at some level should the worst happen.

But, as others have said, TiVo is not in current real danger of going out of business rather the only real danger is some sort of buyout which should not effect subscription models in any way but pricing and existing contracts should continue unchanged.

 

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That doesn't seem to be the case for Wave or Buzz (from what I've been seeing)
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hmmm, me too... small world

 

GOOD QUESTION..LIKE I GOT MY MONEY REFUND $149.00 PLUS ANY MOVIES FREE NO CHARGE SEPT TO NOV 30, 2011 FROM SEZMI INC. SHUT DOWN ON SEPT 24TH,..THEY SEND MONEY REFUND TO SUBCRIBERS CUSTOMER'S SEZMI DVR 1TB DEVICE ONLY AND ANY MOVIES FREE UNTIL NOV 30 EXPIRED... NOT NEW CUSTOMER JOIN...ON SEPT 24,2011 AFTER..

 

Thank you for the seizure.

 

Google in taks with an investment firm on finding someone who take Moto STB division. Cissco is also trying to unload the SA STB division.

Tivo has stated that in the event that would cause them to go under an update would be sent that would open the boxes. Hacker would end proving support if no one took Tivo over. But, this all un-likely to happen with VM in the UK and RCN, and other cable provider using TiVo. Comcast may come around and offer TiVo if the VOD deal sell more Tivo’s.

 

Before a company goes under, it is sold to someone else. When AT&T offered to buy T-Mobile, a lof customers claimed foul. They didn't want to lose the plans they paid for (or plans they were grandfathered into) by joining AT&T. AT&T assured the customers that they would continue having the plans they currently were subscribed to.

I imagine that if TiVo ever "goes under" and is sold to the highest bidder, customers will retain the services they had.

 

i doubt there's anyway that tivo stops operating anytime in the next several years. Just not going to happen.

that said- is the above accurate? I dont know that TiVo, the company, ever said that.

Several years ago employees of TiVo did indirectly let it be known they would unleash a back door.

But that was a a few platforms ago- who knows if such an easy backdoor exists or not anymore.

More importantly- I'm not even sure at this point that anyone could unlock anything without fear of getting sued or prosecuted. Tivo would have to completely go out of business with zero hope of providing guide data before anyone could unlock anything- but at that point I'm not sure there would be anyone left with the keys. If there's any hope of a buyer coming along then anyone unlocking anything would potentially scutttle a deal since all the subs wouldn't have to spend anything for guide data anymore and could just get it for free someplace. Some cheese head lawyer would probably through around the DMCA too in a suit.

 

Hows that lifetime subscription working for you now?

 

From Replay TV's website on 1/2/2012: After the announced shutdown of the ReplayTV programming guide service, we have had many positive, enthusiastic comments about the ReplayTV DVR products and services. In light of this response, ReplayTV and its parent company Digital Networks North America, Inc. have decided to continue the electronic programming guide service pursuant to the terms of your service activation agreement. We thank you very much for all of your support and enthusiasm over the many years these products have been sold.

As we have said previously, the analog programming that the ReplayTV units are capable of recording is in fact likely to be converted to digital signals in the very near future at which point the ReplayTV units will no longer be able to record such programming. We encourage our users to consider digital video recorders that have this digital recording capability as well as additional technological advances which are not a part of the ReplayTV units (all of which were end of lifed by 2006). For monthly subscribers of the ReplayTV service, we are exploring options by which you may continue paying for and receiving such service going forward. We apologize in advance should there be any minor disruptions in the ReplayTV service while we implement the continuation of the programming guide. Thank you. ReplayTV

So basically, for a company that went out of business years ago and who's last product was EOL-ed in 2006, they're STILL trying to find a way to support their clients...even when their devices no longer will actually work with most cable systems or TV feeds any longer.

I've never owned one, but I think that's pretty darned good service, all things considered.

 

Interesting. A year ago I read that they were pulling the plug on the program guide service.

 

Don't ReplayTVs have an IR blaster to control cable boxes just like Tivos?? If so, then the mention of analog seems SLIGHTLY tangential.. (Though I guess there could be problems if it can only do 3 digit channels for some areas..)

BTW, I never used a Tivo with an IR blaster, since I think it's hokey.. Plus, I still record analog (mostly as 'backup' or conflict recordings.. sometimes I get the overlap part in analog if I think I'm going to miss the end of a show with overlapping recordings)

 

ReplayTVs do support IR blasters, and they are hokey.

The thing about it is that the IR codes within the firmware haven't been updated for years. So in order to drive a digital set top box tuner may require a rather elaborate and tricky process to inject the required codes. It's a process that is not for the typical casual user, so maybe the mentioning of analog is not so tangential.

 

The other thing is IR blasters never seem to work very well because the boxes they control can often lag (e.g., cable STBs often lag a lot). As a result, watching TV using a blaster is more a case of "channel roulette" - what digit(s) did the box decide to misinterpret this time?

 

If you look at Tivo's profit & stock history you see a continued downward spiral. The stock peaked at around $40 in 2000-2001 but has continued to plunge. Currently the stock averages under $10 a share.

They continually lose money I think this last quarter they lost .18 per share so my question is. Where is this "tons" of money they supposedly have on hand coming from?

Furthermore with Ceton soon releasing its "Q" with no monthly subscription late this year I don't see Tivo hanging on unless they can pull a rabbit out of the hat?

 

stock price is not at all (OK- barely....) related to how much cash they have on hand.

 

BTW, stock talk is banned here (unfortunately IMHO).

 

Hi you are right cash on hand is not based on stock price. HOWEVER.

In order to have cash on hand you have to do at least 1 of two things

A Make a profit

or

B Borrow money

Well we all know Tivo has NO clue on how to make profit (thus affecting stock price)

and we all know what happens to companies when they keep borrowing money don't we?