[Guindalf]

Here is a Q&A from the latest TiVo email newsletter I got this evening.

You Ask, We Answer
Q: I have been a loyal TiVo fan for many years and am so disappointed that I cannot use the home media features with my DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo. I actually have two "combo" boxes and my faithful 40-hour TiVo box, which I keep moving around the house so I can still utilize all the great new [broadband-enabled] features. Are there any plans to bring the DIRECTV DVRs up to speed? — Ira K.

A: Fair question, Ira. The short answer? It's not up to TiVo.

Currently all TiVo subscribers with a (standalone) TiVo® Series2™ DVR connected to their home network can enjoy the advantages of a broadband-connected DVR, including features like Online Scheduling as well as streaming podcasts and buying movie tickets from your couch.

Meanwhile, DIRECTV subscribers with a combination TiVo box — even the ones with the correct networking "hardware" — cannot. Why?

DIRECTV® is a licensee of TiVo® technology. That means DIRECTV decides which features (or software version) of the TiVo® service to support. DIRECTV also sets its own pricing for the services offered.

So while you are using a version of the TiVo®-branded service and chances are your box was built with support of such features in mind, you remain a DIRECTV® customer and as such, will receive the version of the software that DIRECTV decides to support. At this time, DIRECTV chooses not support any of TiVo's broadband-enabled features.

Maybe one day...

As a DIRECTV subscriber myself (I wrote 'em a note), you're preaching to the choir. Meanwhile, good move on getting your standalone Series2™ box: enjoy those cool features!

It just confirms what we already know, but it's nice to get an official stand - at least from TiVo!

 

[lee espinoza]

we all knew that.

 

[Billy66]

Translation: We gave that authority to DirecTV for gold. Now we want to seem innocent in the transaction and still be the good guys. We did and will continue however to cash their checks.

 

[HiDefGator]

And as I've said before it would be impossible for DirecTV to enable all the really cool features that Tivo has thought up. DirecTV's customer support group could never handle the call volume or call content. It's easy to offer complicated features when you don't have that many customers. DirecTV has millions of customers. Tivo has hundreds of thousands. It's simple minded to say that DirecTV just doesn't want to enable those features.

 

[tbeckner]

And as I've said before it would be impossible for DirecTV to enable all the really cool features that Tivo has thought up.

Why? You realize that they are going to enable those same features later this year and next with their NDS models. No there are other things afoot when it comes to the enabling of TiVo features on the DirecTiVos.

 

[nhaigh]

I think the key line here is "you remain a DIRECTV® customer and as such, will receive the version of the software that DIRECTV decides to support ". TiVo are now basically saying stay with DirecTV and get nothing. Change to cable and enjoy the world.

 

[HiDefGator]

My local cable world still provides most channels in analog. They are fuzzy looking. I'm not sure how much I would enjoy it.

 

[tbeckner]

My local cable world still provides most channels in analog. They are fuzzy looking. I'm not sure how much I would enjoy it.

Where are you located. My small cable company just went all digital this last fall. Of course we where the 2nd Road Runner in the nation, and have had FTTC (Fiber To The Curb) since 2000, so they are progressive.

 

[nhaigh]

My local cable world still provides most channels in analog. They are fuzzy looking. I'm not sure how much I would enjoy it.

The same is true for me for the Analogue channels but the digital versions of the same with HD are a totally different story. With the new TiVo there would be no reason to look at the Analogue channels unless you happen to be in a region that just doesn't have a Digital version of a channel, maybe a PBS station or something.

 

[TiVoShanan]

I think the key line here is "you remain a DIRECTV® customer and as such, will receive the version of the software that DIRECTV decides to support ". TiVo are now basically saying stay with DirecTV and get nothing. Change to cable and enjoy the world.

That is not what I said, actually.

I said exactly I said -- nothing more, nothing less. I was a statement of fact.

I myself have DIRECTV as my programming source! But I also have a standalone TiVo box that I use... actually the DVD Recorder with TiVo. I love it.

 

[tomo_kun]

Yes, she didnt say anything about cable. You do not need cable to enjoy the world of TiVo. There is the DirecTV DVR with TiVo. If you can find it, its a nice subsitute. Sure its not the full thing, but its nice. You can still use a stand alone TiVo to control the D10 and other DirecTV boxes.

However, when the Series3 comes out, that wont be true, wont it? DirecTV boxes (or even cable boxes) wont work with the unit.

 

[juggalojoe]

I think Directv will offer tivo plus soon. I had a weird error on my RCA DVR-40 that mentioned plus service. I guess we will continue to wait.

 

[tomo_kun]

I think Directv will offer tivo plus soon. I had a weird error on my RCA DVR-40 that mentioned plus service. I guess we will continue to wait.

Right.... DirecTV would do this AFTER they release their OWN DVR service and DISCONTINUE the TiVo units?

Unless you ofcourse mean DirecTV releasing DirecTV Plus+.

EDIT: After seeing the other thread.... I have no idea.... Unless ofcourse its just an insane fluke, or a cruel joke from TiVo....

 

[ping]

And as I've said before it would be impossible for DirecTV to enable all the really cool features that Tivo has thought up. DirecTV's customer support group could never handle the call volume or call content. It's easy to offer complicated features when you don't have that many customers. DirecTV has millions of customers. Tivo has hundreds of thousands. It's simple minded to say that DirecTV just doesn't want to enable those features.

Yes, DirecTV customer support have their hands full with the R15, even without these features.

No, that's absurd. They want and plan to offer these features. They just want to do it in-house rather than through TiVo. And it will be the same (more likely, worse) support situation.