More likely the fact that new TiVo is Lord Crashy McCrashington of Crashingshire.
Over the last few days I've been pressing play on a recording and holding my breath - 50% chance it will play, 50% chance it will show a black screen for 10 seconds, and the TiVo will reboot, ruining any recordings taking place at the time (especially as it takes about 5 mins to reboot) before it can resume recording again.