Tivo going out on their own???

Here is a "News Flash" for you...
NDS Threaten TiVo with DirecTV PVR

Staff writer

30 November 04


There won't be much surprise to hear that the now Murdoch-controlled DirecTV is readying the launch it’s own PVR around Spring 2005, whose function mirrors TiVo. Added to this, NDS the creators of the rivals PVR, claim their unit will handle Pay Per View programming better - by charging for the content when it is watched, not recorded. This will give them the opportunity to speculatively tempt the viewer with lots of yummy content.

You can go to digital-lifestyles for more information, as this site will not allow me to put in any url's... LOL

If you want the complete link, e-mail me and I will send it to you... This is very interesting news.....

They can't disable the use of the Tivo service without some sort of replacement. That could be construed by many as a breach of contract.

But DirecTV is really interested in one thing: money.

I think that here is a fight going WITHIN DirecTV about NDS vs. Tivo. News Corp (the giant corporate owners from afar) want DirecTV to move to NDS. It keeps more money in the family. I think the DirecTV employees (especially those who have been around prior to the takeover) are focused on increasing subscribers and increasing DTV revenue.

The DirecTV guys know that the Tivo is a better product. I would guess that a large number of higher up executives have protoptype DTivos and prototype NDS boxes running in their offices and homes. They know which ones are better. And my guess is that customers will notice also.

But again, Tivo and NDS, are simply a means to an end for DirecTV. They have used multiple suppliers of boxes before, and I think they will continue to do so. Even if all the boxes are sold under one company name, they will still use multiple designers and manufactures for many of those boxes.

So I would predict, that DirecTV will sell both boxes. Customer's will pick one box or the other. I would guess that DTV will still charge NDS customers the $4.99 a month for the NDS boxes. Since that will create more revenue. But the DTV insiders know which box is going to create more customer loyalty, and therefore more revenue. They are not going to shoot themselves in the foot. If the NDS box is a better overall value, then people will pick that one.

I think that in the short term, Tivo doesn't have much to fear. In the long term (2-3 years out) they may, which is why so much emphasis on non DTivo products from Tivo.

Well, here is the Press Release!!!

January 08, 2005 - At the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, DIRECTV announced a slew of new products and services with which to expand its ever growing consumer base.


One announcement was its new DIRECTV DVR. Users of the new DVR will have access to more interactivity with their unit, such as being able to pause and rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes, thanks to the DVR's large cache. The new DIRECTV DVR will allow users to record up to 100 hours of DIRECTV programming and access various interactive services.

Interactive features include:


One-Touch Recording -- Customers can record favorite shows by pressing one button on their remote control.

Record Now/Pay Later -- Provides users the flexibility to record all pay-per-view (PPV) movies they might be interested in and only pay for shows the user actually views.

Recording of Series -- Provides consumers with the power to seamlessly schedule a recording of an entire season of their favorite show. This feature automatically tracks changes to the programming schedule to ensure proper recording.

DVR Controls -- Users have full control of their viewing experience with pause, instant replay, rewind, fast-forward, slow motion, and frame-by-frame viewing capability.

Playlist -- Displays all recorded content in an organized list, including convenient groupings of series recordings and DIRECTV extras.

Viewmarks -- Customers can easily mark favorite places in their recordings and jump directly to them.

Advanced Search Capability -- Users can quickly search for shows, genres, actors, directors, channels or key words both in upcoming shows and shows they have previously recorded. Users can also return to previous searches to find matching programs.

AutoRecord -- Users can set the new DIRECTV DVR to record all programs matching a keyword or other search criteria.

Onscreen caller ID -- Logs phone calls and offers the on-display convenience of users browsing current or previous calls without interrupting the television viewing experience.

Enhanced viewing experience -- Supports Interactive programming, such as DIRECTV Mix channels, NFL Sunday Ticket interactive and DIRECTV Active.

Picture-in-guide -- Users can browse through the various features of DIRECTV's new user interface while connected to their program, which is always present in a video window.

The new DIRECTV DVR is scheduled for commercial availability in mid-2005.

DIRECTV also announced its Home Media Center at CES 2005. The unit sounds something akin to Microsoft's line of Media Centers (with units shipping from the likes of Alienware, Gateway and others) where it will allow for a central media storage device, the Home Media Center itself, and separate receivers throughout the household that can access the main device and stream video, music and photos to various TVs throughout the household. So, for instance, you could be using a connected TV in your bedroom and schedule the Home Media Center in your living room to record a show, and then turn around and watch a movie that you had recorded earlier in your living room from the comfort of your bed.

DIRECTV also announced the first 12 markets that will receive local high-definition programming later this year. These markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and Tampa. These markets should see local HD programming in the second half of this year, with broad nationwide support for local HD by 2007.