[rjcrum]

Having been one of the people complaining about the vaporous RokuFireTV/Apple apps from TiVo, I decided to make a direct appeal to Dave Shull, the current CEO of TiVo. Surprisingly, I got a response back from him regarding several issues I raised. Those issues were basically related to pre-roll ads, TiVo+, the Roku/AppleTV/FireTV apps, viewing the installed base as a distraction, and the TiVO Stream 4K not being able to access our TiVo content.

I asked him permission to post his replies here, and in the TiVo.Innovate Facebook group. He agreed.
Here's what Dave wrote back to me:

Dear Mr. Crum -

First of all, thank you for reaching out to me directly. I appreciate your loyalty to TiVo. I respect your feedback. You will not like all of the answers below, but I do want to provide direct responses to a couple of your questions:

1. TiVo+ should continue to improve considerably. At CES we announced an expansion from 26 to 49 channels. We are in active discussions to continue to expand that base of channels.
2. TiVo Stream 4K is targeted to the cord cutters and those using streaming OTT services. I understand that that strategy may frustrate some of our existing customers who are using TiVo with either a cable card or over the air antenna.
3. I would like to see more integration between our existing TiVo platform and TiVo Stream 4k, but at least initially it will be separate. It's a separate code base built on top of Android TV since that is more consistent with the scaled down hardware platform (i.e., a dongle instead of a full set top box).
4. So, I cannot promise you any specific date when we will connect the product lines. (We will hit the April 2020 deployment date that we promised for TiVo Stream 4K.)

 

[ej42137]

Not surprising was silence on the topic of pre-roll ads, IMO the worst offense against the spirt of TiVo. What could he say that wouldn't sound absurd?

 

[mntvjunkie]

Also, nothing indicating they won’t be abandoning the DVR hardware.

 

[cwoody222]

Also, nothing indicating they won't be abandoning the DVR hardware.

Well, except for the fact that they just ported two major revenue sources (TiVo+ and pre-roll) into their family of DVRs and engineered a brand new model.

 

[mattyro7878]

I get the arrow screen but no pressure roll commercial.

 

[Joe3]

So, where is the reporter getting his information from in the article below?

Watch Out Roku, TiVo is Bringing Some Serious Competition

The reporter states in the article, "TiVo should be able to pivot its customers to the new device thanks to its better interface, live TV options and integrated DVR capabilities."

The reporters article makes sense for a chance for a successful business strategy if it is true, but Shull responds doesn't make sense and is full of holes that the article above has no problem filling in.

 

[bbrown9]

So no direct responses about the pre-roll ads, the Roku/AppleTV/FireTV apps, or viewing the installed base as a distraction.

 

[Narkul]

I would have also asked about the next Roamio, Bolt, and Edge updates and when they're getting Disney+, Apple+, and live streaming apps, Hulu live, Youtube TV, etc.

 

[cwoody222]

I would have also asked about the next Roamio, Bolt, and Edge updates and when they're getting Disney+, Apple+, and live streaming apps, Hulu live, Youtube TV, etc.

None of those things are coming to existing hardware.

If that's what you want, buy something else.

 

[Narkul]

None of those things are coming to existing hardware.

If that's what you want, buy something else.

Perhaps not, but I think everyone should keep pressing it and calling them out on it, even if it hurts them long term. The Edge is a brand new box and should have had this and more. I have zero plans to buy this streamer, and since my friends and family know I own TiVos, I will warn them away from this thing until I see better support for my multi-thousand dollar investment.

 

[cwoody222]

Perhaps not, but I think everyone should keep pressing it and calling them out on it, even if it hurts them long term. The Edge is a brand new box and should have had this and more. I have zero plans to buy this streamer, and since my friends and family know I own TiVos, I will warn them away from this thing until I see better support for my multi-thousand dollar investment.

Calling them out on what?

Not giving you what you want in the products they choose to sell?

 

[mattyro7878]

I have had a TiVo for most of my adult life. I have done laptops, a few TiVo and 2 smart TVs. I do not own a streaming box. I am sure there a lot like myself as well as early adopters whose streamers are not 4k and are ready for new ones. I will buy a TiVo stream 4k. As will others. I probably would have gotten a Roku. Niwbi have another option.

 

[Narkul]

Calling them out on what?

Not giving you what you want in the products they choose to sell?

"Apps. Live TV. DVR. One seamless way to find, watch and enjoy it all."

Unless it's Disney+, Apple+ or even the latest version of any current app.

Recommendations that work. (No, this isn't the end times.)

LOL.

Take Outlander on the airplane. Watch The Good Place, anyplace. Your favorite shows, wherever you go.

If you can get a TV and your Tivo in a suitcase maybe. At least none of that has ever worked reliably enough for me.

And then there are all the bug posts in the Edge forum alone, let alone the bugs that are still reported on the Roamio and Bolt. It's not about giving us what we want so much as what we were promised.

 

[mntvjunkie]

Well, except for the fact that they just ported two major revenue sources (TiVo+ and pre-roll) into their family of DVRs and engineered a brand new model.

A brand new model that they didn't really announce and didn't talk about at CES. And one that is, at best, a small update over the bolt.

But they launched a new product that doesn't work with their existing products. Let that sink in. And they abandoned a product they announced last year, while stating they wanted to abandon hardware.

What am I left to do but interpret that as "TiVo DVRs are now an afterthought?" I'm sure existing hardware will continue to work, but I feel like updates will be minimal, and the focus will be on the new stick.

 

[cwoody222]

"Apps. Live TV. DVR. One seamless way to find, watch and enjoy it all."

Unless it's Disney+, Apple+ or even the latest version of any current app.

Recommendations that work. (No, this isn't the end times.)

LOL.

Take Outlander on the airplane. Watch The Good Place, anyplace. Your favorite shows, wherever you go.

If you can get a TV and your Tivo in a suitcase maybe. At least none of that has ever worked reliably enough for me.

And then there are all the bug posts in the Edge forum alone, let alone the bugs that are still reported on the Roamio and Bolt. It's not about giving us what we want so much as what we were promised.

It is not up to TiVo to offer apps such as Disney+ or Apple+. It is up to the app manufacturers.

TiVo never promised every app. They provide the major apps that the vast majority of streaming users would ever need.

Not sure what your problems are with streaming but I download on my phone weekly and stream to my iPad all the time as well and never have a problem. I've taken my shows on a plane and vacation lots of times and it works exactly as advertised.

I still don't see anything that warrants constantly "calling them out" on stuff.

You want a few more apps and you have some bugs that other people don't seem to have. And they changed a feature (Recommendations).

 

[dadrepus]

So, it seems they partnered with Sling for this new product then why not partner with Silicondust and give us the compact dvr we have all wanted. Put their own software in it and new case, bingo. Everything else is just software additions.

 

[randyb359]

Tivo has all the apps that I need. The fact that I won't sign up for a service if there is not a Tivo app probably has something to do with it.

 

[dlfl]

tl;dr. He confirmed all your worst fears. That could be a form letter automatically sent to anyone who contacts him with such questions —— with some customization depending on what topics were involved.

 

[Triride44]

The Sling app is missing from my Romeo. Now that TiVo has partnered with Sling, maybe it will be aviable.

 

[stuart628]

Man I was pretty high on tivo and even semi excited for the product after ces..but reading this puts me into a negative feel on tivo again and makes me think if I should go ahead and jump ship now. What caught my eye in what he said is I want to connect the product lines, not we are going to...I...Also he didnt even say if they were working on it at all just that its all new code...I know it would be easy to connect them in the future as they already had a app written, but that is not promising at all, time to look at HD homerun or similiar.