[BlackBetty]

Who owns the R&D on getting TiVo software to port to a motorola box? Does Comcast own that? Or Does TiVo?

The reason I ask is I am wondering if Cox has to recreate the wheel when it comes to getting TiVo software to port onto their boxes. Or can they utilize the work already done by TiVo and comcast?

 

[jcaudle]

and when will they be able to port it to Scientific Atlanta boxes?

 

[Johncv]

Or why the cable box companies just license the Series 3, would make a killer cable box.

 

[classicsat]

My understanding is Comcast owns the R&D, since they paid for it, but TiVo has permission or rights to license it to other providers.

I believe they are working on the Sciatl port.

The Series 3 hardware, as it stands now, lacks the interactive features a cable provider desires, plust if the cable providers were allowed to chose features, it would be heavily neutered, at least as far as network features go.

 

[jcaudle]

Here in Fairfax they have started the dreaded SDV. I noticed NFL HD in the channel guide, its new, and like Cox had told me, we tivo users with cable cards will not be able to get new HD Channels as they add them.

 

[miadlor]

The newest Cox dvrs are only run by cable card. (1 only for dual tuner) with full Cox services function.

Merging the two can't be far away.

 

[classicsat]

The newest Cox dvrs are only run by cable card. (1 only for dual tuner) with full Cox services function.

Merging the two can't be far away.

They also contain the hardware and software for two-way. The TiVo Series 3 platform has neither.

 

[Johncv]

My understanding is Comcast owns the R&D, since they paid for it, but TiVo has permission or rights to license it to other providers.

I believe they are working on the Sciatl port.

The Series 3 hardware, as it stands now, lacks the interactive features a cable provider desires, plust if the cable providers were allowed to chose features, it would be heavily neutered, at least as far as network features go.

By “They”, do you imply that TiVo is doing the port to SA?

 

[classicsat]

By “They”, do you imply that TiVo is doing the port to SA?

Yes.

 

[jcaudle]

if cox takes as long as comcast, it will be years before TIVO interface is available on their dvrs..

 

[dianebrat]

if cox takes as long as comcast, it will be years before TIVO interface is available on their dvrs..

Why would it? the development time was porting the Tivo software to the limited hardware, you have to figure if they have it running on a Comcast Motorola box it's not going to be rocket science porting it to the same hardware as it runs on Cox.

They've done all the heavy lifting in the Comcast project, they know how to do it, and the hardware is similar, I'd make a total WAG and say 95% of the codebase would be the same with just tweaks as to how it communicates with the head end.

Some folks are talking like the Cox and Comcast hardware are nothing alike, but in reality they're using all but identical hardware.

just my 2 cents...

 

[Curtis]

My understanding is Comcast owns the R&D, since they paid for it, but TiVo has permission or rights to license it to other providers.

"2.2 Newly Developed IP. All new Intellectual Property Rights that are created by TiVo or a TiVo Affiliate (whether solely or jointly with Comcast or a Comcast Affiliate) pursuant to a Statement of Work under this Agreement shall vest in and at all times remain the sole and exclusive property of TiVo; provided that any such new Intellectual Property Rights shall constitute TiVo Experience IP or TIMS IP, as applicable, and shall be subject to the licenses granted to Comcast pursuant to this Agreement, including the covenant granted pursuant to Section 5.1 "

 

[HiDefGator]

Why would it? the development time was porting the Tivo software to the limited hardware, you have to figure if they have it running on a Comcast Motorola box it's not going to be rocket science porting it to the same hardware as it runs on Cox.

The last time I checked it took Tivo 1 year to port the software to the Motorola box. It then took Comcast 2 years (and counting) to get the rest of their system ready for the Tivo software. I would expect that it will also take Cox a long time to get ready to handle the software.

 

[ZeoTiVo]

In the investor call last week, Rogers said he expected COX to go 6 months after Comcast. He was cagey about when Comcast would finally go and kept referring to a quote from Comcast and some high level Comcast source that said Comcast would go end of Sept. into October. Obviously comcast missed September From that it seems there is delay that is on Comcast's side. How that specifically impacts COX is never mentioned and Roger's stopped short of any exclusivity agreement with Comcast, he just said COX was expected to go 6 months after Comcast rollout