Comments on: Why TiVo’s Future Looks Promising http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/ An Unofficial Blog dedicated to TiVo News, Information & Commentary. One of CNET News.com's Top 100 Blogs. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:59:42 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: TiVoBlog.com » Blog Archive » DirecTV And TiVo Are Friends Once Again http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/comment-page-1/#comment-13071 TiVoBlog.com » Blog Archive » DirecTV And TiVo Are Friends Once Again Thu, 13 Apr 2006 01:21:18 +0000 http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/#comment-13071 [...] In my opinion, this is a win-win for all parties involved. TiVo wins because the agreement removes the threat of TiVo losing 3 million customers. DirecTV wins because they no longer have to worry about potential patent lawsuits. DirecTV users win because they can continue to use their TiVo and take advantage of future software/hardware updates. This news is yet another reason why TiVo’s future looks promising! [...] [...] In my opinion, this is a win-win for all parties involved. TiVo wins because the agreement removes the threat of TiVo losing 3 million customers. DirecTV wins because they no longer have to worry about potential patent lawsuits. DirecTV users win because they can continue to use their TiVo and take advantage of future software/hardware updates. This news is yet another reason why TiVo’s future looks promising! [...]

]]> By: Ganesh http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/comment-page-1/#comment-12026 Ganesh Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:25:33 +0000 http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/#comment-12026 I have to wonder if the writer(s) of this blog get TiVo stock, or are angling for a job with TiVo. The actual subscriber numbers for TiVo are not promising, as Mark V already pointed out. TiVo has already managed, through sheer apathy, to gut the HME community. The Yahoo partnership is meaningless -- the apps delivered are far less interesting than what developers who used to try and code for HME developed. Overlap protection is a minor feature upgrade that we've been begging for, for over five plus years! Most importantly to me, the degradation in picture quality provided by TiVo hardware over time is depressing. As I've <a href="http://elephantwrath.blogspot.com/2006/03/tivo-from-loving-to-loathing-in-five.html" rel="nofollow">pointed out</a>, TiVo is just not something I can recommend to people <a href="http://elephantwrath.blogspot.com/2006/03/tivo-continues-suckage.html" rel="nofollow">anymore</a>. I have to wonder if the writer(s) of this blog get TiVo stock, or are angling for a job with TiVo.

The actual subscriber numbers for TiVo are not promising, as Mark V already pointed out.

TiVo has already managed, through sheer apathy, to gut the HME community.

The Yahoo partnership is meaningless — the apps delivered are far less interesting than what developers who used to try and code for HME developed.

Overlap protection is a minor feature upgrade that we’ve been begging for, for over five plus years!

Most importantly to me, the degradation in picture quality provided by TiVo hardware over time is depressing.

As I’ve pointed out, TiVo is just not something I can recommend to people anymore.

]]> By: Mark V http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/comment-page-1/#comment-12025 Mark V Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:18:28 +0000 http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/#comment-12025 Don't be fooled by the spin of a mere "press release". Let the numbers actually speak for themselves. Take a look at their 8-K filing and you will see that TiVo added 356,000 new subscriptions in the last quarter but 173,000 of them were attributed to DirecTV. That's almost 50%! Think those subscribers are going to stick around when DirecTV ends their relationship with TiVo? TiVo-owned gross subscriptions DROPPED from 276,000 in the 4th quarter of last year to 221,000 this past quarter....a drop of 20%. TiVo-owned subscription net additions were 183,000 this quarter compared to 251,000 in the fourth quarter of last year...a drop of 27%. The numbers don't lie....or mislead like a press release can. -Vas Don’t be fooled by the spin of a mere “press release”. Let the numbers actually speak for themselves. Take a look at their 8-K filing and you will see that TiVo added 356,000 new subscriptions in the last quarter but 173,000 of them were attributed to DirecTV. That’s almost 50%! Think those subscribers are going to stick around when DirecTV ends their relationship with TiVo?

TiVo-owned gross subscriptions DROPPED from 276,000 in the 4th quarter of last year to 221,000 this past quarter….a drop of 20%. TiVo-owned subscription net additions were 183,000 this quarter compared to 251,000 in the fourth quarter of last year…a drop of 27%.

The numbers don’t lie….or mislead like a press release can.

-Vas

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/comment-page-1/#comment-12024 Dave Zatz Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:05:40 +0000 http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/#comment-12024 I am less optomistic... TiVo needs to win this case against EchoStar to survive as an independent entity. Otherwise, I see them being acquired in the next 18 months. I am less optomistic… TiVo needs to win this case against EchoStar to survive as an independent entity. Otherwise, I see them being acquired in the next 18 months.

]]> By: Rob Usdin http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/comment-page-1/#comment-12023 Rob Usdin Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:50:20 +0000 http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/03/09/why-the-future-for-tivo-looks-promising/#comment-12023 What excites me most is the new pricing. If they do something with the new pricing on the Series 3 TIVOs - there won't be a need to lay out $500 for a dual tuner Cable Card compatible TIVO box - we can just get a free box and pay for a monthly service plan. TIVO has gotten smart - they are a service provider and people who want the best PVR service know they can turn to TIVO for the most functionality, and won't have to rely on getting a lame cable company box with a less than desirable PVR. Their hookup with Verizon, their web functionality - it all adds up to a better user experience. Now if they can add in some kind of Slingbox functionality - that would be the ultimate service. But I'll take a Series 3 with everything else it's going to have 0- and I will be happy to not shell out a ton of cash for it! --*Rob --*rob What excites me most is the new pricing. If they do something with the new pricing on the Series 3 TIVOs – there won’t be a need to lay out $500 for a dual tuner Cable Card compatible TIVO box – we can just get a free box and pay for a monthly service plan. TIVO has gotten smart – they are a service provider and people who want the best PVR service know they can turn to TIVO for the most functionality, and won’t have to rely on getting a lame cable company box with a less than desirable PVR. Their hookup with Verizon, their web functionality – it all adds up to a better user experience. Now if they can add in some kind of Slingbox functionality – that would be the ultimate service. But I’ll take a Series 3 with everything else it’s going to have 0- and I will be happy to not shell out a ton of cash for it!

–*Rob

–*rob

]]>