Comments on: MegaZone Breaks Down TiVo’s New Pricing Plan

By: MegaZone

MegaZone — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:00:45 +0000

1. If you have an existing box, there is nothing to commit to. Currently monthly subscribers will continue to pay their current monthly rate with no changes.

2. Service commitments are transferable to a new box, and have been. The drawback is generally that a rebate requires a *new* service activation, so you can get a new box and swap it, but you won’t get the rebate. Of course, you can pick up used box on eBay, etc. The hardware (but not labor) warranty is also extended for the life of the commitment.

With the current pricing, the incentive is exactly the opposite of what you suggest. Since a new box is free, you may as well toss the old box out ever 3 years and just get a new one. Odds are there will be some new hardware by the time the commitment is up.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:15:19 +0000

I wonder if this is a way to lock in users of older TiVo units. Having had mine for over two years, a 3 year commitment - which is non-transferrable, last I loked - would mean I’d be betting on my current unit to live well past its design lifetime. Perhaps TiVo is worried that folks will move to newer platforms and their installed base will seriously erode due to the aging of the deployed equipment.

I’d only be interested in longer commitments if the registration were transferable to new equipment.

By: MegaZone

MegaZone — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 02:28:51 +0000

I’ve never liked monthly payments either. Even though it just goes to my credit card and I pay that online. I always went lifetime when it was available. But I understand them dropping it since it was too good a deal. Now I recommend the pre-paid plans. If I bought a new box today I’d go with 3-years pre-paid.

By: Mike Stiber

Mike Stiber — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 02:22:56 +0000

I have a TiVo from two years ago, bought with lifetime service. I think it’s great, and would have trouble watching TV without it now. Having said that, I wouldn’t buy one if I had to pay month-to-month.

By: MegaZone

MegaZone — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:49:16 +0000

Sports fan - so go for 2 years, you still save with the new rates. Or just go for 1 year and in most cases you will pay just a little more, up to $15.

Why do people keep saying “Oh no, I’m not going to commit for 3-years!” That’s a red herring, there is no reason you have to do that to save money.

By: sports fan

sports fan — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:42:25 +0000

Not quite sure what they are thinking with this move. There is no way I would be signing up for this for 3 years that is way too long. I bet many people will share your frustrations.Thanks for sharing.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:45:55 +0000

I’m with you Alex. I think TiVo is squeezing it’s most loyal customers with the new MSD rates. Also requiring people to commit to three years is kind of crazy — especially new customers, who may not know how superior the software is to the cable company DVR which requires no commitment.

As I commented on Megazone’s blog: TiVo isn’t marketing to those of us in the know. If these pricing plans need MZ’s mathematical analysis, they’ve already failed in the consumer market. Is the surly Best Buy teenager going to convey MZ’s results? I don’t think so.

By: MegaZone

MegaZone — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:27:49 +0000

Well, like I said, all but one two year plan also saw a drop in net cost. (And that one plan only went up $18 over two years.) So, basically, if you commit to two or three years, you save money - up to $154.

The increases are all (except that one) on 1-year plans. Out of the eight 1-year permutations I did, one remained the same, four went up just a little - $13.60 to $15, and three had significant increases. The two S2DT bundles, on the monthly plan, saw a $40 increase. And the retail non-540 units saw a net $54 increase on the 1-year monthly plan.

So, basically, avoid the 1-year monthly plans to avoid any significant increase. Pre-pay, or opt for 2- or 3-year plans and you’ll pay about the same, or less, net. Out of 30 total permutations that’s 21 decreases, 1 static, 5 small increases, and 3 large increases.