Update 4/15 @ 8:47PM: Thanks for the referral Michael.  Now I’m only one referral away from getting a DVR expander!

Thanks to an individual by the name of Rodney, I’m now only two referrals away from getting a My DVR Expander. I normally don’t beg for points however, I really would love to get one of these drives and with the program ending soon I don’t have a lot of time. If anybody has a referral that they would like to send my way I would really appreciate it….

Yesterday, TiVo announced that later this year you will be able to access YouTube directly from your Series 3 or TiVo HD DVR (sorry, no Series 2 access). Other then that information, the official press release really doesn’t contain a lot more. Hopefully, “later this year” means some time in the summer as opposed to the winter time frame.

On a number of occasions, I’ve gone on the recorded as saying that TiVo should provide access to YouTube. That being said, I am extremely excited about this news. Anything that brings more content to my TV is a good thing, especially when there’s nothing on TV…

ALVISO, Calif., March 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced an agreement with YouTube(TM) that will offer access to YouTube videos directly from the TV via a TiVo DVR. The service will be available later this year to broadband-connected subscribers with TiVo Series3(TM) DVRs, including the new TiVo HD.

Every day hundreds of millions of videos are viewed on YouTube and hundreds of thousands of videos are uploaded. Upon launch of the TiVo-YouTube service, TiVo users will be able to search, browse and watch these videos directly on their television sets through their broadband connected TiVo DVRs. The combination of having the YouTube experience with the convenience and familiarity of TiVo’s intuitive user interface will provide TiVo subscribers with the ability to discover and enjoy the most shared and most discussed web videos in the world on their televisions. Importantly, users will be able to log into their YouTube accounts directly from their TiVo boxes and access their favorite YouTube channels and playlists.

“We’re delighted to be working with the world’s leading online video community so that TiVo subscribers can access YouTube’s popular content on the TV via the TiVo DVR,” said Tara Maitra, Vice President and GM of Content Services at TiVo Inc. “Being able to make available YouTube videos to the TiVo subscriber base using one device, one remote and one user interface is another major step in our commitment to combine all of your television and web video viewing options in one easy to use service.”

Earlier today, Stephen Mack (director of TiVoCast operations) announced that TiVo has added five new channels of content to their TiVoCast service. Each of the newly added channels come from TrueFire.com. For those of you who don’t know, TrueFire is a well known maker of guitar lessons and tutorials.

Since 1991, TrueFire and its collective of 450+ artists and educators, has produced thousands of guitar lessons and interactive video courses, which are available as downloads, streaming video and CD-ROM. We also offer top DVD and Book titles from other publishers.

If you’re interested in playing guitar you might want to check out these channels. I especially like how TiVo organized the channels based on your level of experience with playing a guitar.

As usual, you can subscribe to these channels via TiVo Central Online or by accessing the following menu item on your TiVo: TiVo Central –> Find Program —> Download TV & Movies.

Stephen Mack just announced that TiVo has added GameTapTV as a TiVoCast channel.

GameTap TV joins the TiVoCast lineup today, featuring shows about video games and video game culture. A new GameTap TV episode will appear every weekday.

GameTap looks like a great show especially if you are interested in gaming (which I don’t have time for).

As always, you can subscribe to GameTap via TiVo’s website or by accessing the following menu item on your TiVo: TiVo Central —> Find Programs —> Download TV & Movies —> GameTap TV.

Thanks for sending this in Dave. Sorry I didn’t post it earlier but, it sucks to be sick….

Stephen Mack just announced that TiVo has added ExerciseTV as a TiVoCast channel. As always, you can subscribe to ExerciseTV via TiVo Central Online or by accessing the following menu item on your TiVo: TiVo Central –> Find Programs –> Download TV & Movies –> ExerciseTV.

Great job TiVo! Keep those TiVoCast channels coming!

Earlier today, Stephen Mack (director of TiVoCast operations) announced that TiVo has added Finding America to their growing lineup of TiVoCast content.

As always, you can subscribe to Finding America by heading on over to TiVo Central Online or by accessing the following menu item on your TiVo: TiVo Central –> Find Programs –> Download TV & Movies –> PodShowTV –> Finding America.

EngadgetHD has published forty six screenshots of the Comcast TiVo.  In my opinion, the Comcast TiVo interface looks great! In fact, in some cases I like it better than how the interface looks on a “regular” TiVo DVR.  I especially like how the software displays a small thumbnail of the station that you are currently watching while in the guide view. This is one feature that I wish my Series 3 had…

Just the other day, Stephen Mack (Director of TiVoCast operations) announced that TiVo has added the Alaska Podshow Podcast as a TiVoCast channel. The Alaska podcast looks like a great show especially if you are interested in the outdoors or in what Alaska has to offer.

There is more to Alaska than Eskimos, igloos, and angry rabid grizzlies. The Land of the Midnight Sun enters the digital age with host, Scott Slone.

As always, you can subscribe to the Alaska Podcast via TiVoCentral online or by accessing the following menu item on your TiVo: TiVo Central -> Find Programs -> Download TV & Movies -> Alaska PodShow Podcast.

Yesterday, TiVo announced that Symantec has bought an advertising spot within CNET’s weekly TiVoCast program. While this isn’t necessarily great news for the consumer (after all, who really likes advertisements?) it definitely is good news for TiVo Inc. Acquiring advertisers for the TiVoCast program should put a little extra cash in TiVo’s wallet. I wonder how many other companies will start advertising using the TiVoCast system?

Gold Star Sponsor to Utilize Interactive Tags, Program Placement during CNET TiVoCast(TM) Interactive Ad Solutions Target Fast-Forwarding, VOD Viewers

ALVISO, Calif., Jan 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator and a leader in advertising solutions and television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today that Symantec, the maker of Norton security software, has signed on as the first advertiser to sponsor Interactive Advertising during CNET’s TiVoCast program. As a sponsor, Symantec will utilize TiVo’s Interactive Tags and Program Placements for the Norton product line within CNET’s popular weekly 15-minute TiVoCast program, which provides viewers with the latest news and reviews in technology and consumer electronics.

TiVoCast delivers — with ease and free to TiVo subscribers — broadband video content on the PC directly to the television sets and living rooms of TiVo subscribers through the Showcases area on TiVo Central, the main menu of the TiVo service. TiVoCast provides users with an extensive variety of viewing content via the internet to choose from, including content from: CNET, The Onion, The New York Times and Break.com among others.

CNET viewers can click on a “thumbs-up” during the program to obtain more information about Norton products while being able to easily return to the exact place in the program they paused viewing. These tags provide advertisers with an efficient way to reach a live, time-shifted or fast-forwarding audience and to offer viewers further engagement through opt-in requests for more product information.

“These are exciting times for TiVo as we witness our interactive ad solutions gain momentum throughout the media industry and expand beyond linear television to include nontraditional distribution channels such as TiVoCast and Video on Demand,” said Karen Bressner, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales at TiVo. “It seems apropos that the first TiVoCast Interactive Tags are appearing during a program that highlights how technology is evolving and impacting consumers. Symantec utilizing TiVo’s ad solutions during a ‘downloadable program’ enabling them to reach interactive viewers who prefer to control their own content.”

“TiVo has presented us with a new way of reaching consumers in an ‘on demand’ world,” said Sally Jenkins, Senior Director of Consumer Marketing for Symantec. “By embedding engaging interactive tags into the popular CNET program we will drive qualified traffic to our site and enable consumers to learn more about how to stay secure on the Internet by using Norton products.”

The Interactive Tags and Program Placement will direct consumers to a branded Norton Showcase on TiVo which includes long-form content and a special offer. Additionally, Symantec will promote their Norton products including the award-winning Norton Internet Security(TM) 2008, in Gold Star Sponsorship’s and Program Placement within TiVo.

Originally spotted on TiVoLovers.