For those of you that have a TiVo and also use an antenna to receive your tv signal TiVo has created a page about the transition tomorrow.


http://www3.tivo.com/form-apps/show.do?pg=/setupandsupport/digitaltrans/digitaltrans.html

Get ready for Digital Antenna Transition '09

Starting June 12, 2009, full-power U.S. TV stations will discontinue use of analog signals and will broadcast only digital signals. By law, full-power television stations nationwide must stop using the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog. Digital Television (DTV) is an innovative type of broadcasting technology that will give you crystal-clear pictures and sound, and more programming choices than ever before.

Just want to share with the community - I've got a great system I just installed that lets me watch and control my Tivo from EVERY TV in my home - all without having to put a TiVo at every TV, network them all up and pay monthly for the priviledge. This unit (BOCS) actually has three inputs so I have two TiVos and a Windows Media Center hooked up to it. Now from every room in my home I can call up normal cable TV or any of those three connected devices. Every TV can be watching a different thing, and it took me only about an hour to install.

Seems like exactly the kind of thing I've seen folks around here asking for for a long time -

The company is www.bocsco.com

And I found them for sale at http://www.amperordirect.com/pc//bocs-mediahub-offer01.html
(But give them a call because I think you can get another $35 off the web price...)

There is a nice review over on the AVS forums - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16002683#post16002683

Let me know what yall think

Dave

Current Mood: ecstatic

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but there isn't any way to move the shows on a TiVo's My DVR Expander external drive to another drive, is there? I have a 500GB My DVR Expander on my main TiVo HD, and just got a 1TB drive for the other TiVo HD.

What I'd like to do is put the bigger drive on the main TiVo, where I do most of my TV-watching, and put the smaller one upstairs on the bedroom TiVo. But since the TiVo splits every program between internal and external drive, there's no way to separate the external drive from the TiVo unless it's all empty.

I suppose I could switch the basement TiVo-and-drive with the bedroom TiVo-and-drive, and reprogram all of the season passes on each, to end up with the bigger drive downstairs, but that seems silly. :-)

Thanks for any suggestions!

Apparently I don't read this community often enough, because as my TiVo was recording The Simpsons tonight I was shocked to see the new flag icon and read the details. One week or 24 hours after you start? What are these production companies thinking? I'm really, really disappointed at this, and I'm going to write to TiVo and anyone else to tell them so. I realize the "you can't record this to a DVD" is fairly bogus since I most certainly can record it directly onto my DVD recorder without having to use the "save to" feature, but still, I'm amazed at how paranoid the networks are becoming. (I was also shocked at which shows were now marked with flags, like TLC - WTF?)

Anyway, just figured I'd come here and whine. Don't mind me. :)

Current Mood: annoyed

Way back before I had an HD TiVo, I remember in one of the upgrades for Series 3/HD, they added an ability to find channels by name or by call letters instead of numbers. Maybe it was just by name (like Food or HGTV) instead of channel numbers. Or maybe I just dreamed up the whole thing.

I can't figure out how to search for it and can't find it by stumbling. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? Or how to find it?

On the flip side, I just read via Twitter that on my HD, when you get to the end of a program, you can backup!! Yes! Instead of the stated options of Keep or Delete, there is a hidden one of reverse. Now, maybe everyone knew this but me. In case they didn't, I offer.

Current Mood: curious

I have a lineup issue that has now gone unresolved for three months, with two separate cases open... *sigh*

In trying to find TiVo's support phone number and hours of operation on their site tonight, I found that the form to report lineup issues has returned -- and it's being redirected from http://www.tivo.com/lineup as it once was.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0755957/

22 April 2009 2:39 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing |

Stepping up its competition with Netflix for dominance of the online movie-rental business, Amazon on Tuesday said that it would immediately begin offering high-definition movies for rent to TiVo users who are connected to the Internet. In addition, it said, it would begin selling HD episodes of current television shows. In a statement, Tara Maitra, TiVo's content-services chief, said that TiVo users can now "transform any night into a memorable movie experience, all for a fraction of the cost of the theater." Moreover, she said, many of the movies it will offer will be available on the day the DVDs are released, "something no other [digital video recorder], cable, or satellite company can match." Meanwhile, in the face of increasing competition, Netflix shares have continued to fall. On Tuesday Lazard Capital Markets analyst Barton Crockett recommended that Netflix investors sell their stock saying that rival online video services "will lessen the appeal of Netflix Watch Instantly, slowing subscriber growth."

I got home from my long weekend away to discover that both of my TiVo HD units now include a bright red "Netflix" folder in the Now Playing screen, along with my other recorded shows and series folders. What a great idea! This will make the Netflix Watch Instantly queue much more readily accessible for the increasing crowd of TiVo users who take advantage of this feature.

One of the features that remains absent from the standalone CableCARD TiVo units has been support for cable provider VOD/PPV services. These services are only available on the Comcast and Cox provided TiVo DVRs. Now TiVo is teaming with SeaChange, the leading providers of cable VOD head-end systems, to integrate cable VOD services into the CableCARD TiVo units. The language of the press release makes it sound like this may be aimed at providing an offering directly to cable MSOs, so that they can offer the TiVo units to customers in lieu of a standard cable DVR. Especially small cable MSOs who aren't deploying tru2way, and therefore would be unable to use the software TiVo solution being deployed by Comcast and Cox.

“By teaming with SeaChange we are enabling cable operators without OCAP/tru2way deployment plans to increase the breadth and depth of their offering by quickly deploying TiVo set-top boxes that seamlessly integrate VOD in a single, intuitive TiVo interface,” said Tom Rogers, TiVo’s president and chief executive officer. “This solution also enables participating MSOs to take their on-demand offering to a whole new level by highlighting VOD titles within TiVo universal search results. And the beauty of this is that it can be achieved faster and at a lower cost than most solutions that have been available to cable operators to date.”

However, comments made by Tom Rogers at the Deutsche Bank Securities Media and Telecommunications Conference it sounds like this may be included in the retail products as well. Though I'd presume that it would only work with cable MSOs that are using a SeaChange VOD head-end. He also indicated that this would be a relatively short term development, though that's relative in relation to other major development efforts.

The release explicitly mentions the TiVo HD, and doesn't mention the original TiVo Series3, but that could just be marketing. The TiVo HD is the current product, and what everyone is focused on - and certainly what any cable MSO would be provided at this time. If it this feature is added to the retail products, and I hope it will, it could show up on the S3. I'm presuming that this implementation will use the Tuning Adapter, currently used for SDV support, to handle the upstream communication required for VOD/PPV as well.

No matter how it is implemented, this is a good thing. Once a working implementation exists, it tends to get a foot in the door, and hopefully more cable MSOs will sign on to support VOD on TiVo. After all, it is revenue for them.

Tags: cable, press release, seachange
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: quiet

TiVo Alticast last month announced that they will work together to make it easier to bring TiVo's software and services to set top boxes. Alticast is a vendor if middleware for Java-based DVB-MHP, OCAP/tru2way technology and Blu-ray Disc Java (BD-J). They're all ways to implement software independent of the host hardware - both tru2way and BD-J evolved out of MHP (Multimedia Home Platform). While all Blu-ray players support BD-J, and in the US OCAP/tru2way is deploying on cable systems (and the similar ACAP is intended for ATSC broadcast receivers), in most of the world MHP dominates.

Why is this significant? Well, based on the press release I think this signals a coming push by TiVo to leverage the work done for the Comcast & Cox deployments in the US to bring the TiVo interface to an assortment of set-top boxes worldwide:

“Teaming with Alticast allows global video providers to offer the unique combination of TiVo’s award winning user interface, advertising solutions, and broadband television functionality on set top boxes running Alticast’s industry standard embedded software for ITV applications,” said Joshua Danovitz, Vice President and GM of International at TiVo. “We hear from cable, satellite and IPTV operators around the world that they want better middleware solutions capable of quickly bringing TiVo applications to market and Alticast is in the pole position to fulfill this need. We look forward to their cooperation in making the TiVo experience available on a broad range of platforms, both in the United States and around the world, similar to the way that we have developed platforms for Comcast and Cox.”

I've been saying this for a while, that having the OCAP/tru2way version of the TiVo system could have an impact far beyond the US cable market. Having a portable implementation will allow TiVo to partner with hardware vendors and service providers worldwide. Working with Alticast should help get TiVo in the door, as well as smoothing the implementation issues. As TiVo has said that all tru2way cable DVRs in the US are potential TiVo systems, now, in theory, any DVR running MHP, or combo Blu-ray/DVR units, are potential TiVo systems.

Tags: alticast, bd-j, ocap, press release, tru2way
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: hungry
Current Music: quiet

Another announcement made during my hiatus from blogging, TiVo has expanded their Stop||Watch ratings service. The addition of 17 more cable networks pushes the total to 93 cable and broadcast networks covered by the service, including 16 cable networks not currently covered by the industry. The ratings are tracked from 05:00 until 23:30 each day. See the full release for more details.

Tags: press release, stop||watch
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVo: The Colbert Report

On February 19, 2009, TiVo announced that William Cella had been elected to their board of directors, increasing the board from eight to nine members.

Mr. Cella, age 58, currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Cella Group LLC, a firm he founded in 2008 which provides media sales representation, consultations in media, as well as sport and entertainment representation, to leading companies. Prior to that, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MAGNA Global Worldwide, a media negotiation, research and programming unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies. Prior to that, Mr. Cella held the position at of Executive Vice President, Director of Broadcast and Programming for Universal McCann North America, where he was responsible for over $2 billion of national broadcast time on network, cable and syndicated television. He began his career at ABC where he worked for 15 years, first as an account executive for WXYZ-TV in Detroit later rising to the position of Vice President of Sports Sales for ABC Television Network. Mr. Cella was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2007.

Tags: press release
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVo: South Park

( TiVo's latest newsletter: )

Tags: newsletter
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVo: Most Daring

Following up on their initial Superbowl ad results TiVo used Stop||Watch to look at the past success of this year's advertisers - and issued a press release with their analysis, of course. For example, Superbowl top-place advertiser GoDaddy.com had 35% of their primetime ads skipped during 2008. While perennial Superbowl advertiser Coke had 46% of their broadcast primetime spots skipped. I don't want to recreate the press release here, so check it out if you're interested in how DVRs impact advertising.

Tags: advertising, press release, stop||watch
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVoCast: Hak5

Following the Superbowl, TiVo released their usual summary of ad viewership. The graph to the right (click for larger version) uses TiVo Stop||Watch data to track viewership on a second-by-second basis. When viewers rewind a section and repeat it this is additive and increases the total viewership. Note that most of the spikes during the first half came during advertisements, while in the second half most of the spikes came during the game itself.

TiVo, of course, put out a full press release with all of the details. Former top ad the E-Trade talking baby was dethroned, not even placing in the top ten this year, while GoDaddy.com jumped to the top spot for the first time.

The top ten rated commercials of this year’s game were:

1. GoDaddy.com: "Enhanced?”
2. Bud Light: "Summer to Winter"
3. Careerbuilder.com: "It May Be Time"
4. Doritos: "Crystal Ball"
5. Transformers: "Revenge of the Fallen"
6. Monster.com: "Moose Head"
7. Bud Light: "Man Thrown out the Window"
8. Pepsi: "MacGruber/Pepsuber"
9. Dennys: "Thugs"
10. Coke Zero: "Mr Polamalu”

See the full release for more.

Tags: advertising, press release, stop||watch
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVoCast: CO-OP

I'll be catching up on at least some of the press releases and such that came out in the past three months or so while I was on my little hiatus. I thought about just skipping them, but decided I'd rather have a record of them for coverage in the long run.

Back on 1/21/09 TiVo dropped a press release about their Stop||Watch service for the end of 2008. I didn't find it very surprising - people do a lot of tiemshifting for primetime programs, and even more during sweeps. The latter makes total sense to me - channels cram popular shows into sweeps periods, which creates more conflicts, which makes people even more likely to timeshift content to be able to watch programs that aired simultaneously. During the sweeps weeks in May and October, 54% of primetime content was timeshifted. During the summer months (June-August), timeshifting dropped to 40% - likely due to the dearth of new content.

See the full press release for more data and analysis.

Tags: press release, stop||watch
Current Location: 42.308929N 71.795328W
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: TiVo: The Totally Rad Show

Blockbuster OnDemand coming to TiVo DVRs later this year
by John P. Falcone

Blockbuster and TiVo mash-up

Blockbuster will become the latest Internet video-on-demand service to appear on TiVo DVRs. The two companies announced today that they are working to make Blockbuster's service available on all TiVo Series2 and Series3 DVRs (including the HD and HD XL models) in the second half of 2009. The announcement marks the first non-PC device to support both Blockbuster OnDemand and its archrival, Netflix. TiVo DVRs also support Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Jaman, and the availability of some Disney movies via CinemaNow.

In addition to Blockbuster's online video service being available on TiVo, Blockbuster will also sell TiVo hardware at its stores. The companies will also launch a joint marketing campaign. Blockbuster, meanwhile, already offers its own movie rental set-top box, the 2Wire MediaPoint.

I am brand new to the community, and I am hoping someone here will have an answer to my query.

My parents just switched to Verizon Fios TV from Cablevision. Since that switch, their TiVo has not worked, since the installers kind of just bypassed it when they did the installation.

Prior to the Fios install, I had them set up this way: They had a cable box that they watched on one TV input, and I had split the cable so that basic cable was running into the TiVo, from which my mother recorded her shows. The TiVo was accessed through another input on their TV.

Assuming that my parents don't care if it's only the basic channels, is it even possible to split the Fios cable and have one cord going to their cable box and the other into the TiVo, or is the signal such that the TiVo (a Series 2) won't be able to read the channels unless they're sent through the box first?

I have other questions about what will happen to my TiVos once the digital switchover thing happens in June, since I have yet to get the same answer from two people, but I will save those questions for another time.

My thanks in advance to anyone who can help me with this Fios issue.

My friends, family and I are considering taking advantage of the Tivo HD deals at Sears and switching to Fios. We have all been using the Directivo units for years now so I am behind on the times as far as what the new Tivo can and can't do along with fees.

With Tivo desktop or any other method without hacking is it possible to transfer shows to the PC to back them up and then deleting the copy on Tivo? I saw there are third party apps to do this but wasn't sure if you had to hack the boxes to use them. I also wasn't sure if you deleted the Tivo copy if you could still use the PC copy. One of the big reasons we are all spoiled with Tivos having 400 hours on average so if we can avoid upgrading the drives and instead use a server such as the new HP Mediasmart server or Drobo.

Also I read about the multiple price options but I didn't know what the current pricing was for additional boxes. I know in the past I had one for 12 and the other for 6 but I read that is no longer the case. At the same time I couldn't get a solid answer since people seem to use retention to get various deals.

Any help is appreciated since Sears has it in the flyer this week so I can only pricematch this week while my local Sears still has a couple remaining. At the same time aren't we due for a new Tivo soon not that anything has been announced beyond the new Directivo press release.