The UK cable TV and broadband supplier Virgin Media has announced an exclusive deal with TiVo to bring the US-based PVR specialist back to these shores.
Many early adopters bemoaned the original withdrawal of TiVo hardware from the UK market, as the American company's proprietary user-interface and set-top-box technologies were groundbreaking at the time. And US AV fans have continually lauded its user interface (including its ability to intelligently guess what programmes you might like and auto-record them) ever since.
From what we can gather, the next generation of high-definition set-top-boxes from Virgin Media will feature proprietary TiVo tech, with the company developing a converged television and broadband interactive interface.
Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media is certainly excited by the collaboration: 'TiVo's proven track record of innovation, strength of its patented technology and experience in developing best-in-class user environments, make it an ideal strategic partner for Virgin Media as we move aggressively to bring our next-generation TV service to market. The superiority of our fibre optic network, combined with TiVo’s capabilities, will allow us to offer consumers the most significantly advanced and compelling TV service available in the UK, and we believe will do to the TV market what Virgin Media has done to the high-speed broadband market.'
Regular readers of HCC will remember we predicted a TiVo return back in September 2008 (HCC #159). Even then, TiVo’s international vice president Joshua Danovitz was hinting at future developments: ‘[We’re] keen on the British market – especially since the progress of Freeview, and the transition to digital and HD. This has opened up a huge opportunity for somebody like us to come up with an excellent consumer experience. What’s available today are different ways to get video sources – over the air, cable, satellite and now broadband. What’s missing is a highly-advanced user experience that integrates “linear” and broadband content in a way that only TiVo can.’
The first TiVo/Virgin Media-branded product is expected to arrive sometime in the coming year. We can't wait...
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In the latest Home Cinema Choice:
As a TIVO user since the
John McElroy (not verified) - 26 November 2009 - 1:44pmAs a TIVO user since the first week it was released in the USA, and still using one in the UK now, and as a Virgin cable subscriber too, I could almost weep for joy at this news. Finally a lot more people will discover the joy of using the TIVO system (beyond the devoted but tiny existing UK TIVO user base).
I share your enthusiasm
Steve May - 28 November 2009 - 1:49amI share your enthusiasm John. I'm also a longtime UK Tivo user. In fact I only recently pulled the plug on my sub because I couldn't justify the cost, as the box has outlived its usefulness to me (stupidly I've never had a lifetime subscription). That said, it's still in my equipment rack and will probably stay there until I have another rebuild. I think this will really shake the settop box market up when it arrives.
Steve is the Editor in cheif of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com.
Missed Opportunity
Phil Victor Ray (not verified) - 30 November 2009 - 11:57amOne of my big technology disappointments of the last decade was the failure of Tivo in UK. Never owned one, but seen so many good things about it.
I think one of the things that should have been mandated as part of digital network rollout (satellite, cable, terrestrial) is that there should have been dual tuner availability from the start. By this I mean that you should always have been able to record one digital channel while recording another from the start.
Another thing is, should have been an interface like cablecard in UK that could work with various pvrs and dvd recorders. This would have allowed you to get something like a Tivo box and use whatever service, terrestrial, satellite, cable. Tivo would then have been capable of doing what sky plus did ages before.
Already pay virgin media a subscription fee, so not willing to pay more per month to get the pvr, but I would think that the interface is pretty mature by now and could give very good experience for users.