ABC News: TiVo Faces Threat As Options Multiply

[Mark Holtz]

From ABC News:

TiVo Faces Threat As Options Multiply
TiVo, Once a King of the Market, Faces Threat As Digital Video Recording Options Multiply

TiVo has been synonymous with digital video recording since it pioneered the industry five years ago, controlling an estimated one-third of the market in 2004. That lofty perch is now beginning to crumble.

Competition in the growing and lucrative industry is intensifying as cable providers, satellite operators and consumer electronics companies push ahead with models of their own, giving consumers more choices while threatening to significantly blunt TiVo Inc.'s edge.

FULL ARTICLE HERE (http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=417833)

[TNGTony]

Gee...I wonder if TiVo's response to the threat will be to RAISE their monthly price again? :rolleyes:

See ya
Tony

[bcope9]

TIVO should just start selling code for everyone else. They will have a hard time selling boxes once they start their commercials in March.

[Cyclone]

Without a HD Cable Card box, they have painted themselves in a corner. They can't make Dish or Voom boxes, but with DirectTV and a Cablecard digital cable boxes, they at least have something to sell to the new market.

[pomeroy]

Onething that your forgetting is the Power of a Brand Name, "TIVO" Its the name that people most recognize and can relate to, It does not matter if its a Dish PVR or Directv DVR. I have a friend that has a Dish PVR and when I ask him if he recorded a program hes like yeah "I Tivo it" He does not have a Tivo! thats what people call it :) Tivo has already won the battle by making a name for them selfs, just like COKE even if your drinking the store brand cola you will tell everbody your drinking a Coke, You know

[bcope9]

TIVO has become the generic for the many PVR/DVR's that are there, I know many people that calling any MP3 player an IPOD now. I'm sure that both TIVO and Apple are not real pleased with becoming the generic, but it's all about the name.

[Bob Haller]

TIVO had a deal with comcast, and walked away at last minute. todays sky report 1 18
They are putting themselves out of business, which is very sad.............

[David_Levin]

Remember the company that originated the word "Aspirin?". Me neither. The brand name will only take them so far.

They don't have a chance of selling a Cable Card box unless they lower the price to $299 and the service fee to $1.99. I just don't see how they can compete with the cable offereing.

[Mike123abc]

They need a box like Sony's (which is about to come out). OTA HD and CableCard HD with 250/500GB of disk space. Sony is just going to use that TV guide system for guide data. Of course the issue with CableCard right now is that it is single tuner. I have not seen anyone saying multistream CC is ready to go yet.

[Mark Holtz]

From Forbes:

TiVo assailed by multiple clones

TiVo has been synonymous with digital video recording since it pioneered the industry five years ago, controlling an estimated one-third of the market in 2004.

That lofty perch is now beginning to crumble.

Competition in the growing and lucrative industry is intensifying as cable providers, satellite operators and consumer electronics companies push ahead with models of their own, giving consumers more choices while threatening to significantly blunt TiVo Inc.'s edge.

FULL ARTICLE HERE (http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/general/2005/01/18/generalinsidevc_2005_01_18_eng-insidevc_home_eng-insidevc_home_030523_5086033178224331042.html?part ner=yahoo&referrer=)

[generalpatton78]

I don't think Tivo will ever be the PC but it can be the mac. Tivo has had a very good holiday season. While Tivo has allot of subscribers threw D*. Stand Alone models account for most of there revenue. D* will at least be selling Tivo DRVs until 2007 and that is a long time in this industry. Tivo has lowered there basic SA tivos to 100$ and that helps get new subscribers allot more then having a SA HDTV model. I've just switched to D* from Dish to get the HDTV Tivo and yes I know about Mpeg4. Tivo needs to keep innovating to keep new and current customers happy. All these articles say cable DVrs are cheaper but I just don't agree in most cases, because those cable box dvrs are charges for not only DVR fees but also a receiver rental fee and sometimes a mirror fee. When you pay Tivo for the Tivo service you actually get something in my opinion. I still have cable for internet and HDTV until my HDTV Tivo arrives in the mail.


I've have a Moto6208 but it sucks so bad all I use it for is recording HDTV. I also have two SA2 models and a Humax DVDRW tivo and love all of my babies. All my family have tried other boxes but all go back to the tivo. Cable and Sat companies will offer DVR at a low price to try and get new customers and such. Tivo needs to establish itself as the elite of DVRs.

HDTV models don't even effect the market right now more then getting a couple headlines. We are still a small market right now (HDTV owners) and tivo has the best HDTV model out there it's just you have to be with D* to get it and have some cash. Cable card will work out great for tivo and it's future prospects. I'm betting you will see allot of cable companies end up using these as possible cable boxes in the future.