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DirecTV makes moves to drop TiVo

Crap! This is the worst PVR-related news I've heard in a while. When News Corp gained ownership of DirecTV, many speculated (myself included) that Rupert Murdoch's other satellite company (with a DVR), NDS, might be used instead of the combination DirecTiVo boxes DirecTV customers now have.

Well, the sad truth is that indeed NDS boxes will be released early next year, alongside DirecTiVo boxes. The Tivo-DirecTV relationship ends in 2007, so hopefully they'll continue to support TiVo boxes after the NDS rollout next year. TiVo's stock to a hit today, since I think almost half of TiVo's million users are DirecTV customers running the combo TiVo unit.

This probably explains why all the Series 2 DirecTiVo boxes still don't have the Home Media Option or the USB ports turned on -- I'm guessing DirecTV would rather not raise customer satisfaction on a box they'd rather rid themselves of for a cheaper inferior NDS unit.

When people new to TiVo ask me what system they should buy, I always strongly encourage them to get a new DirecTiVo and DirecTV subscription over a standalone TiVo with cable, since it offers two tuners and great digital quality. With this latest news, I'm going to reconsider that advice and personally start looking elsewhere for the ultimate PVR solution, as it is clear now the future is murky for DirecTV and TiVo and my own beloved combo box.

by Matt Haughey August 2, 2004 in News

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