Rumors Apple Acquiring TiVo

Reuters is reporting that TiVo stock is up up up based on rumors that Apple might acquire the company.

"What we hear on the street is that Apple is interested in their business and that they are a takeout target," said analyst Steven Kroll Jr. of Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co.

Representatives for Apple and TiVo both declined comment.

While Reuters likes to talk to "analysts" and "representatives," we all know it was our post about playing AAC files on a TiVo that really sent Wall Street into a tizzy.

So what would an iTiVo look like? White plastic all around? Complaints about there only being one TiVo button on the remote? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

[Update: Smith Barney says a merger is "highly unlikely." They say "it appears as though Apple want to stay focused on selling select proven products (e.g. iPod) rather than gambling on unknown initiatives" and "Apple indicated that the DVR market seems to be a commodity whereby all players will eventually have similar hardware and software longer term." So now we have rumors that nothing will happen to contradict rumors that something will happen. All you Windows people are getting a taste of what it's like over on the Mac side of the fence.]

Comments

[Matt Haughey]

An iTiVo would have a dock for your iPod to rest lovingly in, so you could come home, pull your earbuds out, and drop your iPod into the dock to hear the same song uninterrupted, in your house.

[Jeff]

Well it would be brushed aluminum, of course, but with a white plastic top like the Mac mini. Built in iPod dock, yes, but not for synching with Tivo content; still need a computer for that. iPod Photo would connect to your system through the iTivo for displaying photos, though.

.Mac services would allow online programming, and perhaps transfer photos, music, and more through .Mac synch.

Sigh, if only....

[Mike Strock]

I give this about a 2% chance of happening. Steve Jobs has said that TV is a big waste of time (I'm not quoting exactly, but you get the idea), so I doubt that Mr. Jobs would sanction something at Apple that he himself would not use. I can see him using most of the other products that Apple sells....ok, maybe not the IPod socks, but otherwise....

[Digitalscott]

Steve Jobs also said he would never go after the Flash MP3 player also. but look what he just did.....

[Timothy Appnel]

This would be a wonderful reality if true. I understand what Mike is pointing out, but I give it a better chance because as this blog's post has shown, a Tivo can rather easily become a home media entertainment system and not just about TV. Buying into Tivo would give Apple million of potential fans... er, customers, for to buy the next generation of products. Given that Tivo's problems have been the management of their company and not the brand, in this light I think it make total sense. I digres though, this is about what features such a product under Apple would sport.

I would like to see an iPod click wheel on the console and/or remote control. I would also like to see AirPort Extreme (Wifi) capabilities and perhaps Bluetooth (for the remote) built-in right in. I think higher end version could feature a SuperDrive. Probably that would mean some type of DRM being built-in -- sigh. oh well. A Firewire port so a external hard drive could be plugged in for aditional storage would rule.

[warrenpeace]

I would cry tears of joy! It would likely mean, if Apple were to buy TiVo, that TiVo would work in Canada. It took a while, but we finally got the iTunes Music Store and we're due for our first Apple Store at the end of July. I could get rid of my PC and just subscribe to get the guide info (the only use I have for a PC).

Perhaps Jobs could use his amazing persuasion and negotiating skills to get Cable Companies on board, like he was able to talk skittish record labels into selling their music online?

[jpmist]

An iTivo would look exactly like a MiniMac which is why Job's doesn't need to buy Tivo to sell one. It would be great to see an Apple designed OS in between a channel guide and a WiFi, DVD burning DVR, but Apple has a tendency to not take on a product unless it can price it aggressively.

I'd love to see one and it frustrates me to see how close Apple is to being able to it, but I dunno if people would spring for a $799 iTivo . . .

[Jerome Nicholson]

Maybe there will be an option for TiVo to get its info on the net and I can drop my land phone line.

[Tyson]

There is an option for Tivo to get its information on the net. Wired or wireless networks, both work wonderfully. I would imagine they will be "required" for most of the increased functionality headed to Tivo's over the next year. Check out the community forums for setup information.

[Alex Rowland]

I would still be shocked if this happened, for the reasons I laid out before. Apple already has a brand that is bigger than TiVo, Apple is better at UI than TiVo. What does TiVo provide to Apple that Apple wouldn't be able to replicate for much less than $300MM. Maybe IP, but I just don't see it. I won't be sad if it happens, but it just doesn't seem logical.

[Thomas Hawk]

Needless to say TiVo is probably dirt cheap right now and the cost to acquire them would be insignificant for any number of candidates, Apple, Comcast, DirecTV, Netflix, Sony, etc.

Further, when you take Apple's recent high flying stock price it's not even like real money. Apple's stock price could go up two percent in a day and that's all the money it would need via a stock swap to buy TiVo outright.

Michael Gartenberg thinks Sony is a much more likely candidate than Apple.

Although one could make an argument that there still might be an opportunity to pick up TiVo's most important assets (it's customer base and it's brand) in bancruptcy court, really, $353 million seems like such a paltry sum. Somebody really should just hurry up and buy the beast.

[Gene]

While we're all doing a lot of speculating and dreaming, let me add my fantasy situation: an Apple-branded networked TiVo could be a front end for an iMovie Video Store, selling movies and TV shows online in the same way that iTunes sells music -- $6.99 per movie?
And it's unlikely that Steve Jobs would release something as small as an iPod to view video, and who can blame him? But an iPod for video would look just like a TiVo, wouldn't it?
The big question about the viability of something like this is the DRM. iTunes will let your burn your purchased music to CD a certain number of times; would a video service allow you to burn the movie to DVD? Could be a tougher sell to studios...

[Dan]

Like the others here, I would be absolutely delighted. I want a media center for my whole home that works! Apple doing the TiVo would mean that for all of us. Video, music, photos, oh my! Video, music, photos, oh my! Maybe if we say it enough 8-)

True enough, Jobs said he wasn’t into video. He didn’t enter the online music business until he had many of the music companies on board. He negotiated a DRM scheme the end users could live with also.

Jobs is the only person who could get the studios on board for video distribution. He knows the industry and has a stake in it. I hope he realizes that now is the time for Apple to choose forever. Someone is going to do iTunes for video. It will be big! Apple’s chance is now, IMO. I hope they take it.

[Michael Pate]

One wonders though, if this means "you can't play songs you bought from the iTunes Music Store because they have DRM" will still be true?

[John Meyer]

Just like the first person said, "An iTiVo would have a dock for your iPod to rest lovingly in, so you could come home, pull your earbuds out, and drop your iPod into the dock to hear the same song uninterrupted, in your house." The only thing is that apple can come out with a video ipod and you would just be able to download the show or movie and watch it on your ipod video.

[EAustin]

Why not!!! PLease oh Please Apple release the iTheatre Home Entertainment system. All of the pieces are there for Apple to release a very nice product out the gate. Can you image... one box that would serve as a central hub/server for your home. I would keep my iMac in the office but my family room TV would be connected to iTheatre where I can access my iTunes, iPhoto, and iDVD. Also, please give me an intelligent TV guide that suggest TV programming based on my profile. Also, I want the capability to access my recorded shows via my .mac account.... hell... I am paying $100 buck/yr. ... make it useful. Apple what are you waiting for .... Release the damn thing!