TiVo and Comcast in "advanced talks"
[Update: Looks like the rumors were true, Comcast and TiVo have announced their partnership. Also, it looks like the advanced features will be there, the press release specifically mentions the service will showcase TiVo's home networking, multimedia, and broadband capabilities.
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The latest news in the off-again, on-again relationship between TiVo and Comcast is that they are negotiating to provide TiVo service for Comcast subscribers. Just so you know that we aren't the only ones framing this in terms of sex, the News.com article says "the two companies have flirted before without consummating a deal."
For the part of the post where I start rumor-mongering, I'd like to speculate that (like DirecTV before it) Comcast wouldn't allow advanced features like TiVoToGo and HME because they pose a threat to Comcast's business. If people can get Netflix on their TiVo, what incentive do they have to subscribe to premium channels or use PPV?
I also think it's interesting that the media keeps getting these unnamed sources about ongoing Comcast negotiations. When TiVo wants to leak negotiation news they use their Chairman. I wonder if Comcast is playing the media and the blogosphere to push TiVo to accept worse terms than DirecTV's $1/customer.
May no longer be a rumor.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=562&ncid=738&e=7&u=/ap/20050315/ap_on_hi_te/tivo_comcast
Posted by: sig | March 15, 2005 at 06:45 AM
It's a done deal
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=580&e=1&u=/nm/20050315/bs_nm/tech_tivo_comcast_dc
Posted by: Jason Fried | March 15, 2005 at 06:46 AM
From Tivo's press release... they are going to support HME!
"This long-term, non-exclusive partnership will provide millions of Comcast customers with the opportunity to choose the TiVo service, including TiVo's award-winning user interface and features like Season Pass(TM) and WishList(TM), as an additional option. In addition, the service will showcase TiVo's home networking, multimedia, and broadband capabilities."
http://www.tivo.com/5.3.1.1.asp?article=246
Posted by: Pool Shark | March 15, 2005 at 07:04 AM