TiVo Series 3 HD Pricing and Timing

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TiVo Series 3 HD Pricing and Timing

Dave Zatz noticed a new TiVo contest giving away a Series 3 unit which may point to a possible release date of this summer. Dave guesses it will be September 1st and the price will be $800 and he is encouraging others to guess on the price/release in an impromptu contest for a free wireless adapter.

It's great to see TiVo give an early peek with this American Idol contest. Lately I've been thinking the Series 3 would be pushed back to fall or winter of this year, but I would love to be surprised with something this summer. Of course, the way to get the earliest possible look at a Series 3 box would be as part of TiVo's Beta team. As always, I can't wait to get rid of my Motorola box and get back onto a real TiVo (with HD).

by Matt Haughey March 14, 2006 in News

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I REALLY want an HD TiVo. My Scientific Atlanta box, well, sux. It does what it says, but with little flair. But $800, that's some serious cash. It better seem worth it.

Posted by: DocRoland at Mar 14, 2006 7:56:45 PM

$800? Who is going to pay $800 for a box thats this late?

Posted by: Anonymous Person at Mar 14, 2006 10:04:02 PM

$800 is crazy talk. Wake me when it costs less than half that.

Posted by: Ian at Mar 14, 2006 10:41:05 PM

That $800 might be right, if the box is an all inclusive entertainment unit (TiVo Series 3, PS3 game system, & Blu-ray DVD player).

If all that is right, my guess is that Sony & TiVo had a whole joint release planned, but because of the delays with the Blu-ray copy protection technology, they won't be having a joint release. TiVo is going to have to go with plan B and release a Series3 box that isn't an all inclusive entertainment unit.

It's a tough position for TiVo to be in. I think they were counting on the PS3 & Blu-ray dvd player to distiguish their boxes from the HD boxes TiVo boxes that Comcast is going to provide to their customers.

Of course all this all just speculation.

Posted by: eMpTy Beitler at Mar 15, 2006 3:06:15 AM

"I can't wait to get rid of my Motorola box and get back onto a real TiVo"

I guess I don't get this attitude anymore. I know Tivo has much better usability, is nicer and thhe box cares about you and your family, but you still have to pay for it and pay for monthly service. Leasing the box from a provider leaves most of the hardware costs on their end and has a much easier upgrade path.

Posted by: Tom Clancy at Mar 15, 2006 4:55:21 AM

TIVO is doomed if they charge $800 for the HD box. That's too big a premium, even for TIVO diehards like myself.

Posted by: Jim Ginch at Mar 15, 2006 9:46:43 AM

I noticed they referred to it as the "TiVo Series3 HD DMR" or Digital MEDIA Device.

$800 is a bit steep. Maybe if it came with Lifetime Service, then I would consider it, but I would have to wait if it actually cost that much.

Posted by: Jon at Mar 15, 2006 10:42:48 AM

$800 dollars is a lot of money. Plus, you have to pay for TIVO service on top of that. Mmm... $800 dollars is A LOT of money. I'll probably stick with cable, until the unit comes down to at lease $400. However, I may go for $500, if "netflix movie downloads" are attached to the box.

Posted by: c.Lake at Mar 15, 2006 5:10:47 PM

did you read the rules. Retail Value MSRP of the series3 is $1500

Posted by: Timothy Smith at Mar 17, 2006 4:32:28 PM

"I can't wait to get rid of my Motorola box and get back onto a real TiVo"

Posted by: Slav Zat at Mar 23, 2006 4:33:10 AM

Well for what is is worth the operator on the TiVo line said it would be 300

Posted by: mike at Mar 29, 2006 8:57:50 AM

more than 300 but less than 500

Posted by: mike at Mar 29, 2006 8:58:42 AM

Sweet, only 800 (plus the LAME monthly fee) for the privilege to record OTA HD! AWESOME... So i could also sub to cable and then i'd have the ability to record it also! So tell me again why I'd pay this and not just get the DVR box with DISH (eventually) DirectTV or even my cable provider... I mean the Tivo Software is pretty easy to use and there's all that cool online stuff I never use... seems like a deal to me! RIP TiVO, you'll (probably) lose the case with Dish and it also looks like many cable co's are now going to back server based DVRs so that they don't have to rely on your expensive box (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=industryNews&storyID=2006-03-30T220508Z_01_N30353017_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-MEDIA-COMCAST-TIMEWARNERCABLE-DC.XML)

It's been real, It's been fun, But it hasn't been real fun!

Posted by: Angelo at Mar 30, 2006 10:05:41 PM

Probably lose the case with Dish?

Since 1994, patent owners have prevailed in 88 percent of all jury trials in Marshall, Texas, which is where the trial is being held. I'd say that definitely puts solid odds in TiVo's favor. And lets not forget the stock has gone up incredibly in the last couple weeks... gee I bet it's because TiVo is expected to lose!

Posted by: Greg Tommers at Mar 31, 2006 12:05:02 AM

I said probably because even if tivo wins, it's too little too late and by the time they get payment from dish (good luck on the countless appeals and such, dish has WAY deeper pockets and seems to like litigation) they'll go bankrupt... even if dish pays tivo the $100 million settlement that will not be enough to make tivo profitable, especially now that it seems every broadcasting company is building their own DVR solution... follow the link above... cable cos banding together to get rid of tivo like hardware!

Posted by: Angelo at Mar 31, 2006 3:37:36 PM

Angelo, as a TIVO lover & stockholder, I think you need to put down the crack pipe. Perhaps you don't use "that cool online stuff" but my family and all the TIVO subscribers I know sure do and love it!! Dish business was only a part of the TIVO bottom line, and with new deals around the corner with Apple & Verizon TIVO's not out of the game by a long shot. My bet on the cost of the Series 3 is $450, release date 8/27.

Buy TIVO stock now!!!!!lo

Posted by: Kate Johnson at Apr 3, 2006 6:23:42 PM

Is there any formal press release from Tivo on Series 3 release date?

Posted by: Kapeed at Apr 4, 2006 9:50:43 PM

Katie that's real grown up on the crack pipe comment.

Yes go ahead and buy it now... it may be your last chance... it's gone up over the last 3 months due to possibility of them winning the case... quite a gamble though if they lose the case...

I did use the online cool stuff, hacked some of my tivos) to give more control (not to steal service!) and pushed my tivos to the limit, they were fun, but just didn't cut the mustard (I couldn't wait until almost september to get a HD box, 2 years ago they promised us this, remember?)

Dish was a huge portion of their lets brag about how many people use tivo (numbers)... Tivo was a great service, now that there are options, why would anyone want to pay for a Stand Alone tivo box and service? especially if you you don't have cable (which will push your tv viewing costs up quite a bit). Tivo can't compete with the alternatives pushing their generic-tivo boxes for like 5 more a month...

It's sad that the competition has buried tivo (and in many cases strong-armed tivo into a corner, maybe they should've sued dish and direct tv for monopolizing and cutting of tivo's chances to compete in the sat market, not to sue over the you stole *our* idea for a DVR)... The software is really good but I'm still struggling to understand how they fit into any (hardware) equation other than licensing the software to cable and dish providers... tivo by itself is an addon which most people will not understand why they would need to pay this premium.

Also the recent deal with comcast I don't understand, because it looks like the cable cos are banding together to build/support remote dvrs which would allow them to cut costs for EXPENSIVE dvr boxes!

Tivo seems to have more enemies than friends (and lovers in your case).

Posted by: Angelo at Apr 4, 2006 10:16:05 PM

Tivo on the American Idol contest rules says what the MSRP is.
A little more than $800.

"Grand Prize: 1 Special Limited Edition TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder w/Product Lifetime Service $1,500.00"

Posted by: Mike at Apr 13, 2006 8:11:06 AM

I just went to Best Buy to return my broken huges tivo after almost 4 years. I loved it, and it served me well. Today is april 18 2006 and because I got the extended warranty I went to get my new tivo for the same price or some thing close to that price. But when I got there I was confused they had the 80hr. or the 40hr. with the burner in it. I thought the 40hr. burner was what I wanted, but it didn't have daul in-put so I didn't duy it. I wanted it to have what I had or better. At least my broken one had dual in-put so I could tape two shows at the same time and watch one that was already taped. They did say they had the daul hdtv tivo. but it was like $500.00 and mine was 245.95 . I have till almost Dec. till I have to choose. They did say the new Tivo's were coming April 10th 2006. But after reading they sound to much. So what would would you do? Please Help! Anyone out there with the 40hr Tivo with the burner in it, am I right in saying I can't tape two shows and watch one that has been taped? Should I just buy the Hgtv?

Posted by: Sharrie at Apr 18, 2006 7:44:05 PM

well it better come out b4 the end of this year. im done with my Scientific Atlanta DVR box.. i had directv and the tivo box and i was hooked big time. i went back to cable and got this piece of junk.. I NEED THIS TIVO!!!. $500 ill do that... $600 hummm.. more? i dont know.. id just wish they would at least say something (tivo website)..

Posted by: AJ at Aug 10, 2006 4:59:35 PM

I had the Toshiba Tivo with the built in DVD burner. It just broke and Best Buy gave me store credit. But now they don't have that model anymore, so I had to buy the new Dual tuner 180 hour Tivo and a DVD recorder. I think tomorrow I am going to take everything back and make them give me store credit that I can hold on to until the series 3 comes out. They told me I had to exchange within 14 days, but I am going to wait longer. By the way I had the lifetime membership which I know will transfer, but will it transfer to the series 3 or only the series 2 Tivo? Thanks.

Posted by: Zack at Aug 30, 2006 12:42:43 AM

Ok, here is the skinny, I just got a VIP pre buy option on the series 3. They are $799 and have an option to transfer lifetime from another box for $199. That is right $998 if you want a series 3 with lifetime. And then only if you have another box with lifetime. Seems VERY steep.

Posted by: Derek at Sep 12, 2006 6:37:35 PM

To Zack, that's $998 if you want a Series 3 with lifetime service AND you already paid for a lifetime service. If not, it's $1098 with 3-years prepaid service. And it's whack that you paid for lifetime service and now they want an EXTRA $200 to "upgrade" your lifetime service. Really a cheap move on Tivo's part. They sold you a lifetime service, they should stick to it. Talk about SELLER'S remorse.

Technically, this is not the same as their current lease scheme, which is a "free" base Series 2 + $19.95/mo, and the $7 difference from their $12.95/mo price (if you buy the box at CC or BB for $70 after rebate) pays for the box in 1 year. The 3-year prepaid service is $369 for the base box, but $299 for the Series 3, meaning there's no $70 discount subsidized by higher service fees.

I suppose having Tivo software is nice, but for now, my 2 Motorola QIP-6416's are working just fine, and it's nice to have a DVR on each TV we watch. But on the other hand, the box lease is $12.95 x 2 a month, or $26/mo for the two boxes, vs. $30.50/mo for the Series 3 ($1098/36 mo). So what to do? One GREAT DVR or two mediocre ones?!?

David

Posted by: David Ahn at Sep 13, 2006 6:37:58 PM

TiVo Series 3 HD Pricing and Timing

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