TIVO may give away set top boxes
02-27-2006, 02:22 PM
#1
Aaaarrrggghhhh!
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TIVO may give away set top boxes
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NEW YORK (Reuters) TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq:TIVO - news), the television recording technology company that is facing increasing competition, on Monday said it is considering giving away TiVo set-top boxes as part of plans to win subscribers.
Chief Executive Tom Rogers said the company, whose name has become synonymous with the ability to pause live television and skip commercials, was close to offering a range of pricing options, including one plan that would include a free set-top box.
"We're continuing to pursue the prospects of zero upfront and all upfront" pricing, Rogers told the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York.
The company is likely to begin the test to offer free boxes, possibly in exchange for higher priced and longer term plans, fairly soon, said Rogers, who was named chief executive last July.
TiVo currently serves about 4 million subscribers, about two-thirds of them via partner DirecTV Group Inc. (NYSE:DTV - news). It is under pressure from Wall Street to expand its customer base as DirecTV is readying its own digital video recorders.
TiVo also faces competition from far bigger cable and satellite TV providers and consumer electronics makers, all of whom are offering rival digital video recorders to consumers. Many of the devices are more powerful than TiVo's and are offered at lower prices -- sometimes for free.
The company says its service, which costs most users about $13 a month, is superior, thanks to options such the ability to buy movie tickets, listen to Internet radio stations and enjoy music and photos over one's home computer network.
Rogers also pointed to a time when existing set-top boxes made by other manufacturers will be able to be upgraded by software, with no purchase necessary by the consumer.
"As much as we do get skepticism about our future, there are over 4 million TiVo subscribers -- that number is growing," he said. "We feel that the notion that TiVo has hit some kind of distribution wall and is no longer a growth animal is not the case."
Shares of TiVo were flat on Monday, rising just 4 cents to $5.61 a share on Nasdaq.
Chief Executive Tom Rogers said the company, whose name has become synonymous with the ability to pause live television and skip commercials, was close to offering a range of pricing options, including one plan that would include a free set-top box.
"We're continuing to pursue the prospects of zero upfront and all upfront" pricing, Rogers told the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York.
The company is likely to begin the test to offer free boxes, possibly in exchange for higher priced and longer term plans, fairly soon, said Rogers, who was named chief executive last July.
TiVo currently serves about 4 million subscribers, about two-thirds of them via partner DirecTV Group Inc. (NYSE:DTV - news). It is under pressure from Wall Street to expand its customer base as DirecTV is readying its own digital video recorders.
TiVo also faces competition from far bigger cable and satellite TV providers and consumer electronics makers, all of whom are offering rival digital video recorders to consumers. Many of the devices are more powerful than TiVo's and are offered at lower prices -- sometimes for free.
The company says its service, which costs most users about $13 a month, is superior, thanks to options such the ability to buy movie tickets, listen to Internet radio stations and enjoy music and photos over one's home computer network.
Rogers also pointed to a time when existing set-top boxes made by other manufacturers will be able to be upgraded by software, with no purchase necessary by the consumer.
"As much as we do get skepticism about our future, there are over 4 million TiVo subscribers -- that number is growing," he said. "We feel that the notion that TiVo has hit some kind of distribution wall and is no longer a growth animal is not the case."
Shares of TiVo were flat on Monday, rising just 4 cents to $5.61 a share on Nasdaq.
02-27-2006, 02:41 PM
#3
teh Senior Instigator
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I looked in to Tivo, but Time Warner gave me a DVR w/ 80 hours worth of recording for $9.99 a month and the first 3 months were free. F U Tivo
02-27-2006, 02:52 PM
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They are giving away free DVR receivers for DirectTv....$15 ship + free install. I already had one in one room...now, Im just setting it up in the other room.
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02-27-2006, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by CLpower
what's the DVR a month thourhg DTV?
02-27-2006, 03:12 PM
#10
Team Owner
I miss my Tivo so much since I upgraded to HD. I'm going to sell it on ebay since its an "upgraded Series 1 with lifetime subscription". They still fetch $200-$400 on eBay.
I have the Comcast DVR and I really hate it. The only good thing about it is the dual tuner. Trying to find programs to record is a pain in the ass.
The DVR doesn't seem to be able to keep up with itself. Trying to watch a program that the machine started to record 10 minutes earlier is painful. Lots of dropped frames. I have to wait for it to stop recording before I can watch the show.
I look forward to the day that I can once again get a Tivo.
I have the Comcast DVR and I really hate it. The only good thing about it is the dual tuner. Trying to find programs to record is a pain in the ass.
The DVR doesn't seem to be able to keep up with itself. Trying to watch a program that the machine started to record 10 minutes earlier is painful. Lots of dropped frames. I have to wait for it to stop recording before I can watch the show.
I look forward to the day that I can once again get a Tivo.
02-27-2006, 03:49 PM
#11
Administrator Alumnus
Not surprising, but this has gotta make you wonder.
Before, they would make revenue off of the DVRs and the monthly fees associated with them. The DVRs aren’t selling well based on competition, so they’ll potentially lose a revenue stream and move to strictly a monthly fees revenue stream.
So they're really betting on making up revenue off licensing, essentially by growing customers that are moving further away. Oh and still continuing to compete with Comcast, TimeWarner, DirecTV and Dish Network-like entities that leverage their own integrated DVR technologies.
$10 and my right nut TiVo gets bought out or goes bye-bye. To me, this signals a move of desperation.
Before, they would make revenue off of the DVRs and the monthly fees associated with them. The DVRs aren’t selling well based on competition, so they’ll potentially lose a revenue stream and move to strictly a monthly fees revenue stream.
So they're really betting on making up revenue off licensing, essentially by growing customers that are moving further away. Oh and still continuing to compete with Comcast, TimeWarner, DirecTV and Dish Network-like entities that leverage their own integrated DVR technologies.
$10 and my right nut TiVo gets bought out or goes bye-bye. To me, this signals a move of desperation.
02-27-2006, 04:10 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by moomaster_99
Its like $5 but counts for every DVR, but is waived if you have the premier plan ($55?). $5 per room for each receiver. The DVR is yours to keep. Are you using Dish scott?
$5.99 + tax DVR fee, for as many DVRs you have.
Premier > $90 per month (wtf).
02-27-2006, 04:15 PM
#14
Administrator Alumnus
Just simply looking at TiVo's balance sheet and cash flow, it's clear to me that they're in trouble. Their liabilities went way up in 2005 and their cash flow is pretty nasty.
Sad because TiVo has the best UI out there. But when competing against the 500lb gorillas. Good luck.
Sad because TiVo has the best UI out there. But when competing against the 500lb gorillas. Good luck.
02-27-2006, 04:18 PM
#15
Team Owner
I'm still waiting for fruit to come from the Comcast agreement. When am I going to get Tivo software on my Comcast box?
02-27-2006, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by zamo
Directv
$5.99 + tax DVR fee, for as many DVRs you have.
Premier > $90 per month (wtf).
$5.99 + tax DVR fee, for as many DVRs you have.
Premier > $90 per month (wtf).
Oh yeah....Comcast =
I only use them for their broadband.....
02-28-2006, 08:24 AM
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It's just like the cell phone industry. Does anyone remember when there were no free cell phones? And they weren't cheap. I paid $400 for my OKI car phone.
02-28-2006, 08:40 AM
#18
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
It's just like the cell phone industry. Does anyone remember when there were no free cell phones? And they weren't cheap. I paid $400 for my OKI car phone.
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