TiVo

TIVO has just announced the release of the new supersized TIVO XL with 1TB of disk space built in. The standard model has 320GB.

The new model will be available soon for $699 RRP and allows the user to record up to 150 hours of HD free to air TV and 350 hours of standard definition free to air TV.

Owners of the standard version of TIVO can buy a TIVO external 1TB hard drive to gain that sort of capacity.

The 320GB TIVO will now be sold for $499.

TIVO website: www.mytivo.com.au

As of 24th February 2011, the TiVo On-Screen Program Guide will now include “up-to-the-minute” program times for Channel Nine instead of rounded half hour scheduling.

Nine has recently started to provide this program data and we are passing on this benefit to our customers.

This means that from this date onwards every single Network that provides up-to-the-minute program times will now be incorporated into your On-Screen TV guide as part of your TiVo Service.

Historically, all broadcaster(s) provided “rounded” times only and thus, the published times would usually display times to the nearest 1/2 hour (as an example). An “Up-to-the-minute” EPG displays the announced airtime (within 1 minute) of when the broadcaster intends to air the scheduled program. Actual air-times may still vary if the broadcaster has an unannounced program, re-schedule or cancellation (for example, in the event of breaking major news), but otherwise, your recording times will be much more reliable than they have been in the past.

Networks Seven, Nine, Ten & ABC also all display scheduled program start and finish times that are “up-to-the-minute”.

These more accurate program times should appear on TiVo following a successful update connection to the TiVo service any time after the early hours of the 24th of February.

The future of TiVo in Australia and New Zealand looks bleak following news that the platform’s Australasia partner Hybrid TV has reduced its operations to a skeleton staff.

Hybrid TV’s CEO Robbee Minicola confirmed that in December last year a major restructure took place with website The Register reporting that about 40 staff were shed.

It is understood a staff of only five is overseeing the Australia/New Zealand operations which raises serious questions over the future of the provider in this part of the world.

Industry source are suggesting that an asset sale could be on the cards for Hybrid TV.

Topfield has today hit back at TiVo, rejecting Hybrid TV’s claim that it is the first to supply a PVR capable of recording in 3D. Topfield already has seven PVRs with 3D recording capability in the marketplace, according to product manager Robert Bonanno.

In a media release yesterday, Hybrid TV claimed its TiVo device was “the first PVR with the ability to time shift any free-to-air 3D broadcast”. This claim is now in dispute, with Bonanno saying Topfield already had products in the market with that capability.

“Topfield can advise that you can record 3D to the following Topfield PVR models: TF7050, TRF7060, TRF7160, TBF7120, TRF7100PLUS, TRF2400 and TRF2460,” wrote Bonanno in an email to Current.com.au.

Bonanno also emphasised that this can be done without an internet connection.

“When the Topfield PVR records the HD side-by-side image, this signal will be able to be decoded by a true 3D TV at any time in the future.”

“The Topfield PVRs will record the 3D signal as a split screen HD signal. Then the TV will use its 3D engine to overlap and develop the true 3D signal in 16:9.”

Source: current.com.au

TiVo is set to become the first PVR in Australia to be able to record and timeshift 3D free to air broadcasts such as the State of Origin on Nine 3D and the World Cup Soccer in June.

TiVo has announced that 3D content will soon be ready for download through its video on demand Caspa service. The 3D downloads should become available in June and will include mostly movie trailers and short animations initially with full length movies and documentaries to be added at a later date.

TiVo has launched a campaign to stimulate sales in the lead up to the World Cup by offering a 1TB external hard drive valued at $249 to all who purchase as TiVo device between May 28 and June 20, 2010. The use must also register for a Caspa account to qualify. Full details at major retialers, like Harvey Norman, Domayne, Dick Smith, JB Hi Fi and Myer.

“To own a TiVo and know that your TiVo can record the 3D broadcast of the World Cup soccer while you are sleeping, then wake up to time shifted viewing on a 3D TV is worth getting out of bed for. The ability to feel as though you can reach out and kiss a player that scores a goal, snatch the red card out of the hands of the referee, or experience the players heading right for you in a slide tackle: you can almost taste the grass and dirt in your mouth,” said an exuberant Hybrid TV CEO Robbee Minicola.

You will, of course, require a 3D TV in order to enjoy the benefits of 3D through TiVo. Meanwhile, with TiVo offering more and more content on demand via the internet, TiVo has teamed up with a number of ISP providers to include meter free content when used in conjunction with a TiVo. Details at the TiVo website www.mytivo.com.au.

Source: www.current.com.au

Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited, the creator of CASPATM On-Demand and the exclusive licensee of TiVo® products in Australia & New Zealand and Disney Media Distribution, today announced the first Disney Video on Demand (VOD) rental proposition for both television and movie content in the Southern Hemisphere premiering on CASPA On-Demand and delivered through TiVo media devices in Australia and New Zealand.

This additional offering adds to the 160+ TV program portfolio of the CASPA service, lifting it to over 200 programs and over 2000 hours of TV viewing on-demand. The Disney Media Distribution content offering brings the CASPA On-Demand entertainment portfolio into line with its shareholders’ brands reaching mass audiences across the Seven Network and Television New Zealand. TV content includes Disney’s most popular TV series as well as new release and feature films. This means that Australian audiences can enjoy their favourite Disney programs live on Seven or 7TWO – then access the back seasons using their CASPA On-Demand service on their TiVo to download even more episodes of their favourite program. The content offering includes top-ranking TV brand names such as Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Lost and Brothers and Sisters.

“Our business is about keeping appointments with people each week to watch our programs. The fact that the CASPA service on TiVo reflects the past seasons of our top-rating shows means we can give our audiences greater depth and breadth of programming in addition to our broadcast offering – and keep our viewers loyal to our programs.

“For those people who have only just begun to enjoy Grey’s Anatomy or Desperate Housewives, the ability to access and download prior seasons to ‘catch-up’ to the season we air on Seven and 7TWO is nothing but a benefit to our viewers and to our business.

“Seeing this content reaching into another company in the Seven Media Group and increasing the viewing audiences of the current season of our programs is nothing but good news all around. The Seven Network and Disney Media Distribution have enjoyed a partnership of more than 50 years, today this partnership extends from broadcast into broadband,” said Tim Worner, Director of Production and Programming, Seven Media Group.

“The media landscape is changing at a rapid pace and in response the Seven Media Group is moving fast to meet the growing demand for legal content. As broadband connectivity and technological advances continue, we are in a unique position due to our solid digital strategy that maintains live appointment viewing, consolidates time shifted viewing, provides a catch-up window on Plus7 as a convenience for our viewers and to help them keep their appointment with us the following week. With CASPA, we go even further…we allow our viewers to enjoy, season by season, episode by episode their favourite TV programs,” said James Warburton Chairman of Hybrid TV and Chief Sales and Digital Officer, Seven Media Group.

“Hybrid TV is an innovative digital platform which allows consumers to create their own unique media experience by accessing and viewing content according to their tastes and preferences,” said Rob Gilby, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Disney Media Distribution (Asia Pacific).

“Providing consumer’s choice and convenience to access the content they love is core to Disney’s philosophy of leveraging new technology to enhance our distribution reach internationally. This agreement is symbolic of the giant strides that national broadcasters such as  the Seven Network and  TVNZ are making towards adopting digital media solutions that enable their audiences to watch movies and TV series on-demand, in their own time,” he added.

“It is all about the living room for us. That unique relationship every home has with enjoying their favourite TV programs and watching films in the comfort of their home. This relationship with Disney Media Distribution not only allows both the Seven Network and TVNZ’s program offering to resonate within our CASPA On-Demand service – it means that when you love a program you are now able to get more and more and more without having to leave the living room.

“As we look to the future where CASPA can be accessed and viewed on other internet-enabled devices in the home, our TV program suite is a significant competitive advantage for us and a wonderful complement to our existing movie (350+ movies), TV (2000 hours) and music range currently available with CASPA On-Demand on TiVo devices.

“We look forward to working with Disney Media Distribution in the future to build further value for our customers across any platform that carries CASPA.” said Robbee Minicola, Chief Executive of Hybrid TV.

Disney Media Distribution is the third major studio to provide its entertainment content to the CASPA On-Demand in Australia joining other major studios, Paramount Pictures and Sony Entertainment, Universal and NBC. Over the Easter school holiday break, CASPA customers will have access to additional new release and library movies and over 300 hours of TV content from Disney Media Distribution.

Since December, 2009, CASPA On-Demand has offered TiVo customers access to movies, TV shows, music videos and artist interviews to watch on-demand, either free or on a pay-per-view basis. At launch, Hybrid TV promised to continue to grow its entertainment content offering, with the view to deliver the ultimate in on-demand entertainment via the TV. The growing range of content partners will ensure Hybrid TV can continue to deliver on its promise.

From April 1, content available to CASPA users will include:

*   Full-length episodes and full seasons of primetime programs like Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty

*   New release movies like The Proposal, Up!, G-Force and Morning Light

*   Family favourite movies like 101 Dalmatians, Cinderella Man, Flubber, 10 Things I Hate About You and Chicago

Seven has signed a major agreement with TiVo to bring the technology here to Australia in the first half of 2008. Seven will set up a digital platform which works nicely with TiVo.

The platform will be available for use by other broadcasters and broadband content owners to create an interactive, free to air digital terrestrial television offering.

The TiVo Service will be available across Australia and will include recognized TiVo features like SeasonPass recordings and WishList searches and allow users to access broadband content on their TV.