The Seven Network may have a struggle on its hand in launching TiVo in Australia, if as reported today its pricing is between $500 – $600.
Especially if it means viewers can’t skip ads….
Seven has invested heavily in TiVo and Engin, with plans to offer packages covering TiVo and wireless broadband internet. It hopes to launch the product in time for 2008 Beijing Olympics, and is in “advanced negotiations” with other broadcasters to have them join the platform.
On top of the set-up fees it is likely there will be a monthly subscription fee.
Despite having a 30 – 40% market share in the US, TiVo has been plagued by financial difficulties, and has withdrawn altogether from the UK market.
Essentially, TiVo will compete with the IQ DVR offered by Foxtel despite the suppliers saying the two are different products.
Why would you pay to watchFTA tv and only ff ads? My JVC VCR can do that for free.
It failed in the U.K. and it will fail in Australia especially with a subscription fee.
If companies are smart they’ll advertise their PVS recorders in competition with Tivo as an add skipper and free from subscription.
I’m truly failing to see the point of TiVo if it caries a price tag like that, and one of its best features is removed (or limited).
Seven needs a reality check if they think this is going to work. The phrase I kept hearing a couple of months back was “limited fast-forward”. Hmm. Yet this dual-tuner digital PVR I have right here costs me zero in “subscription” fees, carries a full 7-day EPG which Seven and the rest refuse to deliver, and lets me skip ads at the touch of a button.
“IQ” is nothing special, and if the Australian Tivo is going to be as overpriced and crippled.. well, surely the networks have figured out by now that the savvy ones (those they maybe once called the “tastemakers”) will find another way…
Get a good PVR and you don’t need Tivo.
For $500+ it better do a lot more! FOXTEL is cheaper than that.
It will have ad fast-forwarding but not skipping.
The appeal is supposedly in its other features which Seven is crowing about, similar to IQ but with more options and compatibility with broadband.
Hang on.. what’s the point of TiVo if you can’t skip ads?