How is this company still in business? I know it was all the rage in early 2000s as evidenced by every sitcom in that era having a "my TiVo thinks I'm gay" episode. But in last 10 years, does anyone know someone with one?
Tivo
- Thread starter DunkinTennisBalls
- Start date
They have about 6 million US and 4 million international customers. They are the only DVR-type product that you can own and take from one cable company to another if you were to move verses renting whatever your cable company produces. If you ever had a serious desire to "cut the cord" but still wanted a way to watch and record free over-the-air TV, they have the only product that can do that that I am aware of.
I think a big part of TiVo's business is licensing. I'm pretty sure they are the DVR provider for one or more satellite services.
They're not the behemoth they were 10-15 years ago but they've found a nice niche in the marketplace with a loyal following. As more people cut the cord, they stand to benefit. their products are much more slicker than a regular DVR. I'd say theyre "Apple" to a cable company's "Microsoft"
NickleDimer
Post 'Til Your Fingers Bleed
Is there a monthly subscription cost for Tivo or are you just buying hardware?
I'm paying something stupid like $32/month for multiroom DVR from Verizon Fios
I'm paying something stupid like $32/month for multiroom DVR from Verizon Fios
Yes. Much cheaper than that too. But good luck getting it work with your Verizon hook up. Major pain with cable cards.
NickleDimer
Post 'Til Your Fingers Bleed
Cable and my electric bill from excessive brightsiding eat up most of my social security check. I am 68 years old. It's a vicious cycle. Can't brightside without fox sports 1, can't watch fox sports 1 without brightsiding.
TiVo makes huge coin licensing their technology to pretty much everyone else. They have also been very successful litigating against anyone and everyone in the set top box and cable distribution fields.
Basically, they invented all of this stuff, got priced out because nobody needs their hardware anymore, and now just sit back and collect checks. Not a bad business model. Just goes to show that good patent protection goes a long way.
- http://variety.com/2013/digital/new...-settlement-with-cisco-and-google-1200493963/
- http://www.law360.com/articles/448305/motorola-cisco-twc-pay-490m-in-tivo-patent-settlement ($490M settlement from Motorola, Cisco, and TWC)
- http://pr.tivo.com/press-releases/t...call-to-discuss-500-milli-nasdaq-tivo-0750427 ($500M settlement from DISH and EchoStar)
- http://pr.tivo.com/press-releases/t...-of-patent-litigation-wit-nasdaq-tivo-0933653 ($250M settlement from Verizon)
- http://pr.tivo.com/press-releases/t...-of-patent-litigation-wit-nasdaq-tivo-0837115 ($215M settlement from AT&T)
Basically, they invented all of this stuff, got priced out because nobody needs their hardware anymore, and now just sit back and collect checks. Not a bad business model. Just goes to show that good patent protection goes a long way.
I've had Tivos for years. I recently bought their latest model - the Bolt. It is 4K capable. It also has the "skip" feature which lets you skip past all the commercials with the press of a single button. It is also evolving into a streaming device and has Netflix, Amazon video, You Tube, Hulu and several music apps like Pandora. Their plan is to continue to add content to their streaming service. TiVo also lets you record streaming content to watch later. When you search for programming, it not only checks your cable channels but also the streaming content.
Before the patent protection, you need a good patent lawyer - JoeMerc to save the day!
NickleDimer
Post 'Til Your Fingers Bleed
1) What's the up front cost?
2) What's the monthly fee?
3) What shows do you record?
4) How did yesterday go?
5) If Tivo pulled a volkswagen and told you that the Bolt was 4k capable, but it wasn't at all... would you notice?