For a cost of around $700, consumers will be able to buy the TiVo unit, which is capable of storing hours of television onto a non-removable hard drive. Seven's top brass are not too worried about the cost of the unit, which is on the high side, because they are confident it is a better product than similar recorders.

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Initially Seven were going to charge users a monthly fee to use the technology, but have now abandoned that idea and it seems they will be paying TiVo a royalty on the number of units purchased.

Harvey Norman's exclusive will only last three months before other retailers will be given access.