Foxtel is shunning the introduction of additional storage claiming that content providers such as Sony, Warner and Universal would not support a 1 Terrabyte drive because it would impact DVD sales. However, Hybrid Television has taken the opposite view and is set to launch a 1TB Western Digital expander drive for their TiVo digital recorder.
Currently the TiVo recorder only has a 160GB drive with several customers complaining to SmartHouse that the limitation on the drive is forcing them to either delete programs or simply not record a program because their drive is full.
We have also heard the same complaint from Foxtel customers.
Western Digital has confirmed to ChannelNews and SmartHouse that the drive will be launched in Australia soon at a price of around $499. It will also be available as part of a subscription package. Currently TiVo in the USA is selling a 1TB western Digital extender drive for $200.
Western Digital has said that the new drive which is based on an eSATA connection will be compatible with its TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD DVRs. It is capable of storing up to 140 hours of high-definition television programming.
“As the amount of HD TV programming continues to grow, TiVo customers have an even greater demand for storage capacity,” said Dale Pistilli, marketing VP for WD’s branded products group told TWICE Magazine in the USA. “WD’s My DVR Expander lets consumers spend more time enjoying a wider variety of recorded programs rather than figuring out which shows to delete when they run short on disk space.”
Andrew Morrison, platform product marketing director, TiVo said “In this universe of unlimited content, WD is helping save avid TiVo users from ever having to make the painful decision of choosing one show over another, something we know will be well-received in the TiVo community.”
