Seven Media has restructured their Hybrid Television Services Division which is responsible for the roll out of Tivo in Australia with the appointment of a new CEO. They are also set to roll out their PVR to additional retailers including Dick Smith as well as launch a 500GB attach drive for the Tivo player.
Available exclusively via Harvey Norman for the past 3 months Seven are now trying to move the player into new retail outlets however JB Hi Fi CEO Richard Uechtritz has told ChannelNews that no decision has been taken by his Company to stock TiVo.
“We are in discussions with them and they are keen however we have not yet made a decision as to whether we will stock. We still do not know the accurate numbers of what sold via Harvey Norman”. He said.
In other movers Seven Media insiders have told ChannelNews that the Company is set to roll out an accessory for the TiVo which will expand the storage capability of the device from 160GB to over 500GB.
“The storage device will be exclusive to the TiVo and will record HD Television. Consumers will not be able to attach the device to other computers or recorders. The TiVo software will automatically see the device and record to it when the storage built into the device is full”.
It is not known what price the attached storage device will sell for.
In a recent statement Robbee Minicola said that leading digital free-to-air television beyond analogue is a critical pathway for SMG and that she believes that she has the skill set to lead Seven into new markets.
Seven say that marketing and content strategy at a digital and consumer level will resonate through TiVo yielding significant penetration going forward.
In her prior role as Client Services & Research Director, Robbee worked closely with the executive to develop and drive new advertising models that maintain broadcast television as a premium mass media to market. This also includes advertising derivatives that complement core broadcast revenue which include sales strategy and modelling in a DVR environment (TiVo) as well as monetising multi-channel opportunities in digital. She also heads the research endeavours of the group which includes both primary and secondary research to support both programming and sales solutions to market.
Before her appointment as Client Services Director, Robbee was the Head of Interactive Television working in the Digital Division of the network.
Prior to Seven, Robbee was the Director of Marketing for m.Net Corporation an leading Australian mobile enabler. Before she joined mNet Corporation, she was the Managing Director of a Marketing and Communications firm.
