EXCLUSIVE: Seven Media owned Hybrid Television Services are currently in discussions with TiVo in the USA with a view to launching in Australia a TV tuner for PC’s Media Centres and notebooks that run the TiVo software.
The move if implemented could result in millions of Australian having access to the TiVo EPG software. It would also result in Seven Media launching a 12 month subscription service for users who buy the TiVo PC offering.
TiVo a US Company who licence TiVo to Seven Media recently entered an agreement with Nero who is marketing a unique TiVo PC package called LiquidTV.
The TiVo, Nero offering is combination of software and hardware products that allows consumers to access the entire TiVo experience via a Windows PC or Media Centre. It also includes video-exporting features for a home theatre setup.
A two-part product the TiVo software runs on a WinTV-HVR-950Q TV tuner card from Hauppauge. This package sells for $199 and includes a one-year TiVo subscription. Consumers can also purchase the TiVo software by itself for $99 however users do need a compatible TV tuner card. In the PC package Nero provides a branded TiVo remote, IR transceiver, portable digital TV antenna, and an RCA input cable for the card.
The deal if rolled out in Australia could result in PC manufacturers and white box PC builders bundling the TiVo software onto PC’s it would also be available via mass market retailers and specialist PC stores as a standalone product.
David Ackery the General Manager of Electrical at Australia’s largest CE retailer Harvey Norman said “TiVo with a TV tuner card makes a lot of sense. It would sell while allowing Seven to concentrate on content and marketing”.
Another option being considered by HTS management is to handover sales of the current TiVo unit to a consumer electronics distributor who would also take over responsibility for support. “This would free up Seven Media management from day to day sales operations of the TiVo set top boxes and allow them to concentrate on developing content that differentiates them from competitors who are also cutting content deals with free to air TV media Companies”.
Robbee Minicola the CEO of Hybrid Television Services said “We are currently looking at several growth options for TiVo in 2009. We are in discussions with TiVo in the USA about TiVo on a TV tuner card. We like the idea however we need to explore the implications in Australia. It would definitely open up bigger markets for TiVo across notebooks, Media Centres and PC’s” she said.
When it was suggested that Seven Media should leave sales of the TiVo unit to distributors with Seven Media concentrating on marketing and content Minicola said “This makes a lot of sense and it is one of the options we are looking at going forward”.
