Series 3 to be released September 17th, for $799?

[dkennedy]

Series 3 to be released September 17th, for $799?

August 27, 2006

By Ben Drawbaugh, HD Beat Magazine

According to a tipster Todd who works for Best Buy, the TiVo Series 3 might be out of beta soon and is now showing up in their system.

According to the computer It is scheduled to be in stock on September 17th with a Best Buy SKU of 7974418 (UPC of 400079744186 and Model TCD648250B).

The price is listed at $799, but the street date field is blank.

We're hoping that means we have less than 30 days to get our hands on the hottest HDTV DVR yet.

We're not surprised at the price, but we are a little disappointed. This truly will be a high end product.

[dkennedy]

TiVo Unveils $799 HD DVR

September 12, 2006

By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com

But the high-def recorder might be too pricey for most consumers.

TiVo today will introduce a new High-Definition TV recorder for $799.

The HD DVR, the company's first 'standalone' high-def recorder, should be available at retail within the next week. (TiVo and DIRECTV have teamed for a high-def recorder for a few years, but the set-top can not be used to record cable TV.)

TiVo HD DVR owners will have to pay a monthly subscription fee in addition to the $799. The fee will likely be approximately $10 a month.

The Associated Press reports that the TiVo Series3 "HD Digital Media Recorder" has a 250-gigabyte hard drive, which can store up to 32 hours of HD programming or up to 300 hours of standard definition programming.

The machine also has two tuners, which will permit users to record two HD shows at the same time while watching a third program.

"This is a whole new platform for us," Jim Denney, TiVo's vice president of product marketing, told AP. "Our objective was to build a best-in-class DVR. It's reflected in the price and also in the make of the product."

The 'Series3' HD DVR will be compatible with all major cable TV providers, according to TiVo's web site. However, users will need to get a CableCard from their local cable company.

The CableCard is a small card that slides into the back of the TiVo receiver, enabling the set-top to receive the cable signals. Two CableCards will be required if you want to record two shows at the same time.

The FCC requires cable TV operators to provide CableCards upon request, but some charge a small fee.

[dkennedy]

TiVo unveils its first high-definition DVR

September 12, 2006

By May Wong, The Associated Press

Playing a bit of catch-up to rival offerings, TiVo will unveil Tuesday a new high-end digital video recorder that will be the company's first to support high-definition programming.

The long-awaited product will be $800 and available in mid-September, the company said. Subscription fees for the TiVo service are separate.

The TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder has a 250-gigabyte hard drive — enough to store about 32 hours of high-definition programming or up to 300 hours of standard programming. It also sports two tuners, which will allow subscribers to record two different shows in HD at the same time while watching a third pre-recorded show.

High-definition television, which offers super-sharp images, is growing in popularity, and other rival DVRs by cable operators and satellite TV providers that have dual tuners and high-definition support are on the market already, some dating as far back as two years ago.

TiVo, which pioneered digital video recording technology, first announced in 2005 they were working on an HD model with dual tuners and showed off a working prototype last January.

Its competition has only grown since then, with cable operators offering standard DVRs or high-definition models, many charging about $10 a month for the DVR service but leasing the DVR itself for free to customers. Satellite TV provider EchoStar Communication Corp.'s dual-tuner high-definition DVR costs $499 and comes with additional monthly service fees.

So-called media center computers that include digital video recording features and support high-definition recording could also be purchased for as low as $500.

TiVo officials attributed its long development time in part to waiting for certain technologies to mature and the lengthy process of getting industry-related approvals, such as for the set-top-box's two built-in CableCARD slots. CableCARD slots allow users to access digital programming from a cable TV provider without the need for a separate receiver.

The Series3 HD box also represents TiVo's first major product upgrade since it released its networked Series2 DVR in 2002.

"This is a whole new platform for us," said Jim Denney, TiVo's vice president of product marketing. "Our objective was to build a best-in-class DVR. It's reflected in the price and also in the make of the product."

TiVo said the Series3 is the first-ever DVR to be "THX certified" by THX Ltd., forcing the product to adopt high-quality audio and video components and output levels.

The Series3 is also designed to support upcoming TiVo features, including more advanced video downloads and other Internet-delivered content.

Alviso, Calif.-based TiVo, which reported in August it had 4.4 million subscribers, still reaps high marks from analysts and loyal fans for its user-friendly design and features. But lower-cost options from rival DVR providers have only deepened TiVo's challenge to become profitable.

The premium Series3 product could add a much-needed boost to TiVo sales.

TiVo reported Aug. 30 that it lost $6.45 million on revenue of $59.2 million in the quarter ending July 31. And in the current quarter, TiVo said it expects to lose $12 million to $17 million on revenue of $54 million to $56 million as the company increases marketing expenses to entice new customers.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month, TiVo said it planned to sell more than 8 million of its shares to raise about $65 million. The company has pegged accumulated losses of about $704.8 million as of April 30, TiVo stated.