There’s still quite a bit of confusion regarding TiVo’s new pricing, so here’s a brief summary…
Lifetime Service
New and existing TiVo units are eligible for Lifetime Service at $299 if activated by April 15. Lifetime Service will not be offered for sale after 4/15. Lifetime gift cards will be honored when redeemed as will Series 1 (purchased before 01/2000) Lifetime transfers.
Purchasing Option 1: Buy Hardware and Monthly Service Separately
Do what we’ve always done. Buy the hardware (Best Buy, Costco, etc) upfront and pay $12.95 (or $6.95) a month for service.
Purchasing Option 2: Buy Hardware and Prepay Service Separately
Buy the hardware (Best Buy, Costco, etc) upfront and prepay 1 ($155), 2 ($299), or 3 ($399) years of service.
Purchasing Option 3: Subscribe to Bundled Hardware and Service
Commit to 1 ($19.95/month), 2 ($18.95/mo), or 3 ($16.95/mo) years of service and an 80 hour TiVo is included. After the service commitment expires, you can call in and request your rate be adjusted to the prevailing monthly rate.
Purchasing Option 4: Prepay Bundled Hardware and Service
Prepay for 1 ($224), 2 ($369), or 3 ($469) years of service and an 80 hour TiVo is included. Another option is to prepay $405.39 for a DVD-burning TiVo model with 1 year of service. After the service commitment expires, you can call in and request your rate be adjusted to the prevailing monthly rate.
Caveats
First, these are the prices and rates today. I expect they will fluctuate over time as costs rise and TiVo tweaks this new model. Second, the current $150 rebate may or may not come back. Third, the multi-unit service discount has not gone away though eligibility varies. Fourth, subscribers must call in after their commitment expires in order to get the (presumably) lower monthly rate. Fifth, new service that isn’t prepaid or bundled is subject to a one-year commitment. Sixth, new Humax DVD-burning TiVo units can be activated with Lifetime Service indefinitely. Seventh, in all cases you own the TiVo unit.
Related Links
Summary of new pricing
Lifetime Service clarification
TiVo Package pricing
Thanks dave, nice summary.
How come Tivo hasn’t hired you yet?
I did an analyisys to show just how much the new plans will cost. Basically the only way one of the new plans won’t cost you an arm & a leg over the liftime of your TiVo (I estimated at 4 years) is if you get the 3 year pre-paid plan, this will cost you only $494 over a four year period, compared with $622 for the “service only” monthly price.
You can see the entire breakdown on my home page (http://robert.aitchison.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=177) (sorry the formatting sucks I should have taken the time to make a table)
What’s your source for your point on Humax lifetime service?
My source for all info is TiVo… Stephen Mack, Director of TiVo’s Service Operations, clarifies Lifetime Service in a link I provided at the bottom of the post.
So are they no longer selling the 40- and 140-hour TiVo boxes at all? I see these monthly and annual pricing schemes mention 80-hour boxes only.
I’m surprised they wouldn’t be offering a higher-capacity box with slightly higher monthly and annual rates, though perhaps the higher-capacity boxes never sold all that well under the previous pricing model.
What I have not heard is the pricing for the second Tivo you may buy. It was 6.95/mo (and still is for my second Tivo but that may change). If I buy a Tivo on ebay and want to add it to my home network just what will the cost be for the subscription? If I stop the subscription on my current second Tivo while I summer in Alaska, come back and reactivate the subscription will I face a one year commitment? Will I lose the 6.95/mo price?
Don: I haven’t seen a 140HR box for sale in quite some time. I do occasionally see 40HR boxes online and in stores. TiVo is currently selling 40HR refurbs.
Kurt: All new subscriptions have a one year commitment. If you already have one unit add a second from ebay (or even Best Buy) the mutli-unit discount still applies and the rate would be $6.95/mo.
Nice work Dave
TIVO IS A SCAM. NOTICE HOW YOU CAN’T CANCEL SERVICE ONLINE? I HAVE CALLED A FEW TIMES INTENDING TO CANCEL SERVICE FOR VARIOUS REASONS BUT EACH AGENT TRIES TO TALK ME OUT OF IT OR WON’T LET ME OUT OF IT. I NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT AND YET I’M TOLD I’M ON THE HOOK FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS. I LOYALLY WENT MONTH-TO-MONTH SINCE 2004! NOW I’M STUCK PAYING THE $12.95 A MONTH SERVICE FEE FOR AN OUTDATED TIVO BOX THAT IS DISCONNECTED BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW HDTV & DVR. IT’S THE PRINCIPAL OF THE MATTER. IS TIVO REALLY THIS DESPERATE?? WOW.