Through February 2nd, TiVo is offering Lifetime Service subscriptions to existing customers at a cost of $399. Mathematically, only you can decide if this is a good deal. Adding a lifetime of standard definition service (TiVo DT, Series2) doesn’t make sense to me, but it could be entirely reasonable on a TiVo HD or Series3. However given the speed of change, industry in-fighting, and looming SDV issues – I’m not biting.
Described as a “holiday” promotion, TiVo obviously intends to tweak TiVo HD sales and push multiple units into homes. However, the offering dovetails nicely with the imminent Comcast TiVo launch… And it’s been widely speculated that TiVo stands to make more money off stand-alone customers than Comcast TiVo subscribers.
For other promotional changes and streamlining of TiVo’s convoluted tiered pricing structure, check out TiVo Lovers.
I’m somewhat tempted by TIVO because of the CableCard support and some other things I’ve seen lately. Not ready to bite though as I have a pretty nice HTPC setup already.
Just curious, has there been any talk of TIVO’s being sold through Time Warner?
I have one Series 2 with Lifetime, another Series 2 with MSD of $6.95 (which I plan on dropping), and a new Series 3 with MSD of $6.95. Stuffing? I’m Staying!
In the 57 months that it would take $399 to make up the $6.95/month, I’m sure there will be a bigger and better TiVo to purchase.
Any idea what will happen if you already have pre-paid service? I just got an HD and did the 3 year prepay. Do they credit your balance or are you just hosed? Then again, in 3 years who knows what we’ll be using.
My S3 is already Lifetimed (which was a questionable move given my concerns and gadget cycling tendencies) and my TiVo HD is only $6.95/mo. Makes no sense for me to add Lifetime to the HD, and I don’t need a third unit.
Fred, you probably won’t know until you call in. Did you make the purchase with in the last 30 days? If so you have leverage (and can return it). If not, I’d actually wait for others to make the complaint calls first to soften them up before you get on the phone.
I just bought an HD and have the option to move my old lifetime service from an S2 to it. Is this a deal or should I just pay $6.95/mo? Will cable cards even be supported in 2010 when the lifetime “pays for itself” (28+ months later).
Tivo Lovers makes it sound like this is only for new boxes. I want lifetime but I bought my tivohd box 2 months ago.
Fred, are you considering asking to apply the balance of your prepaid service toward a lifetime? I doubt they’ll offer that openly, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you could sweet-talk them into it, since they like cash.
With the multi-service discount price going up from $6.95/month to $9.95/month next weekend for new activations, the math changes a bit. I think I’m about to get a TiVo HD, so I’d better do it now, and get in at $6.95. (I think PPP is right that at $400, lifetime takes too long to pay for itself.)
Mark, Something to keep in mind – I believe MSD is $6.95 only with a 3 year commitment OR when transferring MSD service from a unit already at that price point. Also, TiVo’s website has already been updated with the new $9.95/mo rate…
I figured it was worth a shot, but I am covered for almost 3 more years, is it worth at least $100 to extend that? I’m not sure. I’m on my 3rd Tivo in less than 3 years.
Whoo hoo!! Tivo HD coming to my household! I’ve had 2 series 2 lifetimes. Best deals of my life.
TiVo doesn’t seem to be offering a 3 yr pre-pay plan for the multiple service discount. Best you can do is $99 for a year ($8.25/month). And I guess there’s no gaurentee that will remain at that price, as they effectively raised the price.
Assuming that they don’t raise the MSD again (which we know is a bad assumption), the $400 lifetime pays for itself after 4 years.
But granted the $99/year MSD will increase by this time next year. So the $400 lifetime will pay for itself in less than 4 years. Probably even under 3?
I think these changes are going to hurt Tivo in the long run. I know the price increase both last year and this year have stopped me from getting one of the New HD tivos and have stoped people i know from getting tivos. Well that and the fact that cable card was dead before Tivo even released the series 3(Thanks to the Cable Companies).
I have been with Tivo for about 3 years and I love them and their features, but with recent pricing, Tivo OS update issues, and recent company decisions have started me to think tivo will soon need to completely remodel their business. I think that in the long run they will not be producing hardware at all, they will be a software only company.
I would love to stay around but I recently switched to a Dish and my anolog Tivos are no longer worth it with all the new HD channels I watch and want to record.
Airey001 (if that is your real name :-), what “Tivo OS update issues” do you mean? I haven’t had any problems with any of my updates. Minor menuing glitches, but all software has bugs. TiVo has been fairly robust in my experience, no software failures or forced reboots.
But prices as for going up, that’s just the way everything goes. I can’t begin to recall all the cable price increases and added equipment surchages (like when they started charging for remotes on top of the box charges). Although no one likes to see subscription prices go up, TiVo is certainly not immune from it.
But in the end, TiVo is a premium device/service, it’s not a generic household appliance you’d find in everyone’s home (although I’m sure TiVo Inc. would love it to be as common as a DVD player).
And as for cablecards being DOA, they are FCC mandated. As far as I know, that hasn’t been rescinded. Of course the the Cable Cos. hate ’em. But they’re in it to be monopolies and will drag their collective feet when forced to be more competitive. They always been that way. But Cable Cards are here to stay for the forseeable future.