I’ve never been a fan of TiVo’s numerous pricing permutations. Why add complexity to what’s an already confusing purchase for many? If you need a FAQ, you have failed. Well, it looks like TiVo has discovered what most of us have suspected and will be simplifying their plans come May 19th.
Regardless of where or how you buy TiVo Premiere hardware, the new monthly fee will be $19.99 (with a required 1 year commitment). Also, the Lifetime service option will return as an option for new customers; albeit, at $499, its highest price point ever. I expect TiVo will also continue to offer multi-unit service discounts (MSD). In fact, rumor has it, monthly MSD pricing will jump from $9.95 to $14.95 (ouch) with the new Lifetime MSD option running $399.
Sadly, I expect the $12.95 monthly fee is gone for good. So when $19.99 contracts expire, renewals will continue at this rate. Add in CableCARD rental along with Additional Outlet (AO) fees in some markets and TiVo becomes a rather pricey proposition.
In addition to simplifying service tiers, TiVo DVR hardware itself is now more clearly and consistently priced. $99 for the Premiere, $299 for the larger capacity Premiere XL.
View Comments
Many thanks to skaggs of the TiVo Community for taking the best screengrabs on the net of the existing promotions that refer to the new pricing.
Also thanks to siromega and brennkobob for the Twitter tips!
I got an email from TiVo today informing me of the changes with only two days notice to upgrade to a Premiere with my current $10.75/month subscription intact.
Of course, I don't want the Premiere until they fix the SDUI 10 minute hang bug in the Premiere.
But still, two days notice? Good lord. A month's notice would be reasonable.
"I’ve never been a fan of TiVo’s numerous pricing permutations."
Choice is good. The new pricing plans makes me less likely to stay on the TiVo platform going forward. They want an extra $120/yr subscription fee from me on any new hardware I buy from them in perpetuity.
Bad TiVo. Bad TiVo.
I buy a box expecting to keep it 2 to 4 years. Under the new "simplified" pricing, I save $100 on the box, and lose $250 - $400 in the additional subscription pricing.
Staying on the TiVo platform going forward past my TiVo HD just got a lot more expensive. TiVo is making it even harder to keep loving them...
If anything TiVo needed to find a way to reduce or eliminate the monthly fee. There are so many boxes out there without a fee: Roku, Boxee, Apple TV and others. On any of these you can subscribe to Netflix for $8 a month with no commitment. I just don't think people get enough value for $20 a month.
When's 1.9 going to rolling out again on FIOS?