It’s become clear why TiVo no longer bills their Premiere DVR as the “One Box” given app stagnation and partner defections. And DISH Network’s Blockbuster up next:
We have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that, as of 3/31/12, the Blockbuster app will no longer be available on your TiVo DVR. We are updating our technology platform and will not be able to continue supporting your device. You won’t be able to watch movies from Blockbuster On Demand on your device, but you can still watch on any of our other devices or stream via PC or Mac.
The Blockbuster video on demand app remains available on various TiVo models, yet the registration page has been eradicated from blockbuster.com.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom as updated Netflix and YouTube apps are coming to the Premiere platform later this year. Additionally, TiVo looks to be opening up a new SDK – perhaps taking more of an Apple or Roku app store approach. Combined with Blockbuster’s departure, I’d hope this would be enough to encourage Amazon to refresh their archaic TiVo presence, which lacks Prime Instant Streaming… unless, that is, they’re dedicating resources to a Kindle set-top box.
UPDATE: I’ve corresponded with both DISH Network, who owns Blockbuster, and TiVo on the matter. Many instances of the Blockbuster On Demand application (TiVo, Vizio, Western Digital) are powered by Sonic… and Blockbuster’s relationship with them concludes at the end of March. Blockbuster is working on a “more scalable and reliable infrastructure” – with both TiVo and DISH hopeful of resuming their relationship later this year.