TiVo’s previously provided their advertisers and partners the ability to sell products to us DVR subscribers, but come this fall instead of mailing an invoice, linking an Amazon account, or sending the Dominos guy, they’ll now be able to complete transactions via PayPal:
TiVo Inc. and PayPal announced they have teamed up to provide TiVo users with the ability to purchase products featured in interactive advertisements on the TiVo user interface through PayPal, the faster, safer way to pay. This integration creates a new opportunity for advertisers and brands to connect with TiVo users and to turn their 30-second spots and interactive TiVo ad placements into actionable purchasing opportunities through a one-time account link.
Just because you build it, doesn’t mean they’ll come. While The Next Web touts this as “frictionless” TV shopping via remote, I’d say PayPal is anything but. More pointedly, I’m not convinced there’s a significant audience that will purchase products or services in this manner… and don’t imagine TiVo’s prior partner campaigns of this nature fared well. But, hey, maybe I’m wrong. And advertising will become so successful that they’ll follow in Amazon’s Kindle footsteps by offering a TiVo Premiere With Special Offers that does away with recurring service fees. It’s worth a shot!