I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. Which are one in the same. It’s a matter of perspective, I suppose.
As we twiddle our thumbs in anticipation of TiVo Bolt, the DVR pioneer’s next streaming app has presented itself. Nope, it’s not HBO, Showtime, nor ESPN. It’s WWE. Although I’m not overly excited, there are clearly a couple of you who will be once the app hits within the next few weeks.
More info on TiVo’s professional wrestling streaming will be available from http://WWE.com/tivo when the time comes, although it looks to be the WWE’s typical $10/mo commitment-free package – including tent pole live events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam.
In any event, as TiVo’s over-the-top (OTT) app collection grows, we need an improved presentation to more efficiently get to the good stuff beyond a long scrolling list — either a quickly navigated grid OR the foreshadowed voice control.
While not a wrestling fan, I see this as a good thing. As more and more content moves to streaming, Tivo has now shown a willingness to add specialty content, next will be the Paula Deen Network. LOL!
I hope adding HBO and ESPN are being saved for the Bolt rollout.
John
Yawn
Awesome! This is a huge part of TiVo becoming a one box for me. Now they need HBO and twitch.
I guess I can finally stop putting this in my TiVo Advisor survey responses!
WWE Bodyslams Its Way Onto TiVo.
Well, I take this to mean that TiVo is open to adding just about any OTT app it can get, even those with niche appeal. That’s a good thing. Meanwhile, Showtime is supposed to announce additional platforms for its new OTT service next week ahead of the season premieres of Homeland and The Affair. I’m sure one of those will be Fire TV. Maybe, just maybe, TiVo will be another.
Here in the Phoenix area we just received Cox On Demand on our TiVos. I am impressed with the implementation. Much nicer then my old SA 8300.
Very excited about getting the WWE Network app on my tivos. Not that it is hard to hook up my computer to my TV every month for the PPVs, but now I will probably watch other content on the WWE Network, and will not cancel WWE like I usually consider each month. Step in the right direction for Tivo. Bring more apps!
I’m an annual subscriber to the WWE Network and excited to see it on my “input 1”. It also puts more eyes on TiVo when people go to see compatible devices for the service.
“Well, I take this to mean that TiVo is open to adding just about any OTT app it can get, even those with niche appeal. That’s a good thing.”
Yup.
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Dave writes:
“I wanted HBO GO. I got WWE.”
Tim writes:
“Meanwhile, Showtime is supposed to announce additional platforms for its new OTT service next week … I’m sure one of those will be Fire TV. Maybe, just maybe, TiVo will be another.”
I’m happy to wear myself out on this point, as it seems generally misunderstood, and I personally find it fascinating.
MSO-authenticated services like HBO and Showtime are utterly at the mercy of MSO’s, who don’t really want to help TiVo.
But HBO and Showtime now have standalone services that MSO’s have zero say over porting to TiVo. But, but HBO and Showtime both still have serious MSO relationships.
So there is a dance going on. HBO and Showtime have leverage over the MSO’s to allow them to bring their authenticated services to TiVo by threatening standalone versions. But 1) HBO and Showtime want to maintain friendly relationships with the MSO’s and 2) HBO and Showtime probably only see value in porting to TiVo if they can bring both both authenticated and standalone services along together.
So, again, there’s a dance going on. Both sides have varying leverage. Interesting to see how it plays out. Personally, as a happy TiVo owner, I’d obviously love to see HBO and Showtime to press the issue. I think they’d win, and I think it’d be to their benefit.
Yep, agree with pretty much all those points, Chucky. I’d only add that CBS (which owns Showtime) seems a bit less concerned with playing nice with the MSOs than does Time Warner (which owns HBO). As Les Moonves has pointed out, CBS is basically in the broadcast and premium a la carte businesses, with nothing really in between. TW, on the other hand, has basic cable nets like TBS, TNT, etc. Les has been quite aggressive with the MSOs and did not back down against Time Warner Cable last year, pulling CBS and Showtime from them until they got the retransmission fees they were demanding. He’s also said he’s a fan of skinny bundles because he knows CBS must be included. So while they may or may not put the new Showtime OTT service on TiVo, I don’t think they’ll refrain for fear of pissing off the MSOs.
I really really want the nba game time app on my tivo pro! I ask for it every survey to no avail.
“I’d only add that CBS … seems a bit less concerned with playing nice with the MSOs than does Time Warner … Les has been quite aggressive with the MSOs…”
Interesting point, Tim.
Tangentially, the NYRB has a piece up reviewing a new Michael Wolff book that claims Les as the hero of the industry. Now, Wolff is more often wrong than right, IMHO, but he’s not always wrong. Interesting in any case.
Also, the review makes your same point about Les driving a hard bargain with MSO’s.
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And Dave, that NYRB piece also features a review of a book by some unknown guy named “Alan Wolk”. (Probably a pseudonym.) But the piece may well be worth a link post on your fine blog.
(And if you do so, and don’t give me a h/t, Chucky World Industries’ prodigious legal team will swing into action.)
I dcon’t see the WWE app on my Tivo’s
From the post above: “the app hits within the next few weeks”
But, of course, with all things TiVo (and development projects in general) that’s subject to change. Definitely coming, tho.
Sounds like there could have been a delay due to some technical issues…