MusicChoice
While at CES, TiVo announced a partnership with Music Choice to provide music videos. I was informed that this will be a free service for TiVo customers powered primarily by TiVoCast technology.
One True Media
One of the broadband initiatives announced in November may launch as soon as February. In a partnership with One True Media, folks can upload home video (fees yet to be disclosed) to the OTM website. Once uploaded, video can be “published” to the web, to DVD, or to a TiVo. Recipients will enter a code via their TiVo interface to receive the video, which should show up within 15 minutes.
TiVo Web Page
As reported on a few other blogs, the TiVo website is undergoing a facelift. More than just a new color scheme and Web 2.0 look, the updated site includes an enhanced personalized area and new features such as listings of the weekly top shows. Sounds like somewhere down the road, info from TiVo units may make it onto the site… such as pointing out scheduling conflicts.
Broadband
Nearly 1/3 of stand-alone units are broadband connected, though TiVo’s research indicates more households have broadband than are currently connected. TiVo would like to get more folks on broadband and I figure that’s why we’ve seen periodic wireless adapter promotions.
Cablevision Mexico
The initial deal essentially has Cablelvision reselling Spanish-language Series2 units. There will be local dialups but, as with existing UK support, data centers are located in the US. CableVision will provide phone support, not TiVo.
Emmy
TiVo had their latest Emmy statuette sitting on the counter at the entrance to their booth. I enjoyed picking it up and suggested they alarm it since it would look real nice at my place.
Amidst all of the hype about the TiVo-Comcast box, was there any discussion of the TiVo-Cox deal?
Eric,
Yes – The Comcast software *is* the Cox software. Cox is just rolling out a bit later in 2007, so most of the focus is on Comcast right now.
It also sounds like the cable companies may request their own tweaks, so there could be minor differences. And even though Comcast boxes were prominent, most of the signage was generic calling it TiVo’s “cable” solution.
That Mexico deal is as underwhelming as possible. I don’t expect much of anything to come of it.
Is there any significant buzz about MusicChoice? Where does the Rhapsody integration reaction rate?
Don’t sell the Mexican deal short. TiVo has developed a Spanish language UI now, for the deal, which gives them a ready made solution for other countries. As well as potentially a multi-language UI, since there is a good deal of the US population that speaks Spanish. I talked to TiVo about that and it is a possibility.
Also, a foothold in another country is a good thing. This is the largest cable market in Mexico, Mexico City, with Mexico’s largest cable operator, serving 1.4 million homes. Even if it is only a mild success, that would still be a substantial boost to the total subscriber base for TiVo.
If it does well, it will certainly expand to other markets within Mexico. And it will probably expand to include the cable box TiVo software.
Expansion into other markets also spreads out TiVo’s risk, such that they’re not tied to the ups and downs of one market, the US. Expect to see TiVo make more moves outside of the US over time.
As for Rhapsody and MusicChoice, there was some buzz, but nothing huge. They’re basically just new content on the existing service – nothing revolutionary, but evolutionary. Rhapsody is like Live365, another music source. MusicChoice is another TiVoCast partner.
Definitely moves in the right direction, as MusicChoice is really the first major entertainment provider.
But the Mexico deal should have a much larger impact on TiVo’s bottom line. How many more boxes/subs are they going to sell due to Rhapsody and MusicChoice compared to how many customers they’ll get in a new market?
Forget the MExico deal. Cablevision has ten times as many subs in the wealthy NY Metro region with the same marketing deal and has done virtually zip.
No sale.