Is DirecTV Sabotaging TiVo?

sabotage

On a few separate occasions over the last couple weeks, I’ve received both inquiries and accusations suggesting that DirecTV is  out to get TiVo… given their underwhelming new DirecTV TiVo DVR. From our writeup last month:

It’s everything we expected, but nothing we hoped for. The unit features TiVo’s original standard definition user interface, now branded as their “Classic” UI, running on outdated DirecTV hardware. So it’s neither the best TiVo experience, nor is it the best DirecTV DVR.

Christopher Price of PhoneNews cornered TiVo at CES and pitched us with the provocative theory that “DTV is sabotaging TiVo by making their boxes inferior to DTV.” From his write-up lamenting DirecTV’s lack of TiVoToGo:

Representatives for TiVo blamed DirecTV squarely for not offering the technology on their units. TiVo even went as far as to say that they had offered DirecTV a solution that would ensure copy protection requirements for DirecTV, but that the service provider still mandated that TiVo remove TiVoToGo from the new generation of DirecTV-enabled TiVo HD units.

While many agree that this new DirecTV TiVo DVR isn’t very compelling, I find Chris’ theory of sabotage highly unlikely – verging on the preposterous. First, DirecTV and TiVo are not competitors. Second, DirecTV will take a bath if the deal doesn’t work out as they bankrolled development of this product and “has obligations to nationally market [TiVo], and those obligations are substantial.”  

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Apple and Google Have Traffic on the Brain

Local newscasters have always known that it’s traffic and weather that keep people coming back for more, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see heavyweights Apple and Google putting more muscle behind their real-time traffic technology. First up, Patently Apple reported late last week that Apple has filed a patent application that looks to be … Read more

TiVo, EchoStar, DISH Network Make Nice Nice (To The Tune Of $500 Million)

tivo-slays-dish

After decades of DVR patent litigation, the court’s most recent decision has forced EchoStar (SATS) and DISH Network into a $500 million settlement with TiVo. Above and beyond the court-sanctioned penalty of $100+ million paid in 2008.

As the story goes, TiVo approached DISH way back when to partner and dropped off an early DVR for evaluation. Well, a deal didn’t get done and that DVR was never seen (by TiVo) again. Yet the underlying tech was reverse engineered, finding its way into EchoStar’s own DVR offerings. And, thus, TiVo filed suit. It’s been a long and winding road. Including a sleep-inducing visit to the US Courts of Appeals by yours truly. While most other corporate entities would probably have settled sooner at a smaller cost, DISH/Echo CEO Charlie’s Ergen’s strategy appears to have been dragging litigation out as long as possible until they either caught a lucky break or TiVo ceases to exist. Heck, TiVo challenged the courts to do the right thing and wrap this up in a timely fashion. It didn’t happen, DISH/Echo were found in contempt (again), and here we are. $500 million isn’t the $1 billion (!) TiVo was posturing for. However, for a company that has very rarely found profitability by actually selling its own product, this is a huge windfall and the respective parties can finally put it to bed. Assuming the courts let them.

Some details of the settlement from a joint announcement:

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TiVo’s Priorities in 2011

TiVo held their quarterly call yesterday. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in the way of technological specifics suited for a gadget blog such as ours. From where we’re sitting, it seems TiVo’s current focus is expanding their DVR business through MSO partnerships (Virgin, DirecTV, RCN, etc) and continued patent litigation. Interestingly, their R&D and legal budgets … Read more

Motorola Sues TiVo (On Behalf Of Verizon)

After TiVo’s successful, though lengthy and ongoing, DVR patent infringement case against DISH Network & EchoStar, the company set its litigation sights on AT&T (U-Verse) and Verizon (FiOS TV). As AT&T neither manufactures their DVR hardware (Motorola, Microsoft) nor their timeshifting software experience (Microsoft), Microsoft has struck back at TiVo twice (here and here) on their … Read more

Microsoft Sues TiVo (Again)

Generally speaking, patent litigation bores us. However, we offer up this (abbreviated) story in the name of completeness. Given TiVo’s success in extracting $100 million from Echostar/DISH, they set their patent infringement sights on AT&T and Verizon. As AT&T U-Verse television service is powered by Microsoft’s Mediaroom, MS joined the fray and sued TiVo. Apparently, Softie’s initial … Read more

TiVo Challenges The Courts To Do The Right Thing

As I don’t typically track investor relations outreach, I’m not quite sure if this is unprecedented or not. But it does seem noteworthy… TiVo has launched a website summarizing their ongoing patent dispute with EchoStar/DISH Network. And, beyond itemizing their progressive court victories to investors, it appears TiVo’s challenging the judicial system to do the right thing … Read more

Catching Up With TiVo v DISH

We’ve been covering TiVo’s patent dispute with DISH/EchoStar for, literally, years. Heck, I even trekked down to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2007 to catch some argument/testimony. However, I’ve grown bored of the topic. And, as neither an investor in TiVo nor DISH/Echo, I’ve got no skin in the game. … Read more