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DirecTV & TiVo together again

by on09 September 2008

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Will release new satellite DVR in 2009

The impossible has finally happened, and the day that DirecTV satellite users never thought that they would see has arrived. DirecTV and TiVo have announced that they will be working together again and part of this renewed relationship will be the development of a new DirecTV satellite receiver with TiVo.

The news that DirecTV and TiVo are going to work together again was still somewhat unexpected. Even after TiVo did a series of upgrades for existing DirecTV receivers with TiVo, most subscribers held out little hope that a full thaw in relations would take place or result in the announcement of a new satellite receiver DVR powered by TiVo’s technology.

Little is really known about the process of how DirecTV and TiVo will go about getting the TiVo platform software on a new satellite receiver. Generally, it is thought by many experts that the use of the TiVo interface and technology will require a receiver that is more powerful than the current DirecTV DVR models that the company is now offering. This, of course, will lead to a longer development cycle which could explain why DirecTV is predicting the launch of the new DirecTV DVR featuring TiVo will not arrive until sometime in the second half of 2009, according to the published release.

It is suspected, however, that the new DirecTV DVR with TiVo will feature all of the latest Series 3 bells and whistles that TiVo has in its current product. It is suspected that TiVo will incorporate all of the DirecTV DVR special abilities into this next generation DirecTV DVR with TiVo. The release does make mention of the use of broadband access and this is an area where DirecTV is looking to expand into, so it is safe to assume that the new DirecTV DVR with TiVo will offer this ability, as well.

The news is good and has sparked a wide variety of discussion across the TiVo and satellite forums about the possibilities that a DirecTV DVR with TiVo could offer. The truth of the matter is that DirecTV and TiVo really do need each other and they have enjoyed much success together, and this announcement should help TiVo once again become the best known DVR technology.

Current DirecTV subscribers may complain about having to wait until the second half of 2009, but for most of them they were willing to wait as long as it took to get a DirecTV receiver with TiVo; or they were going to switch to cable and purchase the TiVo Series 3, which is the only compatible cable TV with the use of CableCard technology.

It is welcomed news, but it has to be tempered by a wait a see approach. DirecTV has had a long history over the years of delaying the release of products and in general of not making release dates. Those who want a DirecTV with TiVo will be hoping that the second half of 2009 comes sooner than expected and delivers the features that TiVo has been developing for the latest generation of receivers.

Last modified on 09 September 2008
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