TiVo Community Forums Archives - TiVo needs ITVDigital!

TiVoCommunity.com
(c)opyright 1995-2005 All rights reserved
indexcheckTC
This area is a static history of posts in the TiVo Community Forum Archive.
This archive history was made for the simple indexing of search sites like Google.

Pages:1

TiVo needs ITVDigital!
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: TheBear

Just had an alarming thought!

To a great extent the future of TiVo in the UK depends upon the success (Or otherwise) of ITVDigital.

Let me explain further.

Sky and TiVo are going head-to-head in the PVR market and the only real Unique Selling Point (USP) that TiVo has over it's competitor is that it records terrestrial telly.

(I know the Sky+ doesn't do all a TiVo can but it's early days and Sky *will* introduce more features as the product develops.)

If Sky win the Digital war, and it’s looking increasingly likely that they will, then ITVDigital could disappear and with it TiVo’s only USP!!

I understand the fact that if ITVDigital fold then there would still be some terrestrial digital channels but the point is that there won’t be anywhere near as many…and who will need/want a PVR for such a limited choice of channels??

I’d say to anyone planning to go digital to buy ITVDigital!

Posted by: topbanana

Simple facts are that less than 10% of the population have Sky systems - others being discouraged by lack of interest in the channels on offer, cost, Skys reputation, or simply being able to host a satellite dish.

If the government wishes to stick to thier plans for decomissioning analogue signals by the end of the decade (and they will, decomissioning will allow them to sell on bandwidth freed up for a ludicrous amount cash), an alternative must be offered to the nonskys. This will take the form of digital terrestial TV - even if it means setting it up under a tax-payer sponsored scheme as BBC was the first time around.

Ergo, if anything the Sky+ offering will suffer more in the long term that TiVo, being tied as it is to a single broadcast techology, IMHO.

------------------
Top Banana

Posted by: kitschcamp

quote:
Originally posted by topbanana:
Simple facts are that less than 10% of the population have Sky systems

Nope, you are confusing population and homes. Around 20% of homes have Sky systems. Most homes have more than one member of the population in it. Very few homes have more than one Sky system.

Posted by: Matthew Finlayson

The success of Cable TV is probably relevant as well, since Sky+ won't work with that.

Posted by: Maclynn

As ITV is going to be on satellite soon I cant see it making much difference.
Mike.

Posted by: TheBear

quote:
Originally posted by Matthew Finlayson:
The success of Cable TV is probably relevant as well, since Sky+ won't work with that.

Aren't NTL also developing a Combined STB/PVR of their own?

[This message has been edited by TheBear (edited 07-12-2001).]

Posted by: TheBear

quote:
Originally posted by Maclynn:
As ITV is going to be on satellite soon I cant see it making much difference.
Mike.

But my point is that if the "ITVDigital boquet" flops (as seems increasingly likely) the vast majority will adopt Sky or possibly cable, both with their dedicated PVR's, rather that get stuck with the BBC's mediocre DTT offering.

If this happens who will buy a TiVo?

TiVo needs ITVDigital to survive!

[This message has been edited by TheBear (edited 07-12-2001).]

Posted by: Maclynn

The government are going to make a fortune by selling off the old analogue frequencies. To do this they will ensure that DTT survives in one form or another.
Mike.

Posted by: kmusgrave

quote:
Originally posted by TheBear:

TiVo needs ITVDigital to survive!

Tivo works fine with a Sky digibox, Thank you (well until the last software downgrade, anyway)

Kevin

Posted by: TheBear

quote:
Originally posted by kmusgrave:
Tivo works fine with a Sky digibox, Thank you (well until the last software downgrade, anyway)

I know that but as soon as Sky+ is released you can be sure Sky subscribers will stop buying TiVo's! Let's face it an integrated STB/PVR is a much more attractive proposition for many.

The same will happen when NTL release their integrated STB/PVR.

That leaves only the terrestial TV market open to TiVo.

Posted by: Richardr

Don't forget firstly that there are currently 5 million stand alone sky digital receivers in the UK, all of which will work with TIVO.

Secondly, as in any market, the TIVO will have functionality that the SKY+ box won't have (and vice versa). Consumers will then make up their mind on the basis of that. Very few consumer markets see a monopoly of supply. People argue and discuss endlessly whether Sony is better than Panasonic, Phillips, Hitachi, and many more.

Don't forget too, whoever started this thread, that ITV Digital are working with Nokia on the Nokia Media Terminal, which will be a DTT PVR.