Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 7

What does everyone think of this?

NDS trying to work a deal with DirecTV

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 2130

This has been rumored since the day Rupert got control of DirecTV. Ruperts strategy is to put a DVR in every household. That DVR will not be Tivo. But that doesn't mean that Tivo will not remain an option for those willing to pay a premium price for a better product.

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1031

While the article has today's date, this is *really* old news. I don't think this will affect the TiVo/DTV relationship much, if at all. It is possible that NDS could make a low end DVR so that DirecTV could provide a free DVR to every subscriber, but I think they'll keep the TiVo for higher end users and as an upgrade enticement for folks not happy with the free DVR.

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Hurricane, WV
Posts: 809

quote:

---

"We are competing with TiVo," said NDS Chief Executive Abe Peled, who said that DirecTV may at some point offer its subscribers a choice of DVR service, perhaps based on price. "We think our technology is more operator-friendly."

---

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1031

quote:

---

Originally posted by herdfan
On what planet? I have seen the demo for the Skybox and while it leaves most cable PVR's in the dust, its not a TiVo.

---

No, no. They meant for the people operating the network and the business. Why would you think they would make it easy for the customer.

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 2130

quote:

---

Originally posted by herdfan
On what planet? I have seen the demo for the Skybox and while it leaves most cable PVR's in the dust, its not a TiVo.

---

POST #6 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 1700

A couple other threads on the same story:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-v...threadid=172153
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-v...threadid=172198

POST #7 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 342

Actually, on TiVo's earnings conference call back in 1Q, Mike Ramsey said they had the deal for the "low cost DVR" in the bag. I think his exact words were "it's a lock".

Given the major components are going to be the same in all D* DVR designs (a hard drive, a CPU, DirecTV tuner, etc.), TiVo could certainly make one cheap enough for D* to subsidize to the point of "zero cost to the consumer".

I'd guess the "free DVR" would have one tuner, and a 40GB drive. Probably runs TiVo Basic. Oh - you can upgrade to TiVo TiVo (so nice you have to say it twice ) for $4.99/month. Oh, you want two tuners, just buy the $99 model instead. etc. etc.

I don't see why people think D* would move away from TiVo, even at the low end. They have a proven revenue stream in the $4.99/month fee that no one complains about (ok, mostly...), and why wouldn't they want to enable that stream on the "free" box, too???

Oh, yeah, and customers with TiVo stick with DirecTV. Period.

Jeff

POST #8 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Hurricane, WV
Posts: 809

quote:

---

Originally posted by jautor
Oh, yeah, and customers with TiVo stick with DirecTV. Period.

---

POST #9 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 342

I will state as fact that if DirecTV were to actually drop TiVo, and someone else (cable, WiMAX, Dish, whomever) picks up a dual-tuner HD TiVo - I will take my money and run to them...

POST #10 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 96

The problem, jautor, is that if you wanted to get your new cable Tivo, you would have to live in an area served by the cable company that, preumably, signed the Tivo deal.

POST #11 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 306

quote:

---

Originally posted by jautor
I will state as fact that if DirecTV were to actually drop TiVo, and someone else (cable, WiMAX, Dish, whomever) picks up a dual-tuner HD TiVo - I will take my money and run to them...

---

If Tivo and VOOM were to hook up I would be running to them in no time. No need to even wait for DTV to drop Tivo.

POST #12 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Vegas, baby!
Posts: 46

Threads like this make me question the wisdom of buying an HD Tivo. I would hate to be left with a $1000 dollar 250GB hard drive after, say, a year or even two.

POST #13 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 306

quote:

---

Originally posted by michael saunders
Threads like this make me question the wisdom of buying an HD Tivo. I would hate to be left with a $1000 dollar 250GB hard drive after, say, a year or even two.

---

POST #14 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Hayward, Cal. USA
Posts: 177

There is a local store selling SD DirecTivos for $80, and a sign there said 'free for new customers'... how can the NDS box be 'cheaper' that that?

Also, isn't DirecTV in the process of moving away from access cards supplied by NDS?

__________________
"I think that's a big joke, all the piracy concerns." -Mark Cuban, content provider

POST #15 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2004
Location:
Posts: 50

quote:

---

Originally posted by herdfan
Good point! Why would D* want to send TiVo packing? If they cancel the agreement, TiVo would be forced to attempt to partner up with a cable company in order to survive. D* could then possibly lose customers back to cable so that people could have their TiVo.

---

__________________
-Griffon

POST #16 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 748

quote:

---

Originally posted by ChrisW6ATV
There is a local store selling SD DirecTivos for $80, and a sign there said 'free for new customers'... how can the NDS box be 'cheaper' that that?

Also, isn't DirecTV in the process of moving away from access cards supplied by NDS?

---

POST #17 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: grew up in Fairbanks AK, now live in Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 77

quote:

---

Originally posted by pkscout
I don't think this will affect the TiVo/DTV relationship much, if at all.

---

Thats what they said about UTV, and look what happened to it.

POST #18 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 7

Good to hear TiVo wont be going anywhere.

POST #19 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2004
Location:
Posts: 34

quote:

---

Originally posted by ChrisW6ATV
There is a local store selling SD DirecTivos for $80, and a sign there said 'free for new customers'... how can the NDS box be 'cheaper' that that?

---

POST #20 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged