Web Content Now Available to TiVo Subscribers

ALVISO, March 18: TiVo has
launched its expanded Season Pass service, first announced during CES in
January, that allows users to watch video content from the web directly on
their television sets.

Starting today, the TiVo
set-top box is able to download and save online video from a broad range of
sources including network nightly newscasts, vignettes and original content
from major networks such as MTV, Comedy Central and Discovery. The technology
is based on Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, allowing any videos with an
RSS feed, including independently produced media such as DiggNation and Ask A
Ninja, as well as other niche content and hobbyist videos, to make the journey
to the television set.

Once users have subscribed
to a feed using their PC with TiVo’s latest Desktop Plus 2.6 software, new web
videos will download automatically, and will appear in the user’s Now Playing
list alongside recorded TV shows. Additionally, TiVo will provide an on-screen
guide of select web-video sources for users to browse and select Season Pass
recordings. The technology will also allow users to get a Season Pass recording
of their own personal video folders on their PC, where they save their home
movies and downloaded content. According to the company, the quality of
high-resolution web videos will be preserved when delivered to TiVo Series3 or
TiVo HD DVRs.

The expanded functionality
requires TiVo Desktop Plus 2.6, an update to the Windows application that also
converts recorded TV shows for viewing on portable devices like the iPod. The
application is available to new users for $24.95, and as a free update to
owners of earlier versions. TiVo is working with Roxio to develop equivalent
functionality on the Mac platform.

The availability of the
web video capability comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that TiVo
subscribers will be able to access YouTube videos through their TiVo-enabled TV
sets. Upon launch of the TiVo-YouTube service, TiVo users will be able to
search, browse and watch the user-generated videos. Users will also be able to
log into their YouTube accounts directly from their TiVo boxes and access their
favorite YouTube channels and playlists.

"TiVo users will have
the best video from the web easily available on their television sets from
user-generated as well as brand-named sites," said Tara Maitra, the VP and
general manager of content services at TiVo.

"Through the addition
of new applications such as web video, we continue to build towards our goal of
making TiVo the one-stop shop for content, through one box and one integrated
user interface,” Maitra continued. “With our combination of premium content
available through Amazon Unbox, millions of songs via Rhapsody, and soon
YouTube videos, we feel like we're connecting consumers to entertainment in a
way no one else can."

—By Ned Berke