TiVo will make its digital video recorder service available to subscribers of Cox Communications, the fourth-largest cable television company in the United States. It further strengthens the position of the pioneering digital video recorder company in establishing partnerships with other service providers.
The deal follows a patent dispute with EchoStar in which TiVo recently won an injunction against the satellite broadcaster, although this was stayed pending appeal.
TiVo previously partnered with rival satellite broadcaster DIRECTV, which is moving to its own digital video recorder offering.
Comcast, the largest cable provider in the United States, has already reached an agreement with TiVo to carry its service, but it is not yet available to their subscribers.
Tivo will customize its software for deployment on compatible Cox digital video recorder set-top boxes. The software will be downloaded to existing boxes for customers who choose to add TiVo to their Cox subscription. The service is expected to be available in selected Cox markets in the first half of 2007.
“We are excited to add TiVo to the portfolio of Cox entertainment services,” said Steve Necessary, vice president of video product development at Cox Communications. “Our new joint service will allow us to build on the popularity of the TiVo brand while continuing to provide our customers with the simplicity of our products and the award winning customer service they have come to expect.”
Tom Rogers, chief executive of TiVo said: “We are excited to expand our presence in the cable industry by partnering with Cox, a clear leader in driving consumer adoption of the DVR. By combining Cox’s marketing prowess and top-quality customer service with TiVo’s superior technology and product offerings, we have unleashed a highly scalable way of delivering the best television viewing experience to its customers.”
The agreement also allows Cox to use the TiVo interactive advertising platform, extending TiVo’s national advertising footprint.
TiVo established the category of the consumer digital video recorder and has become synonymous with the concept, but continues to face considerable challenges from similar devices. Partnerships with other service providers are an essential element of its survival strategy.
Meanwhile, the company is preparing to release a new retail high-definition digital video recorder, the Series 3, which will be compatible with all major cable television providers in the United States.
Users will need to get a CableCard from their cable company, or two if they wish to record two channels at once.