Seven ‘Boning’ TiVo Before It Even Gets A Launch
Could it be true? The SMH is reporting today that Channel Seven is considering ditching TiVo before it’s even launched to instead get behind a “Freeview” PVR with all the other networks. The joint venture is an attempt by the free-to-air networks to take the fight to Foxtel.
The Freeview PVR will be based on the successful Freeview unit available in the UK, and would be released early next year. It would give users access to all the free-to-air digital stations, which would number at about 15 once the networks launch their second SD channels next year.
Seven’s TiVo unit is expected to incur a one-off cost of about $300-$400 for the box, plus a monthly subscription fee. There’s no word on pricing on the planned Freeview model being pushed by Nine and 10, but hopefully it would do away with the monthly subscription fee.
Apparently Seven has refused to comment on their plans. I actually hope both go ahead – competition is great for our entertainment industry, which has been held back for too long because of petty squibbles.
But what do you think? Should Seven ditch TiVo in favour of a new Freeview PVR? Or should both be given a go to take on Foxtel?
[SMH]
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Comments
Monthly subscriptions to Free To Air TV? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Either way, I won’t be partaking – the amount of absolute garbage that somehow passes for entertainment on TV today means that pretty much the only thing I watch ‘live’ is the News (and even that’s on rare occasions)
Ditch Tivo! Let’s have a single solution that all free to air providers are behind…bring on Freeview!
What is it with channel 7 being such a technologically backward pain in the ass ?
First they won’t play nice with Foxtel, and now Tivo.
I’m still waiting to receive 7 on my satellite Foxtel.
>:(
I was a TiVo early adopter in the US. Series one, added a second 30g hard drive, etc, etc.
I have an IQ box now.
I weep.
But the time is coming when I will have to choose whether to keep IQ, get IQ2, or go with some alternative. TiVo is my hope and my dream.
I know nothing about Freeview, but I will say this: It can’t be worse than IQ.
I think Seven is stupid to ‘back’ any one standard/method. Competing with Foxtel is stupid, because it’s pointless. What does Seven hope to gain from it? Shouldn’t they be going any route they can that makes their channel available to people? Why does Seven prefer other things to Foxtel, to the point of snubbing Foxtel customers?
All I can say to Channel Seven is “Get your head out of the sand and your ass out of the water and get on with delivering us TiVo…”
Tivo Please!