From next Monday, you’ll be able to download breakfast and drive-time podcasts from the Nova and Vega networks nationally on your TiVo. Anyone else think this is a bit weird?Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of adding functionality to gadgets, and the more services a device like TiVo can offer the better. It’s just that, well, TiVo is a TV thing, and these podcasts are a radio thing, and the two don’t tend to play along too well. What’s your TV going to be doing while you’re listening to Merrick and Rosso, huh?
Then again, maybe I’m just old fashioned – kids today do the craziest things with their technology.
Full press release is below:
MEDIA RELEASE:
TiVo launches new podcast service with Nova & Vega radio
Inaugural event…radio on television brought to life with the new podcast service on TiVo
Sydney, Australia, 15th May, 2009 – Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Ltd, the exclusive licensee of TiVo® products in Australia and New Zealand, today announced that from Monday Hybrid TV will launch a new podcast service. The service goes live with breakfast and drive time podcasts from both Nova and Vega radio stations nationally, through a deal struck between Hybrid TV and dmg Radio Australia back in December 2008.
From Monday 18th May, all TiVo users in Australia will automatically receive the new service on their TiVo media device at no additional fee. This new service provides highlights of all seven Nova and Vega regional breakfast and drive time shows updated on a daily basis. Podcasts will stream “on demand”, which means they start playing immediately on the TiVo without any need to download the content. Broadband data usage for the service varies between 1 and 30MB, depending on the length of the podcast and the listening time. Customers who have an internet service with Hybrid TV’s unmetered partners. Internode or Primus (from 1 June), will be able to stream the podcasts without incurring any additional data charges with their ISP.
Robbee Minicola, CEO of Hybrid TV commented; “Radio is loved by Australians and until now the radio experience has been quite separate from the TV experience. This new podcast service is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how we want to bring radio into the home…both on the TV and more importantly played through TV sound system. dmg took a chance with us to experiment and deliver this service, that’s what this new world is all about – partnerships that let the consumer win. This new service is just another surprise for our customers when they turn on their TiVo…automatic, free and no worries about subscription.”
Cath O’Connor, CEO of dmg Radio Australia added; “The TiVo media device provides a new platform for dmg Radio as a content owner. Launching Nova and Vega podcasts through the TiVo is another exciting example of the broadening opportunities that we see to have our content reach beyond broadcasting to other platforms. Initiatives such as this allow us to capitalise on the growing interest in radio podcasts, which can now be offered from the central screen.”