Way to shoot yourself in the foot Tivo !

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openmedia

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#256978 19-Sep-2009 10:38

Falconz: What gets me more is that unless your with telecom you dont get the epg guide so the tivo box is relletivly useless.

The EPG data will be available as long as you have broadband, it is the additional video on demand features that will only work with Telecom.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

boby55

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#256981 19-Sep-2009 10:48

Personally I think TiVO made a good move, They would be really shooting themselves in the foot if they went with a small isp e.g Xnet as the client base would be minimal compared to that of telecom (Who are still NZ's Largest ISP? correct me if I am wrong.)

burtz

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#257050 19-Sep-2009 16:30

Time will tell, how many telecom users will sign up for Tivo is the real question and gets back to the early adopters point that started this thread....

srj

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#257084 19-Sep-2009 19:42

I was waiting for Tivo. restricting to Telecom has lost me as a potential customer. Telecom/Tivo claim that there is no monthly subs/fees, but restricting me to telecom at a higher price than my current provider is effectively charging me more monthly. My current home phone/tolls & adsl2+ with orcon cant be matched by telecom. So if i switch to telecom just for Tivo, I am effectively paying more monthly just to get tivo!!

I will be looking at a "Magic TV" box due here in October.

I really do think telecom/tivo have stuffed this one up. and I agree with the early adopters point that started this thread.

sbiddle

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#257087 19-Sep-2009 20:02

srj: I was waiting for Tivo. restricting to Telecom has lost me as a potential customer. Telecom/Tivo claim that there is no monthly subs/fees, but restricting me to telecom at a higher price than my current provider is effectively charging me more monthly. My current home phone/tolls & adsl2+ with orcon cant be matched by telecom. So if i switch to telecom just for Tivo, I am effectively paying more monthly just to get tivo!!

I will be looking at a "Magic TV" box due here in October.

I really do think telecom/tivo have stuffed this one up. and I agree with the early adopters point that started this thread.

You do realise that a Telecom connection isn't required to actually use the Tivo? A Telecom connection is only required for the extra features such as movie downloads.

If you're happy with a Magic you don't get any of the interactive features anyway so end up with exactly the same functionality as a PVR and lose the media sharing and home networking capabilities the Tivo offers.

wiredr

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#257094 19-Sep-2009 20:34

sbidle said "[If you're happy with a Magic you don't get any of the interactive features anyway so end up with exactly the same functionality as a PVR and lose the media sharing and home networking capabilities the Tivo offers.]"

read the majic specs again
" quote
[Other connections:
USB 2.0 x2 for firmware upgrade and connecting external storage and camcorders
Ethernet 100-Base-T x1 for return path of Interactive TV services and RSS feeds ]
also it has
[ Interactive TV service support:
MHEG-5 Middleware ]

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sbiddle

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#257095 19-Sep-2009 20:38

I've played with a Magic and know exactly what they can do.

They are a Freeview approved device however so can't share media across a home network and allow copying of content like the Tivo can.

savag3

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#257117 19-Sep-2009 22:46

Anyone else find it ironic that a company that the taxpayer via TVNZ has a shareholding in (Hybrid TV) has done an exclusive deal with a majority foreign owned company (Telecom) instead of another Government owned company (Orcon)?

srj

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#257119 19-Sep-2009 22:48

one good reason for choosing the magictv is the 500gb drive as standard. i understand the tivo will have a 160gb drive (but i think you can spend even more money and buy addons?).

i admit there is more research to do. time will tell but it looks like the magictv has the upper hand at the moment though.

stonewall

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#257121 19-Sep-2009 23:02

Hi all
The way I read the Tivo web site, it doesn't say you have to be on Telecom.

Quote** Anyone can purchase a TiVo media device through Telecom, but they will not enjoy the whole TiVo experience such as broadband content and services (eg: movies and tv shows), unmetered to your TiVo, without Telecom Broadband.

It says you can't receive the content unmetered without Telecom.

I won't be changing to Telecom unless they drop their prices and become more competitive.

compost

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#257124 19-Sep-2009 23:40

burtz: Just read the announcement re downadable content only for telecom broadband customers. What a silly move ! The people most likely to adopt Tivo technology are the ones who shop around for the best deal with an ISP not the telecom drones.

Completely disagree. Tivo is THE "drone"-friendly PVR, the fit couldn't be better.

Why are you so interested anyway? As a self respecting geek, shouldn't you be spending all your evenings souping up your HTPC and browsing through questionable content sources?

bcourtney:

I think it's GREAT that they've partnered with Telecom in this way. Should Telecom broadband customers choose to get the product then they've got it good considering the data will be zero-rated. This is a great partnership, no arguments there.

The problem lies with the fact that it's an exclusive partnership. You can only use these extended services if you're with Telecom. From TiVo's point of view I wouldn't have thought that that's a good business decision - it's beyond brilliant for Telecom!!

TiVo is underperforming in AU and all its services are available to anyone with any ISP. Choosing to restrcit your potential customer base in this market just doesn't seem sensible considering we've got some great Freeview products out there already (AU don't have this).

We don't know how the deal was done. It could be that Telecom demanded exclusivity and TVNZ had to acquiesce because they couldn't afford to miss out on 60% of the broadband market.

As for the "great Freeview products out there", your typical "drone" won't be buying a PVR from a TradeMe dealer called imsohorny99. The only product they would be aware of is that crappy Zinwell at Dick Smith's

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insane

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#257128 20-Sep-2009 00:40

It probably comes down to where the data is being hosted and how its distributed. They have decided to host with telecom (did they get Gen-i's help in setting up in NZ?). I guess which is unfortunately as Telecom do not peer with other ISPs, except for their special deal with Telstraclear. For this reason its unlikely that other ISPs would zero-rate the content anyway as it would be costing them full price to get that data off Telecom.

If they hosted the downloadable content with say Citylink and made use of their 'Harmony' service such as TV3 or TVNZ have done for their on-demand service, then other ISPs would have been in with a shot as CityLink peer at the free peering exchanges around the country.

sbiddle

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#257140 20-Sep-2009 08:11

savag3: Anyone else find it ironic that a company that the taxpayer via TVNZ has a shareholding in (Hybrid TV) has done an exclusive deal with a majority foreign owned company (Telecom) instead of another Government owned company (Orcon)?

You do realise that Telecom NZ is *not* a majority foreign owned company and that foreign ownership beyond 49.9% of the company is prohibited by law?

Local ownership must exceed 51.1% of the total share registry.

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