Stuff Story:TiVo to make move for the mainstream

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andrewcnz

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#76240 31-Jan-2011 07:33

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4598567/TiVo-to-make-move-for-the-mainstream

"Mainstream consumer electronics stores are expected to start stocking TiVos soon as trans-Tasman franchisee Hybrid Television Services revises its New Zealand sales strategy."

"Hybrid might make a "public statement" if Sky and Maori Television continued to withhold permission for it to include details of their free-to-air programmes on TiVo's electronic programme guide, preventing customers from automatically recording programmes on Prime and Maori TV. Ms Minicola said the EPG issue was "something we are going to have to address this year"."

sbiddle

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#433033 31-Jan-2011 08:37

It's interesting to see the mainstream media also point out the obvious when it comes to the EPG issue - that if Tivo became the first provider to openly use Prime and Maori EPG data without permission claiming that it's fair usage then TVNZ would not be able to claim copyright on their EPG data either.

old3eyes

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#433036 31-Jan-2011 08:44

Maori TV being tax payer funded should be forced to give the EPG to anyone who wants it..
Will be interesting to see what the bigbox sellers sell the TiVo for but it's a move that's needed if TiVo is to survive in NZ along with some more up today content..

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#433037 31-Jan-2011 08:49

sbiddle: It's interesting to see the mainstream media also point out the obvious when it comes to the EPG issue - that if Tivo became the first provider to openly use Prime and Maori EPG data without permission claiming that it's fair usage then TVNZ would not be able to claim copyright on their EPG data either.

+1 yeah, Tivo should be able to leverage off the Australian rulings that there is no copyright on these publications which should free up the whole non subscription XML EPG scene as well.

It would be good for Tivo to spend a few 10s of 1000s (which is lunch money for a reasonably sized corporate) to settle the whole copyright issue.

At the moment broadcasters can simply bully users with lawyers letters, with reasonably belief that no one will be prepared to take it to court.

andrewcnz

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#433039 31-Jan-2011 08:57

I tried NZ on air re Maori TV and got this...

Many thanks for your email. While NZ On Air is a relatively small funder of programming for Māori Television I note with interest your advice that programmes for this channel are not included on the Tivo EPG.

I am unaware of the reasons for this and have copied this email to Ms Sonya Haggie at Māori Television. She should be able to advise the reasons for this and also when the situation is likely to change.

And got this from Maori TV...

For commercial reasons Maori Television has not provided TIVO access to its EPG data. We will continue to monitor the development and uptake of TIVO. In the interim, a full weekly schedule of Maori Television programmes is available on the homepage of www.maoritelevision.com and you are able to set an email alert through our website should you wish to be reminded of when a particular show is on. TIVO also has the option of manual programming to record Maori Television programmings.

Sounds like a typical reply!

Man we pay for this channel through taxes. Why restrict viewers choice.

freitasm

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#433046 31-Jan-2011 09:24

So they don't give the EPG data based on the number of devices sold, not on the fact that if people can't see what's in the grid then they won't watch it?

Bollocks.

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andrewcnz

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#433060 31-Jan-2011 09:58

Te Puni Kōkiri are aware of the issue and say they can't do much(even if they provide funding).
The person I did talk to had seen the story on stuff and thought it was an interesting comment made by Susy Frankel in the story...

"Victoria University law professor Susy Frankel, who chairs the Copyright Tribunal, told The Dominion Post in 2009 that Hybrid might be within its rights to copy Prime's programme titles and broadcasting times into its EPG without Sky's permission."

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robbyp

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#435941 6-Feb-2011 17:50

andrewcnz: I tried NZ on air re Maori TV and got this...

Many thanks for your email. While NZ On Air is a relatively small funder of programming for Māori Television I note with interest your advice that programmes for this channel are not included on the Tivo EPG.

I am unaware of the reasons for this and have copied this email to Ms Sonya Haggie at Māori Television. She should be able to advise the reasons for this and also when the situation is likely to change.

And got this from Maori TV...

For commercial reasons Maori Television has not provided TIVO access to its EPG data. We will continue to monitor the development and uptake of TIVO. In the interim, a full weekly schedule of Maori Television programmes is available on the homepage of www.maoritelevision.com and you are able to set an email alert through our website should you wish to be reminded of when a particular show is on. TIVO also has the option of manual programming to record Maori Television programmings.

Sounds like a typical reply!

Man we pay for this channel through taxes. Why restrict viewers choice.

At least it looks like it may be settled this year.

Maori TVs stance in my opinion goes against their own mission, pasted below

Our Mission

Ki te whakapau kaha ki te whakaora i te reo Māori me ngā tikanga, ma te tū motuhake, toitū momoho o Whakaata Māori hei pourewa pāpāho whakaaturanga.

To make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of tikanga Māori and reo Māori by being an independent, secure and successful Māori Television broadcaster.

compost

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#436582 7-Feb-2011 22:19

Uh-oh... Tivo hits pause button in Australia/New Zealand...

A time-poor geek is hardly a geek at all

Dratsab

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#436601 7-Feb-2011 22:48

compost: Uh-oh...

This would surprise me not a jot. Tivo had a fatally flawed marketing strategy in this country from the get-go. If this was anything to go by, their Aussie marketing campaign wouldn't have been anything special either.

Spong

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#436602 7-Feb-2011 22:50

compost: Uh-oh...

uh-oh indeed. Sure hope my TiVo isn't destined for mooring duties soon. Hardly surprising Hybrid are going the way they are, but the cards seem to be falling very quickly now. Sure hope someone else takes over TiVo and does it right.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

freitasm

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#436657 8-Feb-2011 08:02

We all know it from the start (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/7133). The decision to go with a sales channel restricted to Telecom only instead of normal retail channels was the problem.

Until today people still think they have to have a Telecom broadband plan to use TiVo. This just kills the whole thing for a lot of uninformed people.

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freitasm

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#436681 8-Feb-2011 09:36

I'll ask to continue the discussion on Tivo slow down on a new topic (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=114&topicid=76894) and leave this one for the change in retail as per the Stuff article linked in the OP.

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