AfterDawn: News

TiVo plans lower price HD DVR this year

While the price of high-definition TV sets keeps falling and the demand for HD content is looking good, TiVo seems to be just missing the trend with overpriced HD DVR's. TiVo Series 3 debuted at $799, and the previous DirecTiVo HR 10-250 debuted at over $1,000. With cable and satellite operators beginning to offer HD DVR's themselves, often for $10 per month, TiVo knows it has to rethink its offerings.

TiVo CEO Tom Rogers complained about the situation the company has got itself into during a first quarter earnings call on Wednesday. He blamed the price tag of the Series 3 for ensuring the company has not "been able to meaningfully participate in the HD wave in retail," and promised that TiVo will have a "mass appeal priced HD unit... later this year."



Unfortunately Rogers did not give any more details but it can be speculated that the company is planning a "lite" version of the Series 3 which a much lower price tag.

Source:
Ars Technica

Written by: James Delahunty @ 1 Jun 2007 2:42

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• 4 comments

• bobiroc

  I know TiVo has some exclusive offerings but for the average user that just wants a DVR to schedule and record their shows so they can watch it at their leisure TiVo is overpriced. With Dish I got my Dual Tuner HD DVR for Free and only pay $4.95/month for the DVR service. Also if it ever breaks under my contract with them they just send me a new one and if a newer/better one comes out I can renew my contract and upgrade for a minimal cost.

  1.6.2007 14:18 #1

• borhan9

  So basically they have gone back to the drawing board to figure out how they can improve their products for their client base at the momment and also how it can grow.

  1.6.2007 19:25 #2

• Unfocused

  @bobiroc
  
  I have a similar deal with Comcast. They give me the HD DVR as part of my plan. I'm sure the cost is worked into the plan, but the "perceived" out of pocket expense is nothing.

  11.7.2007 16:43 #3

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by Unfocused:@bobiroc
  
  I have a similar deal with Comcast. They give me the HD DVR as part of my plan. I'm sure the cost is worked into the plan, but the "perceived" out of pocket expense is nothing.That is true I am sure because they make money off of the service, not so much on the hardware. However when I can get a good HD-DVR, 200 Channels, The High Def. package and pay $65 a month, to me that is better than paying $50 a month and dishing out $800 for a DVR. Also with the plan if the DVR breaks they send me out a new one as long as I have a subscription with them.

  11.7.2007 17:27 #4