By the end of this year,TiVo digital video recorders will be able to receive on-demand video programming from the Internet.
“Broadband video is growing rapidly on the Web, but the television will continue to be the key way viewers want to watch video,” noted TiVo Chief Executive Tom Rogers. “Our overall goal is to provide as many types of content in as many formats to be displayed on the television through TiVo.”
The technology entails downloading videos and automatically converting them into MPEG-2 video format so the videos can be viewed on televisions and searchable via TiVo boxes. QuickTime, Windows Media Video, and MPEG-4 video formats will be supported.
However, don’t shred your Blockbuster card just yet. The new TiVo programming only will work with downloaded videos that are not copyright protected. Feature films and videos purchased from online stores like Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes Store and Movielink will not be supported. So, the fun will be limited to watching user-generated video clips, at least initially.
The new technology will require an upgrade to TiVo Desktop, a software package that lets Windows users transfer their favorite programming back and forth between their computers and their televisions. The upgrade will be free for existing users and $24.95 for new users.
Here’s how the TiVo download system will work: TiVo users go directly to One True Media’s website. One True Media is an online video-sharing provider that has partnered with TiVo to provide the new service. At One True Media’s site, TiVo users can invite other TiVo users to subscribe to their private video channels. The videos then show up under the “Homemade Movies” category in the “TiVoCast” section.
Comcast Corp, the nation’ largest cable provider, also is planning its own website to meet the on-demand download demand. According to Comcast, the requests would go through the system’s own cable boxes. Other cable and satellite companies are working to provide similar services.
