There is a rumor on the blogosphere that Steve Jobs will announce some sort of partnership with TiVo at the next MacWorld.
Rumors usually get pretty crazy around MacWorld time. During last year’s Intel announcement, I heard that all press in attendance would get new notebooks but that didn’t happen. This one is probably just a rumor but if we think along the lines of iTV on its way, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea. PVRWire thinks that a partnership is highly unlikely but a licensing deal may be a possibility. TiVo has brand name recognition but declining market share. Apple has undeniable power, especially considering the amount of movies they’ve been able to sell for Disney on iTunes, but they have absolutely zero footing in the television market. They need each other. Problem is, Apple doesn’t often admit to needing anything or anyone.
Apple has been rumored to be in bed with Tivo for quite a while now, and there was even a rumor about a year ago that Apple had tried to buy Tivo, or was at least considering it. However, what does Tivo really offer Apple? The software is easily duplicated, as is witnessed by all the Tivo copycats that have appeared the last two years. Apple can easily program a similar or better system for the iTV, I don’t see them being tied down to Tivo, unless they purchase them (current market cap is about $540 Mil).
By the way, Apple is the biggest seller of digital TV downloads, so to say they have no footing is a misrepresentation.
Natalia, mi hermana, great article. You are an inspiration to us all. Keep up the good work.
Apple is trying to create a blue ocean, but is that a blue ocean or bloody ocean?
At the same time, Microsoft also moving into home entertainment with their XBOX, Windows Media
Apple would buy Tivo for the same reasons Google bought YouTube. In my mind that’s a) name recognition, b) installed user base, c) already existing platform that works.
How many households out there don’t already have a digital recorder? I’m not sure if Apple could go into this market and try and sell people a new one — my 3+ year old Tivo is still running strong and I have no reason to upgrade, even if Apple came out with a much better solution.
Also I wonder if this has anything to do with the relationship that Real has with its Rhapsody service and the cable companies? That is I’m not sure how friendly the Comcasts of the world would be for someone else getting into their turf w/o making agreements with them.
I can also see apple making some sort of adapter for the Tivo so that you can stream movies to and from it to your Mac. I’m not sure if you can plug anything into the USB port that will actually do anything.
“Buy on rumor, sell on news.” At $5.60, I’m a buyer.
I bought tivo two years ago at $5.2 and $4.9, Tivo peaked at above $8 and went back down. It has not found the sweet spot in the market. I would say Tivo needs Apple more than otherwise. Apple has no reason to start a whole new Tivo copycat, first of all, the branding cost is huge: iPod branding cost already topped $1bil over the years and has low margin comparing to overall Apple’s 30% gross margin. Apple hates copycat and knows copycat won’t last: look at all ipod copycat on the market, what a bunch of idiots! Can they think more creatively? Apple does not want to get in legal struggle given its high flying status. By helping out Tivo, it will only strengthen Apple’s market leadership just like Mac adapts Core Duo, and saves the branding hassle. No matter it’s partnership or a deal, it’s a win win situation. I am holding Tivo for the long run!
Rumors get inflated pretty darn fast in internet time, especially when they involve two powerful brands. But if you go back to the source (pvrblog.com), it’s a very straightforward and limited assertion:
“Apple will be licensing TiVo patented technology for iTV.”
I hear that TiVo has a pretty good portfolio of patents. Not hard to imagine that there’s something in there that Apple would find useful.
Good point Michael. They are probably just licensing a patent and that gets turned into some huge partnership rumor.
Partnerships wont help Apple.You cannot simply re-brand it to apple.
1.Firstly dvr market is saturated aka more players in the space.Cable operators are providing cheap dvr solutions.
2.Tivo is not an un-known company, it has its own brnad, it earned its “verb” form tivo’ing. There is absolutely nothing that tivo will gain by re-branding it to apple.
What tivo needs to do is innovate and innovate. That is what is lacking.You invented once, competetion caught up pretty fast, then you innovate more and optimize operating cost, provide great solution at cheaper rate.This is what it needs to do.
It would be stupidity for apple to partner with Tivo unless there is a package solution they offer (like tivo and mac? - yikes,just an example).
Actually with itv+tivo deal, as others said it may help tivo more than it helps apple.
But it is pretty sad that tivo somehow lost that innovative gene.
I doubt that this rumor is true. I don’t think that Apple needs TiVo, their brand has such popularity right now that I think iTV will be an instant hit, and if it is anywhere near as good and innovative as their current generation of products, will continued as a success.
This is hardly Web 2.0. Perhaps you’re still adjusting, Ms. del Conte.
Rumor may come true sometimes, who knows.
http://www.ezecho.com
Deal i think not…but this seems more like news than web 2.0
http://apparelblog.dobizo.com
There i sno smoke without fire.
http://www.tekno-world.blogspot.com
#15) What the hell is your point?
I would like to see a rumor about TiVo working with Apple to get the TiVoToGo working on the Mac. What gives, TiVo?
I can see an eventual partnership btwn Apple-GooTube-Tivo. With Apple’s box (whatever it will be called in the future) hooked up with content from iTunes (movies, TV pgms, vodcasts), GooTube (homemade flicks & indies), plus Tivo (regular TV programming).
BTW CapCrunch (comment #12), Web 2.0? Enough of the Web2.0 stuff and who said that TechCrunch only covers 2.0 I think Ms. Del Conte is doing fine.
I love TIVO, I love Apple…. I’ve been hoping Apple would buy TIVO for years now. I’d settle for sometype of partnership.
i love my tivo, i bleed for tivo. but it is painfully obvious to subscribers that the company is hurting. they have the best product, but the company cannot compete with a $5/month dvr from the likes of comcast. $750+ for the series three!! How does that breed loyalism. I am a tivo customer which means i am an early adopter which means i have HD and that is where tivo leaves me in the mud. Apple is a survivor, attach the tivo brand and it would have a fighting chance.
Re: comment #2
At first I though “Jose” was just a complete suck-up, but it’s comment spam. Might want to trim that, Natali. (Even if it is flattering.)