As you may know, TiVo has a great deal that allows you to purchase a new Series3 TiVo and transfer lifetime service from another TiVo to your Series3. For $199, TiVo will transfer lifetime service from any TiVo (standalone or DIRECTV DVR with TiVo) and they’ll give you a year of service on the box you’re transfering from (if it’s a standalone).

The offer technically requires you to purchase your Series3 by 12/31/06 and to call TiVo to perform the transfer before 1/31/07. However, based on a few unofficial conversations with TiVo reps, we suspect that Series3 purchases made in January WILL qualify for the service offer, provided you call TiVo to complete the transfer by 1/31/07.

For the time being, we cannot guarantee that 2007 purchases of our Series3 boxes will be eligible for the transfer, however, we will give you a no-risk way of trying. Here’s how:

If you purchase a Series3 TiVo from weaKnees in January, 2007, upon request we will provide you with your TiVo service number IN ADVANCE, so that you can transfer service. We will also put your order on a 48-HOUR hold, giving you the chance to cancel with no penalty if you are unable to transfer service. We will release your order for immediate shipping once we hear from you, or if we don’t hear from you, we’ll ship 48 hours after purchase. If you choose to cancel within that 48-hour period, your credit card will not be charged.

To request your TiVo service number, simply place your order online or by phone (888-932-5633). Then email us with the subject “Series3 TSN Request” and in the body of your email, include your order number. We will email back your TiVo service number. Then call the TiVo transfer line at (866) 424-8486 to complete the transfer.

If we hear about any official change in policy, we will post it on the Blog.

As expected, TiVo is back with a new rebate for standard definition units (single tuner, dual tuner, and DVD single tuner units). The rebate amounts are the same as in the previous round: $180 for the dual tuner and DVD units, $220 for the single tuner units (if you can find one).

No rebate works on the Series3 HD TiVo and we don’t expect one anytime soon.

For more information, visit our TiVo Rebate page.

And now the deadline for the VIP transfer is in the next stage. You would have had to purchase your TiVo by midnight, last night, to qualify. Now you must transfer your service by 1/31/07.

Last Series3 order of 2006 for WeaKnees: 11:48 PM – 60 hour unit, shipping to Alameda, California.