DirecTV HD TiVo Update – Broadband Features!
TiVo, Inc. issued their financial year-end results today via a press release. Beside the numbers (profit is up, but not on a large scale; subscribers are down, but not on a large scale), there is an interesting tidbit on the progress of the DirecTV HD DVR:
“Additionally, we continue to work on our new DIRECTV HD DVR. The new HD DVR will include popular TiVo broadband features, and will be immediately accessible to DIRECTV’s entire national customer base on day-one of the launch. We have had a very successful history with DIRECTV and those subscribers are some of our most loyal customers. Now, as these customers look to upgrade from standard definition programming, they will have the option to choose the TiVo experience to help them truly get the most out of their high definition viewing experience.”
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March 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Would a DIRECTV HD DVR be compatible with a regular Tivo HD? In that would I be able to move programs from one to the other? I currently have 2 HD boxes, but the local cable company does not have cable cards, so i am stuck with basic cable on the Tivos.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Really, really hard to say. This would mean that:
A) the new HD DirecTV TiVo would have to have MRV (multi-room viewing) enabled as part of these broadband features, and
B) the MRV would have to work cross-provider
I’d say, unfortunately, that this is unlikely because people in your situation would be able to watch DirecTV content on multiple boxes while only paying DirecTV for one. But I really just don’t know.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:55 am
A release date for the HD DirecTV TiVo would be very helpful for planning our transition. Everything else — satellite dish upgrade, wiring changes, display, etc. is now waiting on the DVR.
Meanwhile I’m hearing good things about the HR23, which isn’t even available here. What’s the story with that?
March 24th, 2009 at 8:13 am
We’d love to get a release date also, but so far, no news.
The HR23 sounds to be basically identical to the HR22 except that it has auto-sensing, internal B-Band converters. Our distributors don’t have them yet.
April 19th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
It’s driving me crazy just waiting. This, along with an affordable high capacity SSD, and Windows 7, I feel like I’m just watching the clock tick.
April 20th, 2009 at 6:39 am
@Jamie R: Even if that were enabled you will likely only be able to either transfer from the Tivo branded Tivos to the new DirectTv Tivo or between DirectTv Tivos and not from the DirectTv Tivo to the Tivo Branded ones. The reason for this is that a DirectTV Tivo records the broadcast encoded/compressed bitstream directly to disk which is unlike a straight Tivo branded Tivo which does the analog video to disk or hd bitstream to disk encoding itself. The reason that is significant is that a non-DirectTv Tivo would lack the hardware based decoding for DirectTv’s bitstream and would be unable to play any content recorded on the DirectTv Tivo. This also limits the possibilities of the Tivo Desktop functionality since your computer would also lack the ability to decode DirectTv’s bitstream unless they either created and released a software codec (unlikely) or there was an option to have the DirectTv Tivo do somehow do the standard Tivo encoding.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:17 am
TiVo made an SEC filing that now says the DirecTV HD TiVo will appear “as soon as possible” in calendar year 2010.
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/secfilings.asp?ric=TIVO.O Click on 10K in the 2009 section. It is discussed on page 6, second paragraph.
May 15th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Here it is direct from Tivo. Sorry folks, looks like it’ll be 2010.
http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/directv-signup.html
May 19th, 2009 at 11:12 am
2010!!? I’m right with you Jim K. Waiting to make a total systems upgrade when these are ready. My HR21 sucks horribly bad and I can’t wait for this. Come on DirecTV!!
June 26th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
[...] work with satellite TV? Or is TiVo changing the packaging so that they can distinguish it with the DirecTV HD TiVo when it [...]
August 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
For years I have tried to get the golden combination of good quality picture and the TiVo DVR experience. No one comes close to TiVo. I can’t wait for this new DVR and I will be signing up with DirecTV the minute it becomes available…
August 15th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Steven -
I basically feel the same way, but why not get a TiVo HD and cable? I have that and an HR10-250, and I’m sure I’ll get the new DTV unit when it comes out, but the cable picture quality and ease of the CableCARDs is really pretty amazing.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:16 am
Michael,
Some folks don’t get HD Tivo and cable… because cable isn’t available. If you live in the country, there are many areas where satellite is your only viable option.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
ok I have an issue since I love Hockey (NHL) versus is now not with direct tv, but thru comcast (Cable). so can I buy an HD/DVR that will still work with directv and has an cable card for comcast to get Versus.
there must be a way to only have 1 hd/dvr and get both sat and cable.
thanks Derek
October 7th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Latest official news from Tivo regarding the DirecTV HD Tivo (from Tivo’s most recent 10-Q filing filed on September 9, 2009):
“Under the terms of this non-exclusive arrangement, TiVo is developing a version of the TiVo service for DIRECTV’s broadband-enabled HD DVR for a launch to consumers as soon as possible in calendar year 2010.”
November 10th, 2009 at 7:06 am
It’s about time. It sounds a little strange but I have no plans of updateing my 4:3 36″ TV thats been serving me well for over 18 years now. I’m waiting for the TIVO DirecTV HD. So once that happens the big upgraded will happen. No need to spend the money on HD when my TIVO only plays SD.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I sooo need this TIVO HD recorder for Directv. Already have the HD TV, and have to have directv for NFL ticket, but SD on 52″ sucks.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I am so wanting this new DirecTV Tivo HD DVR receiver. I have my series 1 DirecTivo that’s served its purpose for many years. Even though I have an HDTV now, I do NOT want to upgrade to DirecTV’s HD DVR receiver after reading ALL of the horror stories of freezing, reboots, and exchanges.
Tivo has always been stable for me.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Maybe if TIVO hadn’t dragged their heels on the Directv HD they would have had a profitable 3rd quarter iso a loss. If I was a shareholder I would be asking hard questions of the management.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I continue to wait with SD TiVo and DirecTV. If they want more of my money they will have to offer a true upgrade to HD TiVo and DirecTV.
If FIOS comes to my neighborhood, I might not wait though. Does Verizon hear me? DirecTV and TiVo know the market is there, I wonder what kind of misplaced greed is holding things up?
Being somewhat patient in Sykesville
December 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am
I kinda wonder if there won’t be some sort of action at CES. Seems like the HD MPEG4 DirecTV Tivo is taking forever!
CES IIRC is in January….
January 17th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Please advise me when DirecTV TIVO HD receiver becomes available. Thanks.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:25 am
My SD R10 is on its last legs! Anyone heard of a date of release? Any news from CES?
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Keep putting parts in my hr10-250 (watching all SD now), waiting on the mpeg 4 version to arrive. I’m ready to see the new tivoHD for directv.
March 31st, 2010 at 4:59 am
I will be ready when it arrives. Completely avoiding the in house unit and will watch less TV and more DVD for the duration. We have hundreds of unwatched in the wings.