TiVo Inc. has reached out to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over concerns that the use of Switched Digital Video (SDV) technology by Cable providers will destroy its business. While traditional cable infrastructure delivers all available channels at once to subscribers’ receivers, SDV will deliver only the channels currently being accessed.
The benefits of SDV are obvious; savings in bandwidth for one and the possibility of setting up systems with multiple times the channels currently being offered to subscribers. The system requires a receiver to send an upstream signal to a cable headend to request a signal be sent down the cable; a TiVo box cannot do this and relies on infrastructure that allows it to simply lock on to the available signals.
In a nutshell, this means that a TiVo box cannot change a channel on a SDV-based system, whereas a provider-issued box can. TiVo attacks the industry in a filing with the FCC on the issue, pointing out that TiVo is the “only major competitive entrant left standing” in the DVR space. It attributes this position to Cable’s historical reluctance to open networks to third-party hardware, as opposed to natural free-market forces.
“It is reasonable to foresee that the majority of, if not all, video programming will be SDV in the not too distant future,” says TiVo. “Without immediate FCC action, no market for competitive video devices can emerge.” SDV has been around for a while, but TiVo has found a new urgency due to an inflating number of U.S. households with SDV-based hookups.
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Result for: party hardware
Just weeks after their patent victory over EchoStar, TiVo is getting ready to expand substantially, says sources talking to Bloomberg.
The DVR maker is in talks with PPV providers in an effort to “allow its recording directly or else to license out the technology for third-party hardware or software.”
Other details are still vague, but it is clear the service will be different from online-based ones such as Netflix or Amazon VOD.
Additionally, TiVo is looking to have its service directly connected through Time Warner, possibly even creating a new Time Warner-exclusive set-top.
Negotiations are still ongoing with nothing set in stone.
Result for: party hardware
Nintendo has announced that it will be teaming up with Activision to release their first third party hardware bundle for the DS handheld. The bundle is part of the launch of the anticipated Guitar Hero: World Tour.
The bundle will include an exclusive silver and black console with Guitar Hero: World Tour branding, the game, and the necessary peripheral to play the game. The game is set to go on sale on June 22nd.
“We are thrilled to be the first third-party publisher to partner with Nintendo on this unique offering,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing for RedOctane.
Activision’s Guitar Hero franchise is becoming one of the largest blockbusters in history and in just a few years has already surpassed $1 billion USD in sales in just the North American region.
