TiVo Announces DVD Recorders, HD-DVR and Home Networked Products
January 8, 2004 - LAS VEGAS - INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW - TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) today said new products powered by TiVo in 2004 will include DVD recorders, high-definition DVRs, and home network enabled products. These new products point to growing opportunities for TiVo in the marketplace, as the simplicity and control that TiVo is known for becomes a sought after differentiator by consumer electronics companies to drive adoption for many new digital entertainment products.
In 2004, consumers will be able to experience TiVo in ways never before possible. From DVD recorders that deliver on the unfulfilled promise of the VCR, to the HD enabled DIRECTV (NASDAQ: GMH) DVR, to the most popular standalone DVR on the market, the TiVo Series2 TM , TiVo is offering consumers unparalleled functionality and ease of use, in packages to fit any lifestyle. In fact, consumers will be able to choose from over a dozen TiVo powered products from industry leaders including DIRECTV, Hughes, Humax, Philips, Pioneer, RCA, Samsung and Toshiba this year.
"As a company, we expect TiVo's expanded presence in the market to lead to a robust 2004," said Mike Ramsay, CEO of TiVo. "We've seen a growing demand for our standalone TiVo Series2 models, and our expanded offering with DIRECTV points to the strength and value of our relationship with them. We're forging new partnerships with consumer electronics companies eager to replicate this success and leverage the consumer passion that TiVo inspires to drive adoption of their cutting edge CE products."
Global CE Makers Humax, Toshiba To Introduce New DVD Recorders Powered by TiVo
Humax, an international leader of digital satellite set-top box manufacturing that currently exports to more than 90 countries, will make its entry into the U.S. market with a new DVD recorder powered by TiVo. The company will announce specific product details later this year and expects the DVD recorder powered by TiVo to be on retail shelves in the Fall of 2004. Humax will also build two new models of TiVo Series2, which will store up to 80 hours and 250 hours of programs. The new TiVo Series2 DVRs from Humax will be available at retail in the second quarter of 2004.
In 2004, Toshiba has extended its existing licensing agreement with TiVo in order to build new TiVo powered products this year. Included in this lineup will be Toshiba's first TiVo-powered DVD Recorder model slated for a Fall 2004 introduction. In 2003, Toshiba America Consumer Products, a division of Toshiba Corporation introduced the SD-H400 combination DVD player powered by TiVo. The SD-H400 offers up to 80 hours of programming storage and combines progressive scan DVD playback with TiVo Basic Service.
Pioneer set a new standard for DVD recorders last year with the introduction of two DVD recorder products powered by TiVo. The New York Times suggested the "early attempts [of VCR-DVD combos] should bow down before the sweet perfection of a new pair of hybrids: Pioneer's new DVR-810H and Elite DVR-57H."
The product also won an Innovation award at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show, and both are available at consumer electronics retailers across the country. The Pioneer DVR-810H offers up to 80 hours of program storage, and the Elite DVR-57H offers up to 120 hours of storage.
DIRECTV Brings Advanced HD DVR to Market in Early 2004
The highly anticipated new DIRECTV HD DVR, a high definition digital video recorder, was among the products TiVo showcased at CES. The DIRECTV HD DVR, licensed and designed by TiVo, features four tuners and can automatically identify whether an incoming signal is satellite or off-air and then engage the proper tuner for recording. The new DIRECTV HD DVR will be available in the first quarter of 2004.
The popular DIRECTV DVR with TiVo will continue to be a best seller for the leading satellite television service provider. Hughes, Philips, RCA and Samsung will all offer the integrated DIRECTV tuner with TiVo at retail outlets nationally in 2004.
About TiVo
Founded in 1997 with the mission to dramatically improve consumers' television viewing experiences, TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) is the creator of television services for digital video recorders (DVRs). TiVo's leadership has defined and inspired the entire category, earning the company patents for pioneering inventions associated with DVR software and hardware design. TiVo was the first to deliver on the promise of consumer choice and control over TV viewing, building a loyal and passionate subscriber base with over 97% of customers surveyed recommending TiVo to a friend. This enthusiasm has contributed to overwhelming growth over the past year, and the total subscriber base exceeds 1 million. TiVo is headquartered in San Jose, CA. Additional information can be found at www.tivo.com.