Last year, TiVo decided to exit the business it originally launched: the digital video recording (DVR) business. TiVo didn’t make the first DVR, but its products were certainly the most popular. Frankly, it’s a miracle that TiVo DVRs have lasted this long, but all good things must come to an end, especially in the face of the threat of superfluity and redundancy.
When TiVo announced exclusively to Variety that it was exiting the physical DVR market, the company promised indefinite support for its products – many customers purchased lifetime subscription plans, and TiVo will honor those purchases. However, TiVo didn’t explain why it was stopping all DVR manufacturing, but that didn’t stop the outlet from making some educated guesses. According to Variety, TiVo began experiencing problems when cable companies began adding DVR functionality to their set-top boxes. Why buy a separate device and subscription to record the shows you missed when the feature comes standard with your cable package?
Other media outlets, such as Cord Cutter News, have speculated that the rise of streaming services also plays a significant role. DVRs record live analog signals and convert them into digital data that users can store and play back at their discretion. Streaming content is already digital and users can watch any movie or show they want as long as it is offered through the platform of their choice. Additionally, subscribers can download content for offline viewing through the mobile apps of services such as Netflix. All of these features preclude the need for a DVR box, and even if they didn’t, services like Roku provide cloud DVR functionality, which is just another nail in the coffin for standalone DVR boxes like TiVo.
TiVo is still with us in spirit, but not in body
Although TiVo no longer makes what was once its bread and butter, the company isn’t exactly filing for bankruptcy. Several years ago, TiVo entered the streaming service market with the TiVo Stream 4K Streaming Stick, which offers 4K resolution. However, this device may be on borrowed time, but the same is not necessarily true for TiVo.
When TiVo told Variety that it would no longer produce DVRs, the company announced that it was getting out of the manufacturing business completely. TiVo has sold all of its inventory, so all that’s left is its software services. We’re not just talking about the aforementioned device support. In the future, TiVo will focus exclusively on smart TVs licensed for TiVo technology, as well as the DTS AutoStage video service.
Currently, Sharp is the only company selling TiVo OS smart TVs in the United States. However, Sharp TVs aren’t quite what they used to be, so who knows how long that will last. European customers, meanwhile, have a wider choice, as brands such as Vestel, Bush, Telefunken, JVC and Panasonic offer TiVo-powered TVs. As for DTS AutoStage, you can find this service (and its TiVo-powered features) in select models from brands like Honda, Audi, Kia, Jeep, and Ford.
