TiVo Available in Canada

[james99]

See existing thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=74823

[ladybugblue]

Originally Posted by malbadon

Actually a three year subscription would take you right to the current not-gonna-happen analog cutoff date, wouldn't it?

I'd give my right arm for them to come to an agreement to run the Tivo SW on current boxes. Sort of like "your box comes with Windows 3.11 guide, but for 13 bucks a month you can upgrade it to Windows Vista version"

From what I understand though, Windows Media center doesn't allow you to record some content. I am not sure about why that is happening as this doesn't occur for Tivo boxes but some movies are not able to be recorded. I would think that would be a major disadvantage.

[supergenius]

Originally Posted by ladybugblue

I think you are also making the assumption that most people either have HDTV or are going that way, and I would disagree.

I have to disagree with this. I think it is a very reasonable assumption that HDTV is becoming the standard way for people to watch TV. Just look at how much money providers are spending to add more HD channels to their systems. Especially in the US where DirecTV and Dishnet have or are approaching 100's of channels in HD. Canada will be soon to follow. In addition, just looking at the numbers of HDTV's flying off vendors shelves tells me the general population is moving quickly towards HD.

Originally Posted by ladybugblue

....From what he has read there is no stopping these providers to eventually charge per month for their services just like Tivo.

So far, no provider in Canada is currently charging a monthly fee for S/W and I don't see this happening anytime soon. This is one reason why I don't think Tivo will succeed here. In the US it is a different story since most providers charge a monthly rental fee so it isn't a big leap to pay Tivo vs. STB provider. But in Canada, say someone goes to BB looking for a PVR. They look at Tivo and realize they will have to pay an additional $13 for a guide on top of their programming charge plus pay for the hardware.

Originally Posted by ladybugblue

......It seems like Alberta has little to offer as choices but the tivo is TEN times better than the Shaw PVR that they are offering.

If you don't like Shaw's PVR (I don't either) there is always Starchoice or Bell which both have very capable PVRs. In fact, Bell's 92xx series PVR's even do Name Based Recording similar to Tivo. I think Starchoice's 530 does as well.

[PokerChip]

I agree with most of the comments about the low potential Tivo has to offer to the typical DHC'er.

However, I would like to point out that cableco/sat PVRs are inferior to Tivo in one major way: transfering content to portable devices (laptops, iPods, etc.).

I can transfer from my Shaw PVRs, but it's a painstakingly slow and cumbersome process.

That's the one thing I wish future S/W updates would allow.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by ladybugblue

From what I understand though, Windows Media center doesn't allow you to record some content. I am not sure about why that is happening as this doesn't occur for Tivo boxes but some movies are not able to be recorded. I would think that would be a major disadvantage.

There has been an issue with MCE not being able to record some content in Canada. After months of ignoring the issue Microsoft appears to be taking some action to fix this issue.

I have had TiVos for 4+ years and I also have a HTPC running MCE and a Rogers 8300HD-PVR. I would say that the UI for the TiVo and MCE are pretty much level in terms of quality - they each have a few pros and cons. They are both eons ahead of the SA8300HD as everyone says. I have also used BeyondTV and it also has a very nice UI - about equivalent to TiVo and MCE.

One other advantage of the MCE PC is that you can add the capability to record OTA-HD pretty cheaply.

MCE also have the advantage of Extenders so that you can stream content to Extenders throughout your house.

TiVos are great but the best solution is CableCard and/or TiVo software on a Rogers box.

[profets]

i think its pretty obvious that these are old out of date tivos and theyre being dumped into the cdn market. of course they have a great looking guide, but being ntsc only?

although you could argue that not everyone will need or want to go to HD, there will be a need for digital cable recording (without an annoying ir blaster & cableco/satco STB setup).

this could bring up the whole cablecard in canada debate. of course cable card is not perfect - but guess what, at least we could have CHOICE. want an HD pvr, but dont want to be stuck with what the cableco offers for $600 or $20/month?

[classicsat]

Originally Posted by malbadon

Actually a three year subscription would take you right to the current not-gonna-happen analog cutoff date, wouldn't it?

The analog cutoff is only for OTA, and only in the USA.
Canadian OTA analog cutoff is later.

The model being sold has nothing to do with OTA, and works just fine with most cable, satellite, and IPTV boxes.
If you have analog and digital cable, it will work as a dual tuner until they turn off analog cable, at which point it will work as single tuner with a cable box.

I'd give my right arm for them to come to an agreement to run the Tivo SW on current boxes. Sort of like "your box comes with Windows 3.11 guide, but for 13 bucks a month you can upgrade it to Windows Vista version"

If you mean current cable boxes, TiVo is has a port of their user interface for Motorola cable boxes, and is working on a Scientific Atlanta port, both of which, in theory, could be available to Canadian providers.

ladybugblue:
TiVo will record everything, but will respect copy protect flags and restrict its viewing time and/or transferring capabilities.

In another (now locked) thread the question was brought up as to why only an 80 Hr model. My suspicion is because a larger model would (which they'd have to appropriately mark up ) devalue the low-end HD model in the US market.

[bmike13]

From what i understand, even if the TIVO was in HD, why would we like to pay for a recording service. Just add the price of the unit and the sub it equal a bit to a hd pvr. In Canada we are lucky no provider are charging a fee for a pvr use. DIrecTv and Dish do charge even for the regular pvr.


I do have DTV and since tivo wasen't avalable here i bought 2 years ago a (Philipps) DVD with a Hard Drive. it work #1 and no fee. For bell i use for now, a 5900.


Tivo sould have been here a few years ago.

[hugh]

In Canada we are lucky no provider are charging a fee for a pvr use

That's not true. Many providers add an extra digital fee or PVR fee. In addition, even if its not a line item, you are paying for it in your digital fee.

[profets]

i was just thinking about a friend of mine who's service is with cogeco. they have digital cable, but no HD or pvr. Tivo might not be bad for them, since with cogeco, if you want a pvr, your stuck with going for a $600 hd pvr (or renting it at $20/month) i guess its a trade off.. nicer guide, but stuck using av+ir blasters for digital channels

[rob1]

Originally Posted by supergenius

If you don't like Shaw's PVR (I don't either) there is always Starchoice or Bell which both have very capable PVRs. In fact, Bell's 92xx series PVR's even do Name Based Recording similar to Tivo. I think Starchoice's 530 does as well.

Nope.....Not yet.

[salinger]

ExpressVu and Star Choice aren't an option for an awful lot of people, myself included. Many condo and apartment buildings won't allow satellite dishes, so that means, we're stuck with 1 option, Rogers PVR. Now, for all its warts, there's an alternative.

Personally, I won't be going the Tivo route, simply because it's too much of a hassle to work it with the Rogers box I'll still need. I don't want to mess about with IR blasters and even more cables than the spaghetti I have behind my entertainment unit now.

I would gladly pay for the Tivo interface, and if they ever get their functionality included in a Rogers box, so I still only have the one box for getting my digital and HD signal, plus PVR'ing, then I'm happy. Rogers' current interface is abysmal. Not even a search function, let alone some of the neat features of Tivo.

[57]

That's not true. Many providers add an extra digital fee or PVR fee.

Clarification: In the case of Rogers, it's a digital services fee (anyone with digital) and not a PVR fee since you pay the same whether you have a STB or a PVR or several STBs/PVRs.

I believe most recent Satellite and Cable PVRs now have name-based recording. It's only a few inexpensive satellite PVRs that may still work like a VCR.

[bmike13]

what i was trying to say was a pvr fee, bell dosen't charge a fee.

Thanks

[ladybugblue]

Originally Posted by supergenius

I have to disagree with this. I think it is a very reasonable assumption that HDTV is becoming the standard way for people to watch TV. Just look at how much money providers are spending to add more HD channels to their systems. Especially in the US where DirecTV and Dishnet have or are approaching 100's of channels in HD. Canada will be soon to follow. In addition, just looking at the numbers of HDTV's flying off vendors shelves tells me the general population is moving quickly towards HD.



So far, no provider in Canada is currently charging a monthly fee for S/W and I don't see this happening anytime soon. This is one reason why I don't think Tivo will succeed here. In the US it is a different story since most providers charge a monthly rental fee so it isn't a big leap to pay Tivo vs. STB provider. But in Canada, say someone goes to BB looking for a PVR. They look at Tivo and realize they will have to pay an additional $13 for a guide on top of their programming charge plus pay for the hardware.



If you don't like Shaw's PVR (I don't either) there is always Starchoice or Bell which both have very capable PVRs. In fact, Bell's 92xx series PVR's even do Name Based Recording similar to Tivo. I think Starchoice's 530 does as well.

I still don't see too many people with HD as it is expensive...plus you can't get satelite if you are renting, and since the market in Alberta is so high, renting for many people is the only option, which means Shaw PVR has been the only real option.

Anyway, I am back in Graduate school and most people I know have cable but most do not have HD. Maybe in higher income bracket, but there aren't as many channels available as in the U.S. so I think the growth has been slower here.