News

TiVo devices to be given away as part of new “awareness” push

Tasmanian consumers are being given free TiVo devices as part of a 12-month project aimed at promoting the digital video recorder.  

The Seven Media Group-owned Hybrid Television Services, which is the exclusive licensee of TiVo in Australia, is making the offer to TasTel Community Telco’s 130 customers who are connected to fibre networks.

Those customers who choose to opt into the Hybrid Smart Street Project will form part of a study aimed at understanding consumers’ TV watching habits, including live and time shifted viewing, as well as broadband entertainment usage.

As part of the project, those who receive a TiVo device will have access to broadband movies, TV and music.

Hybrid chief executive Robbee Minicola said the project is also about explaining the benefits of the national broadband network (NBN) and demonstrating to consumers the value of converged digital broadcast with broadband content over high-speed internet using the TiVo device.

“Many people do not understand what the NBN is – let alone the impact it will have in our home.

“The NBN is not about faster web browsing, or quicker emails. It is about high resolution video content delivered outside the PC and onto the television.”

Minicola denied the project was in response to less than impressive sales of TiVo, adding that it is the best selling high definition PVR in the market. However, she declined to reveal sales figures.

Reports earlier this year suggested that Hybrid TV is expecting to miss its December target of selling 25,000 units, while it will also miss targets of selling 50,000 units through mass retailers including Harvey Norman and Dick Smith.

Minicola said that from December 1 the cost of a TiVo device would go down from $699 to $599.

The NBN is the fibre-to-the-home high-speed broadband network that is being built by the federal government.

The project was also featured on sister channel Seven’s Sunrise today

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