Deny Apple considering TiVo buyout
The
Mac Observer brings the exclusive news that the acquisition of TiVo by Apple is still unconfirmed, though rumours
continue to circulate. Analyst Steven Kroll said news sources misinterpreted his
words yesterday and that he had not confirmed
knowledge of the deal, but merely pointed out the widespread rumours.
Brokerage firm Smith Barney said today they believe it “highly unlikely” that Apple will buy out TiVo. They said Apple has indicated the DVR market is a commodity in which success will boil down to the marketing and branding of siimilar hardware and software. Notably, Smith Barney indicated they felt “If Apple were to get into the DVR market, we believe they would build a proprietary product.”
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jbelkin said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
Exactly. There is ZERO reason for Apple to buy TiVo. The reasons? Many:
TiVo has its own infrastructure including a TV Guide and software updates to keep track of along with a hardware division.
TiVo is being orphaned by DirecTV (their biggest customer) and as Dish proved and now, the cabel companies - most people wannt a DVR that can switch channels and tape - the TiVo interface was not enough of a selling point.
TiVo is not like creating a new product and selling it - you have to plug into the ongoing infrastructure that Apple does NOT control - TV, satellite and Cable. You can buy a mac and use it happily even without broadband - you just need electricity. same with an ipod.
The full use of tiVo requires that the cable or satellite box works in sync with it so you can tape channel 123 followed by 479 and have the box switch for you. Without that direct relationahip[, YOU need to switch channels just like a VCR - so the extras of TiVo's interface are lost anyway - sort of like having leather seats in a Geo - mostly pointless.
Every cable company is releasing a DVR. Dish has their own. DirecTV is developing their own - where does that leave Tivo? In desperate straits.
If for some weird reason, Apple wanted to get into the DVR business, they know a couple or 3 million things about a user interface - if they decided to do like a POrsche Design farm-out deal, they might develop a DVR front end for a cbale companby but that's extremely unlikely - there's just not much money involved for Apple.
At some point in the future, if we could get 500 channels via WiMax (or some other wireless choice) that can bypass cable or satellite companies by just buying a box - that's when Apple might join in - they could sell hardware & software, offer downloads for later viewing (like itunes for video) for cosumers who simply go to a tsore and buy their box - if that happens, Apple will be there but until then - extremely unlikely.
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Bruce said 4:14PM on 6-16-2005
We'll know it's true if they sue him. 8^)
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