November 25, 2009

Virgin Media and Tivo team up for Next Gen TV

wowowowow. Virgin Media has announced that it's teaming up with US PVR innovators and market leaders Tivo for its Next Generation (ie IP-based) TV project. From the Tivo Press Release:
Under the mutually exclusive agreement, TiVo will develop a converged television and broadband interactive interface to power Virgin Media's next generation, high definition set top boxes.

TiVo will become the exclusive provider of middleware and user interface software for Virgin Media's next generation set top boxes. Virgin Media will become the exclusive distributor of TiVo services and technology in the United Kingdom.

Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media said, "TiVo's proven track record of innovation, strength of its patented technology and experience in developing best in class user environments, make it an ideal strategic partner for Virgin Media as we move aggressively to bring our next generation TV service to market. The superiority of our fibre optic network combined with TiVo's capabilities, will allow us to offer consumers the most significantly advanced and compelling TV service available in the UK, and we believe will do to the TV market what Virgin Media has done to the high speed broadband market."

The next generation platform will offer a superior television viewing experience which will allow Virgin Media customers to search and discover content through major advances in video-on-demand integration and broadband video delivery creating the ultimate one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment.

Virgin Media currently anticipates its first TiVo co-branded product in 2010.


(Thanks to Tank and Nick for the info)

4 comments:

paininthegulliver said...

what a pleasant surprise.

they must have taken on board the criticism of the current inadequacies of the set top boxes AND software.

Unknown said...

I miss my Tivo, and to have VM do a deal with them.. well, that's fantastic. As soon as it's available, I'll be signing up for it.

Dan Lucyszyn-Hinton said...

bloody hell. Let's hope it's free to XL customers, eh?

Anonymous said...

Free or not, I will jump at it with both hands. My wife will be so pleased to get TiVo back!!