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| | | Tivo offers their own branded Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and a subscription television guide service that allow a consumer to watch a TV program at a later time. These products enable users to pause live TV and record, rewind, fast forward, or save a TV show onto a hard disk drive for storage. Depending on the particular model, Tivo DVRs can record from cable, satellite, or over-the-air antenna broadcast sources, in either standard or high definition. Show schedules and content are downloaded by either phone line, or online if an Internet connection is available. A networked Tivo DVR can also be connected online to view photos and home movies, and to stream music from a personal computer. | | |
| Typical costs: | - The Tivo Series2 Dual Tuner (DT) DVR costs $150 and can store 80 hours of shows. It can record two basic cable channels, or one basic cable channel and one digital cable channel at once. While it does work with either cable or satellite, it does not support high definition programming or antenna broadcasts.
- The Tivo HD DVR model costs $300. It can save up to 20 hours of HD (high definition) or 180 hours of SD (standard definition) TV shows. Digital cable and antenna broadcasts can be saved, but satellite sources can not. CableCARD decoders from the cable company may be required in order to use the DVR to watch and record dual digital and HD TV channels.
- The Tivo HD XL costs $600 and features the "extra large" storage capacity, comes with a newer remote, and is THX certified for higher audio and video quality. It can save up to 150 hours of HD programming or 1,350 hours of SD shows.
What should be included: | - The Tivo Series2 Dual Tuner DVR contains the DVR, a remote control, a composite video cable, an RF coaxial cable, a cable splitter, a phone cord, a phone line splitter, an IR control cable, a serial control cable and 2 AA batteries.
- The Tivo HD DVR comes with the DVR, a remote control, a composite video cable, a component video cable, a phone cord and 2 AA batteries.
- The Tivo HD XL DVR includes the DVR, a backlit programmable remote control, an HDMI cable, a composite video cable, a component video cable, a phone cord and 4 AAA batteries.
Additional costs: | - Subscription guide service costs are the same for all Tivo DVRs. Monthly service costs $12.95 a month with a one year contract. An annual plan costs $129 and a 3-year plan costs $299. Lifetime service costs $399.
- There are no refunds for any type of cancellation. However, there is a Money Back Guarantee if initial activations are cancelled within 30 days and the Tivo product is returned.
- Optional accessories include Tivo wireless network adapters ($60), extra Tivo remotes ($30 -$50) or a Western Digital hard disk drive expander ($150) for the Tivo HD DVRs.
- Premium content such as downloading movies, TV shows, and music from online services such as Amazon Video On Demand, Netflix or Rhapsody music service cost $1 -$15. Renting SD movies on Amazon Video On Demand range from $1 -$4, and buying movies costs $5.50 -$15. TV shows cost $2, with HD usually adding a dollar.
Discounts: | - Multi-service discounts are available for existing customers.
- Tivo occasionally offers discounts and promotions to current customers if they wish to purchase another Tivo DVR. These are usually communicated to customers either by email or by messages downloaded to the DVR.
Shopping for a tivo: | |
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Article updated August 2009 |
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