Is TiVo's Australian debut ten years too late?

[dgaust]

From news.com.au

SEVEN Network has been sending out the glad tidings: it will shortly launch TiVo in Australia. In reply it has been bombarded by a response of jeers and derision.

It's a fairly nothing article, but there are certainly some interesting comments from people.

[aanda6]

Well let's hope more people are smart enough to realise that they are being conned by the networks to purchase what is just anothe over priced pvr, with most of its features hobbled. Maybe (yeah Right) then they will decide the only way to win back the consumer is to finish programs when scheduled and provide acurate up to daye EPG.

must have been dreaming there.

[imelda]

But is $699 overpriced for a twin tuner HD recorder which should have a decent TV guide, remote web recording scheduling, and the possibility of things like TivoToGo, onlne services etc in the future?

At first all the talk of Tivo made me yawn, but I'm starting to think that while the product might be late to market, but it doesn't mean it's too late for the masses.

Most people I know don't have a DVR, and this is definitely an easier sell than Media Center or the alternatives. No doubt the constant bombardment of ads by Harvey Norman, 7, Yahoo etc isn't going to hurt.

i.

[GlenR]

Then you relax as you remember – the TiVo will take care of all that and you can watch the show tonight when you totter home. It already knows all your favourite programs and will have automatically recorded this for you to keep with the rest of your Top Gear collection.

Hmmm... "to keep with the rest of your Top Gear collection" - could News be advocating breaching the Australian Copyright Act?

Surely not.

[dgaust]

What the reporters is obviously talking about there, is legitimately purchased DVD box sets of all the Top Gear series.

[ExtremePC]

Originally Posted by GlenR

Hmmm... "to keep with the rest of your Top Gear collection" - could News be advocating breaching the Australian Copyright Act?

Surely not.

The last aamendments to the Australian copyright Act allow for the legal recording of TV content so recording top gear is not illegal.

[dgaust]

But you can only watch a recording once.....

From a fact sheet on the Copyright Amendments

What broadcasts can you record under new s 111?

You can record free-to-air television and radio broadcasts as well as pay-TV broadcasts (assuming you have paid to access the program).You are not allowed to copy material from a DVD or material that is made available over the Internet as a download or webcast.

What are the limits to the new exception?

• The recording must be made solely for personal and domestic use. This allows private use within your family and domestic circle. It does not allow you to play a recorded program to any kind of public audience.

• There is no fixed time for keeping the recording. A recording can be kept until there is a convenient opportunity to watch it or listen to it. However this does not mean you can keep a recording as long as you like.

• A library of copied television and radio programs is not allowed. A time-shift copy can’t be stored for repeated use. Making a collection of recordings of films, TV programs or music would be a substitute for buying that material. This undercuts markets for copyright owners.

• You cannot sell, swap, lend or give away a recording to anyone else. However the maker can lend it to a member of their family or household.

• The recording cannot be used to make a further copy of the material broadcast.

• Uploading a recording to the Internet to share with others is not permitted. This activity may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.


This fact sheet provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

[aanda6]

Very few of the "Masses" would currently have internet access in their lounge room, as Tivo doesn't even ship with wireless (which most of the masses don't have either) how are the "Masses" going to access this advanced EPG that is included, let alone the features that have been hobbled on release until 7 works out how they will charge for them.

I still do not think the "masses" will take this up until it can collect the EPG data through the EIT stream like the rest of the PVRs in the marketplace.

[logifuse]

Originally Posted by imelda

But is $699 overpriced for a twin tuner HD recorder which should have a decent TV guide, remote web recording scheduling, and the possibility of things like TivoToGo, onlne services etc in the future?

At first all the talk of Tivo made me yawn, but I'm starting to think that while the product might be late to market, but it doesn't mean it's too late for the masses.

I am (unfortunately) starting to think that as well. The nearest thing on the market is the Beyonwiz &, quite frankly, it's pretty hopeless & it costs more than the Tivo.

The problem with most PVRs (as every MCE newbie discovers) is schedule overuns - if the Tivo can deal with that as it claims, it will be a winner. But that leads to a bigger question - is a 2 tuner PVR enough for the Australian market?

There is no doubt in my mind that VMC is the best PVR on the market (after 4 tuners are hacked in, the start menu is edited with MenuMender & an EPG is added), but it will never be king because the temptation to use it as a PC will invite visits from the f'up fairy. Unless MS release a way to genuinely lock it down (& I don't mean the "media only mode" joke that's in the start menu), then it can never become main stream.

Justin

[ExtremePC]

Originally Posted by dgaust

But you can only watch a recording once.....

From a fact sheet on the Copyright Amendments

yes, and?

[dgaust]

Read the wording of the statement again, then in conjunction with the fact sheet, you'll figure out GlenR's point.