TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally
Don't expect TiVo's international ambitions to stop with Virgin Media, as it's announced a deal with Technicolor (formerly Thomson) to develop "an advanced, TiVo-ready, high definition PVR set-top box" (sounds like Premiere to us, but one can never be sure.) Technicolor is putting TiVo's software on its DSI803 box (pictured above) designed to meet European Low Power Code of Conduct standards, with dual tuners and a minimum 320GB hard drive. Between that and an earlier deal with Conax it expects to be able to offer the combined product to operators worldwide, but there's no word yet on who will be first to bite.
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TiVo and Technicolor Team Up to Offer Integrated PVR Solution
Technicolor's State-of-the-Art HD PVR Set-Top Boxes Will Integrate TiVo's Best-in-Class User Interface and Its Industry-Leading PVR Software
PARIS and ALVISO, CA, May 21, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in advanced television services and personal video recorders (PVRs), and Technicolor (EURONEXT PARIS: 18453) (NYSE: TCH), a leading provider of production, postproduction, and distribution services to content creators and distributors, today announced that Technicolor will invest in and develop an advanced, TiVo-ready, high definition PVR set-top box for operators who license TiVo software.
Technicolor will port TiVo(R) software to its latest state-of-the-art DSI803 PVR hardware platform, giving operators the benefit of provisioning PVRs that are optimized for TiVo's software. The integration of TiVo software and Technicolor hardware will reduce development and integration costs associated with operator deployment, reduce time to market, reduce complexity of implementation, and can be leveraged across multiple technology platforms with offerings to operators worldwide. The initial implementation is to support the initiative reported earlier this year between TiVo and Conax. It is expected to reach beyond to help accelerate deployment of Technicolor set-top-boxes fueled with TiVo's software for TV operators around the world.
"As the convergence of linear television and broadband continues to take hold, operators need to deploy advanced television solutions that are cost efficient and ready for rapid deployment," said Frederic Kurkjian, SVP - Satellite and Cable STB Business Unit at Technicolor. "As one of the leading set-top box providers in the world, operators were increasingly looking to Technicolor to help address this need. To manage this, we selected TiVo's truly comprehensive solution for marrying TV and Internet content within a single, user-friendly and intuitive interface. TiVo's vast understanding of what television viewers want, coupled with our expertise in manufacturing hardware and the platform porting work we are now doing, will be a major advantage for operators looking to leapfrog the competition."
The new offering will feature a dual-tuner HD PVR, a minimum of 320GB hard drive capable of recording up to 45 hours of HD or 400 hours of SD programming, broadband connectivity, and a touch-sensitive front panel, all housed in an aesthetically pleasing case customizable by operator. The product will meet all European Low Power Code of Conduct requirements.
"We are thrilled to be working with the world class engineering team at Technicolor on its first preemptive PVR software integration project," said Joshua Danovitz, Vice President & General Manager International, TiVo Inc. "This is a big win for pay-TV operators and broadcasters who will soon have access to integrated products that combine Technicolor's breadth as one of the biggest and most innovative global set-top box companies and TiVo's expertise as the world's leading television interface."
About TiVo Inc. (www.tivo.com) Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite, and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo's intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry.
TiVo and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. Copyright 2010 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Technicolor With more than 95 years of experience in entertainment innovation, Technicolor serves an international base of entertainment, software, and gaming customers. The company is a leading provider of production, postproduction, and distribution services to content creators and distributors. Technicolor is one of the world's largest film processors; one of the largest independent manufacturers and distributors of DVDs (including Blu-ray Disc); and a leading global supplier of set-top boxes and gateways. The company also operates an Intellectual Property and Licensing business. For more information: www.technicolor.com
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, the timing and nature of the future availability of the integrated platform of TiVo software and Conax security solution and the future availability of a Technicolor PVR platform optimized for TiVo software and technology. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "intend," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the other potential factors described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. TiVo disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Technicolor is a company listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and NYSE stock exchanges, and this press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed, forecasted or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties, refer to Technicolor's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and its filings with the French Autorite des marches financiers.
