Best Buy Deal Puts TiVo Software (But No DVR) Into Insignia HDTVs
You'd think injecting a TiVo box into an HDTV and doing away with the set-top box would be an obvious plan of action, but Best Buy's partnership with the DVR company to produce TiVo-running Insignia TVs won't actually get DVR functionality. The companies have announced that they're working on a range of Insignia HDTVs that will run "the latest TiVo non-DVR software and advanced television service," basically squirting online content to your big-screen without needing to pick up a separate TiVo box.
Exact details on the functionality the new HDTVs will offer is unknown, though it's repeatedly described as "non-DVR capacity". That suggests that the Insignia sets will have access to the same YouTube, Netflix, Amazon VoD and Blockbuster VoD as the Premiere DVR, as well as Pandora and FrameChannel.
Still up in the air – and not, we fear, especially likely from the tone of the PR – is whether the Insignia HDTVs will be able to access and play back content stored on a TiVo DVR somewhere else in the home, using the company's multi-room viewing technology. No word on when the new TVs might arrive in Best Buy stores.
[via Zatz Not Funny]
Press Release:
TiVo, Insignia Developing Connected Television for Superior, Seamless Consumer ExperienceCollaboration Leverages Insignia's Customer Insights and TiVo's World Class User Interface Capability; First TiVo User-Interface Without a Set-Top Box
ALVISO, CA and RICHFIELD, MN, May 25, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) and Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) today announced that development is underway to integrate TiVo's software and advanced television services into broadband-connected Insignia televisions. TiVo is a leader in advanced television services, including digital video recorders (DVRs), for consumers, content distributors, and consumer electronics manufacturers. Insignia is a Best Buy exclusive brand and leader in quality, customer-driven electronics innovations.
The new Insignia televisions will provide Best Buy customers with an exceptional, intuitive user experience for accessing online content by utilizing the latest TiVo non-DVR software and advanced television service. TiVo's easy-to-use platform will give the viewer a one-stop-shop for delivering and searching content right on the television.
"Consumers tell us they want the best of Internet-based content delivered right to their televisions without the hassle of having to fumble with multiple devices, wires, and remotes," said Fernando Silva, vice president of Best Buy Exclusive Brands. "The beauty of TiVo software is that it creates a single interactive interface right on the television and integrates the myriad of online content and services. Insignia is thrilled to work with TiVo to bring this superior experience to our customers through our TiVo-powered Insignia television."
Jim Denney, GM and Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo Inc., said, "TiVo has evolved into so much more than a DVR. We are able to customize and deliver solutions that best meet the needs of our partners like Insignia with the ability to integrate TiVo's software and advanced television services onto either set-top boxes or consumer electronics devices in a non-DVR capacity to deliver one of the best in-home entertainment experiences for consumers. We are extremely proud to be teamed with Insignia to bring the TiVo experience to this leading consumer electronics brand and we look forward to continuing to work with Best Buy on possible future endeavors."