Comments on: Shouldn’t TiVo simply buy Akimbo?

By: Florine

Florine — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 16:32:11 +0000

I think TiVo should move on quicker because other service providers may offer a better and cheaper solution. Check nubatv.com (I think they are still in beta).

By: Reinvent TV

Reinvent TV — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:38:23 +0000

TiVo Shareholders Still in Denial

The value of TiVo’s shares declined over 6% in heavy trading last Thursday, after Reuters reported that DirecTV CEO Chase Carey had said that his company would cease marketing and promoting TiVo’s DVR service as soon as it launches a DVR of its own l…

By: brandon

brandon — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:36:17 +0000

Did you know about this,

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/12375459.htm

By: Clint Sharp

Clint Sharp — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 06:56:46 +0000

Akimbo’s strength is in it’s back end. I’ve left the comment here several times, but Akimbo does not want to be in the hardware business. Tivo is based on Linux, but honestly if they wanted to offer Windows Media capable software, since it’s an embedded device I bet Microsoft would be happy to help them make it run. It’s a locked box whether the base in Open Source or not.

Tivo hasn’t done anything innovative that has worked since they’ve released their initial product. Honestly, Tivo is being commoditized, although they still have the best interface. The only thing Tivo has left is it’s brand. Akimbo is the only company out there attempting to play the long tail, and I think Tivo’s offering is likely to be as poor as Tivo2Go.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:55:32 +0000

i agree they are two different platforms. But content deals could help speed things up a tad. I think akimbo has good back end as well

By: Mittal Monani

Mittal Monani — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:43:23 +0000

Besides, Akimbo and Tivo are based on two frundamentally different platforms, so I don’t think there’s anything for Tivo from a technological standpoint. IIRC, Akimbo is based on DRM’d Windows while Tivo is a Linux box. It’ll be a nightmare for Tivo to integrate such an acquisition : don’t think Tivo’s hacker-friendly ethos would transfer very well on the Akimbo box.

By: brandon

brandon — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 23:39:05 +0000

There is no question that akimbo could probably be taken for very little… I guess I just don’t really see why they deserve the credit for coming up with something useless (keep in mind they just recently stumbled into vlogs, etc – which *should* be shortlived anyhow) – And all it would take for Tivo is a one-man bus/dev team and a bit more energy in the engineering dept. to replicate (unless there are some patents i’m not aware of). Akimbo has no brand equity (so there’s no value there) and I would assume mid-to-low 5-figure subscriber base (no value there).

Keep in mind, I just have a qualm with one of their backers… So this is biased.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 21:59:55 +0000

brandon, good points you make, but clearly it means saving time, and rolling out money generating service faster for tivo/ if you look at their financials, and the recent end-of-relationship with directv, they need to do something fairly quick. akimbo might not cost them as much money.

By: brandon

brandon — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 21:54:19 +0000

I am not sure that tivo needs akimbo. Tivo has enough muscle that they can create similar relationships (probably much better) than akimbo will ever be able to offer. There is no question that akimbo NEEDS a tivo-like partner/acquirer, but there I don’t see much value (unless tivo can scoop up akimbo ) in akimbo.

By: James Harris

James Harris — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 21:41:59 +0000

Om,

You could not be more on target. Having spoken with Akimbo a number of times over the last year about providing content for their platform, it has become clear to me that their issue of scale (or viewer size) is their largest problem. Tivo could benefit from Akimbo’s thrist for blazing new trails in the open media space and hunger for mastering the long tail. Akimbo having access to the TiVO faithful would give their revenue model that one chance in “hell” that it need to ever deliver profits.

The one issue that might make such a union close to impossible is the fact that Akimbo is deeply invested in a Microsoft platform ( as of the last time I spoke with them at CES); I would hope that TIVO would be bright enough to develop a more open platform.

I would look from Akimbo to a strong player in the XBOX 360 Media Center space. If Akimbo could bypass the retail, shipping boxes, stuff and piggyback on the 360 (to the tune of 10 or 20 million units over the next 2 or 3 years) they will trump TIVO hands down.

James