Comments on: TiVo Blames Big Cable for Blocking Set-Top Innovation

By: Is TV Everywhere the Solution to the Set-Top Box War?

Is TV Everywhere the Solution to the Set-Top Box War? — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:53:19 +0000

[...] debate was largely a response to the FCC’s recent inquiry into the cable innovation. TiVo had used its filing late last year to blame cable companies for the lack of innovation in the set-top box space and [...]

By: Who’s the victim: TiVo, AT&T or Microsoft? | Unfiltered

Who’s the victim: TiVo, AT&T or Microsoft? | Unfiltered — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:06:55 +0000

[...] uses Microsoft Mediaroom, so Microsoft is really just defending its own business. Meanwhile TiVo says cablecos are stifling innovation by restricting use of their set-top boxes, but in the same breath, is asking its sometime friends, [...]

By: Microsoft Sues TiVo, Casts Doubt On Patents As a Business Model

Microsoft Sues TiVo, Casts Doubt On Patents As a Business Model — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:11:11 +0000

[...] irony of this conflict is that TiVo recently complained in a comment to the FCC that cable companies are stifling innovation by restricting the use of [...]

By: Jon Smirl

Jon Smirl — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:14:36 +0000

There is zero third party innovation on top of DRM'd iTunes. It is a closed Apple system.

It is not possible to innovate on top of the existing DRM'd cable system since it is not possible to easily attach alternative set top box equipment to it.

Cable has made life so difficult for Tivo hardly anyone will buy a Tivo any more. Note that Tivo was doing fine before cable closed their signals with DRM.

This is same problem with Apple. Only iPods work with Fairplay DRM'd music since Apple won't license Fairplay to anyone else.

DRM is a means to an end. The end result is creating a monopoly by refusing to license any third parties a DRM key.

By: Ryan Lawler

Ryan Lawler — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:42:40 +0000

This was my thought exactly. It doesn't seem smart for TiVo to take an adversarial position to the cable companies right now, esp. if it hopes to license its software to them. Regardless of whether or not it can create a DVR with a unified user interface, it seems like the company's hardware business is done for.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:25:44 +0000

Your statement assumes that you can't innovate if DRM is involved and although it most definitely slows things down, if it was true then the iTunes Music Store would've never existed and DVDs wouldn't have been popular.

No, what we really need is open DRM and the best example is SSL. I'm not saying SSL would work here, just that it proves that we can have protection and innovation at the same time.

Of course the real sad part is all the content get pirated anyways, so ultimately the DRM is a waste of time.

By: Jon Smirl

Jon Smirl — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:35:33 +0000

Encrypted TV kills innovation. It's killing Tivo, Moxie, MythTV, Windows Home Theater, etc, etc.

Let's hope the new FCC proposal for a box in the basement that provides open signals in the house is approved.

By: DZ

DZ — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:56:25 +0000

Wonder if their partner Comcast will take offense. And if it matters. Of course, I predict that relationship will die (be killed) in 2010 anyway as DirecTV takes off nationwide.