Yahoo Ties With Tivo; DirecTV Blocks Service

Tivo has tied up with Yahoo to allow users to schedule and record TV shows using Yahoo’s TV listings. Tivo has a similar tie-up with AOL.

But this one goes further: in coming months, TiVo users will be able to view on their TV pictures that have been stored on the Yahoo Photos site, as well as local weather and traffic information from Yahoo. The other way round is not yet possible, that is, video from Tivo to be viewed online by Yahoo users.

The deal does not have a significant cash component, but involves co-promotion.

In a siginificant ommision, satellite TV company DirecTV, with which Tivo’s relationship has been strained at best (even though DirecTV used to distribute Tivo) will not let customers who have received its TiVo boxes use the Yahoo scheduling or programming features.

This also pushed Yahoo into the digital living room, something it has been working on for a while now with its “Connected Life” division. Earlier this year, Yahoo acquired VerdiSoft, a company making software that links various devices to online services, and its founder Marco Boerries is now heading the new division.

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