TiVo customers can finally stream Netflix movies and TV content
By Justin Montgomery
In a rush for partnerships, Netflix has struck a deal with TiVo to expand its streaming movie and television content to TiVo DVR users. Streaming Netflix should be available on HD XL, TiVo HD, and all Series3 DVRs by the end of the year.
Like other streaming Netflix set-top boxes and partnerships, all you need is a Netflix membership to view free streaming content through your TiVo DVR. The service doesn’t officially launch until December, but a few select beta testers will be able to use the service now and give the company feedback as to how it works, according to Daily Tech.
Streaming Netflix is an appealing service to most TiVo DVR users. Since most cable and satellite companies offer their own DVR technology and services, users of TiVo tend to be hardcore DVR users, and appreciate the functionality and variety of programming more than those that choose the standard DVR included with their cable service. “For Netflix and TiVo subscribers, this collaboration offers a fabulously easy way to enhance the enjoyment of watching movies in the comfort of their living rooms,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix. “Subscribers to Netflix and TiVo are avid movie watchers and this combination gives them immediate access to all of the great content available through TiVo and the thousands of additional choices available to be streamed instantly from Netflix.”
I’ve used streaming Netflix in the past, and the choices are somewhat limited overall. Given, it would hurt Netflix’s core business of new-movie rentals, but I’ve always said variety needs to increase more steadily with the streaming service. By baking the streaming service into the devices people use everyday makes it much more appealing than paying a hundred or so dollars for a standalone set-top box. I wonder how far Netflix will go with partnerships to provide its streaming service- will they go for the big guys? For instance, Dish Network and DirecTV partnerships could bring the service in front of millions of viewers instantly.
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