Comcast customers can run TiVo software

Filed in archive Video on Demand on January 17, 2007

About a year and a half ago, one of Comcast's senior executives was telling me about TiVo and how much of his calendar time was taken up with their initiative. It's been so long since any news has surfaced that I almost forgot about it. But last week at the CES show in Las Vegas TiVo demonstrated its digital video recorder (DVR) software running on a standard Motorola DCT6412 DVR set-top box.

Motorola is Comcast's principle set top box supplier. Cox said last year that it would also incorporate TiVo software into both scientific-Atlanta and Motorola set-tops.

On the Motorola box, TiVo has managed to combine its DVR interface with the functions of a Comcast electronic program guide. That's too bad since the Comcast program guide sucks.

But the TiVo software can perform a global search by keyword for broadcast, DVR and video-on-demand content. VOD content can be launched directly from that search page. This is a significant improvement over Comcast's abysmal VOD navigation today.

The TiVo software can be downloaded over the cable network to existing set top boxes. Then, customers can opt for a new remote control and have it mailed to them.