Amazon may tap TiVo to leverage movie service

In a bid to disrupt Apple Computer's reservations for a prime seat in the living room, Amazon is reportedly talking with TiVo about making its new Unbox movie download service accessible to TiVo subscribers.

Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the New York Post said the Internet's largest retailer is talking "with TiVo about creating a feature that would allow users to automatically transfer online movie purchases to their TiVo set-top boxes."

Amazon recently rolled out its Unbox service, which offers television shows, movies and other videos. The announcement came just days before Apple chief executive Steve Jobs orchestrated an elaborate presentation to announce the iPod maker's own movie service, which features full-length films from Walt Disney. Unlike Apple, Amazon has deals in place with every other movie studio except Disney.

During Apple's unveiling, Jobs also said Apple in the first quarter of 2007 will begin selling a media hub, dubbed iTV, which will wirelessly deliver all of a user's iTunes content — including videos, TV programs, music, podcasts and feature films — to their big screen TV.

Earlier this week, Newsweek reported that Apple and Google have been floating a concept that could make files from Google's free online Video service easily accessible through iTV.

Apple plans to sell the device for $299.

40 Comments

mikehackman 11 comments · 18 Years

About 18 years ago

While I am excited that my TiVo is getting enhanced functinality, I truly hope that the iTV will not fall behind because of this...

solsun 757 comments · 20 Years

This is one thing that could definitely give Amazon the upperhand.... If, of course, they can manage to get the service to actually work..

jeffdm 12733 comments · 20 Years

Would that mean that Tivo would get the Windows DRM or would Amazon convert it to a different DRM compatible with Tivo's system?

mchuman 154 comments · 18 Years

I've had tivo for years and still haven't installed their software to play videos on my PC. Its a pain in the ass. Trying to get unbox's crappy service to go ON to my tivo seems like even more of a nightmare.

e1618978 5921 comments · 21 Years

Based on the DirecTV (series 1 and series 2 both) Tivo units that I have owned, I don't think that Tivo has particularly talented programmers. I doubt that the amazon link up will be popular.