Seven gives Foxtel the heave-ho with TiVo

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 22:00

Opinion and Analysis

Of course that forgets people complain that there’s all these channels on Foxtel but nothing to watch, and interminable repeats. It also forgets that the must-see TV shows, the latest hits from the US, the shows that get million-plus audiences and more – are all on free-to-air TV.

It also forgets that free-to-air is expanding its programming. One only needs to see Channel 10 broadcasting different shows on its HD channel to its regular station to realise this, with a box such as the TiVo a simple and easy way to capture some of that programming to watch on-demand when desired at a later time.

Even the supreme customisability of the TiVo, as described by Adam Turner in his article linked above, lets you tell the TiVo which shows can be safely deleted to make room for programs that must be recorded as part of the Season Pass, making it the friendliest PVR ever, something Americans have enjoyed for years, but has only come to Australia in 2008.

The Olympic Games is the big chance for the TiVo to make a huge splash, and the months leading up to the Christmas shopping season will no doubt see an intense battle between TiVo and Foxtel’s iQ box.

It will clearly be a televisual battle of epic proportions that will surely give new meaning to must-see TV, for it’s one show – and one showdown – that I don’t want to miss!

For a hands on look at the new Australian TiVo read here.