Amazon launches ‘Unbox’ video service for TiVo at last

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 08 March 2007 03:32

Your IT - Entertainment

In beta testing since February with a select group of TiVo subscribers, Amazon has now made the Unbox video download service for TiVo available to anyone with a Series2 or 3 TiVo box in the US.

Amazon.com has positioned itself to take a huge chunk of the IPTV pie by offering downloads of TV shows and movies direct to the most popular TV recording device in the US, the TiVo.

TiVo already has more than 1.5 million subscribers of its Series2 and 3 PVRs, which are able to be connected to the network to receive Amazon Unbox video content, which is then searchable through TiVo’s onscreen menu as any other recorded content, making the system instantly familiar to TiVo’s users.

Amazon has decided in classic retail style to have a promotion to drum up as much interest in Unbox as possible, with TiVo subscribers able to access US $15 worth of free movies or TV shows, naturally via download, if they register by April 30.

TV shows are able to be purchased at US $1.99 per episode, while movies can be rented from $1.99, although most movies are either $2.99 or $3.99 depending on their ‘freshness’. Movies can also be purchased, but at the more expensive prices of US $9.99 to $14.99, once again, depending on their release dates. Video content will be available from Universal Studios, Warner Bros, Sony, MGM, Fox, CBS, Paramount and Lionsgate.

If you’re a TiVo user, and you’re keen to use the service, you’ll need to go to Amazon.com to register so you can connect your TiVo account to your new Unbox account.

The battle for the delivery of digital media, such as TV shows, movies, music videos and more is hotting up with activity on all fronts, from Microsoft’s Xbox 360 LIVE video download service, Apple’s upcoming Apple TV, Sony’s PS3, Netflix, Windows Vista, Movielink, Cinemanow and others all offering TV show and movie downloads.

It’s a battle that will take some time to find a winner as it challenges the way we watch TV. Television will never be the same again!