Tretakoff Musings
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Watch. Like. BUY.
About a decade ago, I was running the new media ventures of a large specialty electronics and gifts company. While the web was my primary focus, I still experimented with a few offbeat ideas. One was from the country's largest cable company: they wanted to introduce one-click buying of items that were featured in certain television shows.
It worked like this: the cable company would get advance viewings of upcoming episodes of popular shows. They would then look for products in the shows, and find retailers who sold them. Then, after making deals with people like me, when the show actually ran, there would be a little pop-up on screen, inviting you to buy the item for $X, and it would be billed to your cable bill, and sent to the house where your cable service was. Thus, you'd be watching an episode of Friends, and see a cool stereo; the pop-up would come up, and with one click of the remote, you could have Ross and Rachel's very own jukebox. Slick, huh? Of course, it never happened or worked; don't ask me why.
Well, Tivo's looking for more revenue, so, like a bad rerun of an old mummy movie, or DIVX, this idea has returned from the dead. Leveraging their Amazon partnership for Unbox (now Amazon On Demand), Tivo has announced a way to allow people to use their remote to buy the items they see featured in a program, even a live one. Helpfully, the New York Times points out "...if a viewer chooses to buy an advertised item during a broadcast, TiVo records the rest of the program so the viewer can easily return to it after the purchase. TiVo users will also be able to save their intended purchases in their Amazon account and return to the site later to complete the transaction."
For Tivo's sake, I hope this works. They need a silver bullet, as being slaves to DirecTV or Comcast clearly ain't doing it. Here's to hoping good old fashioned capitalism saves them and makes them ubiquitous.
It worked like this: the cable company would get advance viewings of upcoming episodes of popular shows. They would then look for products in the shows, and find retailers who sold them. Then, after making deals with people like me, when the show actually ran, there would be a little pop-up on screen, inviting you to buy the item for $X, and it would be billed to your cable bill, and sent to the house where your cable service was. Thus, you'd be watching an episode of Friends, and see a cool stereo; the pop-up would come up, and with one click of the remote, you could have Ross and Rachel's very own jukebox. Slick, huh? Of course, it never happened or worked; don't ask me why.
Well, Tivo's looking for more revenue, so, like a bad rerun of an old mummy movie, or DIVX, this idea has returned from the dead. Leveraging their Amazon partnership for Unbox (now Amazon On Demand), Tivo has announced a way to allow people to use their remote to buy the items they see featured in a program, even a live one. Helpfully, the New York Times points out "...if a viewer chooses to buy an advertised item during a broadcast, TiVo records the rest of the program so the viewer can easily return to it after the purchase. TiVo users will also be able to save their intended purchases in their Amazon account and return to the site later to complete the transaction."For Tivo's sake, I hope this works. They need a silver bullet, as being slaves to DirecTV or Comcast clearly ain't doing it. Here's to hoping good old fashioned capitalism saves them and makes them ubiquitous.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Christmas in July
Few brands inspire warm and fuzzy feelings in me. Of the ones that do, it's because they have the capacity to surprise and delight me with delicious unexpected gifts at the most opportune times. And I'm happy to say, one just has.
Tivo, whose service I have awaited with endless frustration to come onto my behemoth of a clunker Comcast DVR, has just released TivoHD. Yes, there had been a Tivo HD DVR before....for the ungodly price of $1,000 (fell to $700). Instead, I was driven into the arms of that cheap tramp from Comcast, who promised me a "good (HD) time" for less than $20 a month. Well, as you might expect, I walked away with an empty feeling, pining for the luxury that was my Tivo, but knowing I was not willing to fork over the asking price.
Today, the sensuality of my lovely Tivo in glorious two tuner HD, with Amazon Unbox service and web-based programming, can be had for three precious Jacksons, 70% less than before. Caveat: you have to argue with Comcast to wangle two CableCARD's, an interface they are notoriously resistant to providing (they have to do so under law, but that doesn't mean it needs to be easy!), so you might want to contact your cable provider first.
If you just can't wait, order it today. I just might!
UPDATE: A GREAT review from CNet discloses the upsdies and downsides. Upside: all the fantastic Tivo online goodies, works with digital cable. Downsides: On Demand not supported, no TivoToGo, etc.
Other great reviews here.
Tivo, whose service I have awaited with endless frustration to come onto my behemoth of a clunker Comcast DVR, has just released TivoHD. Yes, there had been a Tivo HD DVR before....for the ungodly price of $1,000 (fell to $700). Instead, I was driven into the arms of that cheap tramp from Comcast, who promised me a "good (HD) time" for less than $20 a month. Well, as you might expect, I walked away with an empty feeling, pining for the luxury that was my Tivo, but knowing I was not willing to fork over the asking price.Today, the sensuality of my lovely Tivo in glorious two tuner HD, with Amazon Unbox service and web-based programming, can be had for three precious Jacksons, 70% less than before. Caveat: you have to argue with Comcast to wangle two CableCARD's, an interface they are notoriously resistant to providing (they have to do so under law, but that doesn't mean it needs to be easy!), so you might want to contact your cable provider first.
If you just can't wait, order it today. I just might!
UPDATE: A GREAT review from CNet discloses the upsdies and downsides. Upside: all the fantastic Tivo online goodies, works with digital cable. Downsides: On Demand not supported, no TivoToGo, etc.
Other great reviews here.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Tivo FINALLY coming to Comcast in August
With the unbelievable noise that is the iPhone, an important news item slipped out unnoticed, except by the good folks at Ars Technica: Tivo is FINALLY coming to the Comcast DVR's, over a year after it was first announced. The best part of this is this quote:
Comcast, I'm hereby DEMANDING I be in one of those select areas. I want my Tivo Comcast DVR before Heroes and Lost start again!
Our long national cable nightmare for cheap(er) DVR's may finally be on the verge of ending.
With the unbelievable noise that is the iPhone, an important news item slipped out unnoticed, except by the good folks at Ars Technica: Tivo is FINALLY coming to the Comcast DVR's, over a year after it was first announced. The best part of this is this quote:"Comcast DVRs based on the TiVo software should be ready in select areas as early as August."
Comcast, I'm hereby DEMANDING I be in one of those select areas. I want my Tivo Comcast DVR before Heroes and Lost start again!
Our long national cable nightmare for cheap(er) DVR's may finally be on the verge of ending.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Tivo...almost on my Comcast DVR!
So close, I can almost taste it. Today, at CES, Comcast finally demo'ed Tivo on their DVR. As I have this miserable piece of crap excuse for a box, with it's sluggish UI and hit or miss recording ability, I miss my Tivo every day. Will I be willing to pay a few bucks more a month for Tivo's UI, reliability, and great features on my already bloated Comcast box?
YES.
Now, when's the date? Rumor is, I'll be able to update the existing box instead of getting a new one. Seems unlikely, as Tivo's Thumbs Up/Down buttons aren't on the Comcast remote. Still, I'll keep you posted!
So close, I can almost taste it. Today, at CES, Comcast finally demo'ed Tivo on their DVR. As I have this miserable piece of crap excuse for a box, with it's sluggish UI and hit or miss recording ability, I miss my Tivo every day. Will I be willing to pay a few bucks more a month for Tivo's UI, reliability, and great features on my already bloated Comcast box?YES.
Now, when's the date? Rumor is, I'll be able to update the existing box instead of getting a new one. Seems unlikely, as Tivo's Thumbs Up/Down buttons aren't on the Comcast remote. Still, I'll keep you posted!
