WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- Broadband video content and IPTV may have just gotten their largest push into the living rooms of mainstream America, now that TiVo will deliver broadband content to subscribers.
The DVR vendor/service provider made the announcement Wednesday for its launch of "TiVoCast," a new service that will deliver broadband video directly to the television sets and PCs of its some 400,000 subscribers.
Among those video-content providers TiVo has struck licensing agreements with are the National Basketball Association and Women's NBA, The New York Times, and CNET.
"Television is still the preferred platform for watching video," said Tara Maitra, TiVo's vice president and general manager of programming. "The TiVoCast service captures mainstream and specialty-based content on the Web, delivering programming that is not otherwise available through the TV today and providing a wide variety of choice that will be of interest to all segments of the TV audience."
According to TiVo, subscribers will have access to the free content via the Showcases area on TiVo Central on the main menu of TiVo service and is available on TiVo Services2 DVR connected through broadband.
Programming will include NBA and WNBA video showcases as well as a special video package of the greatest Finals moments in NBA History during the June 8 NBA tip off.
In addition, the New York Times will offer video segments on news analysis including A.O. Scott's Movie Minute film reviews and David Pogue's technology product reviews; while, CNET will provide buying advice and how-to segments on technology products as well as videos including Insider Secrets, Weekend project, and First Look from the Labs.
Other companies, TiVo has made licensing agreements include:
-- Heavy.com who will provide programming including "Behind the Music that Sucks," "American Suck Countdown" and "The Massive Mating Game" for pop culture enthusiasts.
-- Popular with women, iVillage will provide content covering real stores, how-to advice, beauty, parents, fashion, home, and relationships.
-- Danger Rangers, an animated children's show, is set to provide content on safety awareness.
-- H20: HipHop on Demand will offer HipHop/Urban themed programming.
-- Action sports themed films based on surf, snow skate, BMX, and Motocross supplied by Union on Demand.
-- Popular video blogs and news and political commentaries will be provided by Rocketboom.
-- Here! will offer gay and lesbian themed programming.
TiVo also said that they and their partners would have to ability to integrate advertising with the content.
This is the latest service TiVo has released; only last month the company announced the initial launch of "TiVo Product Watch," offering subscribers the option of searchable advertising and allowing them to select their favorite brands or opt-in to receive video content directly from a company on an ongoing basis.
As part of that launch, some 70 advertisers and 100 leading brands including General Motors, Sony Pictures, Lending Tree, and Kraft Foods participated and will feature newly formatted ads including cooking demonstration, infomercials on mortgages, behind-the-scene movie trailers, and advice on new automotive features and aesthetic options for vehicles.
