TiVo in Canada

After years of waiting for TiVo to appear in stores Canadians now can buy TiVo. TiVo’s Series2 DT was launched in Canada about two weeks back. It’s features include a wireless function. It does not have the ability to record Hi-Def. In addition people in Quebec do not have access to it yet.

When TiVo was introduced in the US, it was hugely popular due to the lack of competition. Here, however TiVo is faced with PVR’s - personal video recorders that Canadians use. Many people who would have bought TiVo’s have already purchased PVR’s. It was just too frustrating to wait for TiVo.

However TiVo is distinguished from the competition in many ways. It’s interface has won it an Emmy Award and it offers features that are exclusive to TiVo. According to Joe Miller from Tivo, TiVo is “not just a PVR”.

Although PVR’s can record shows as well, TiVo’s solution considers photos, TiVOToGo, as well as music. These features make TiVo unique. To use TiVoToGo users need to buy a wireless G router for $59.

The Quebec launch is scheduled for mid-2008 and will happen with the help of a French user interface and French manuals. According to Miller from TiVo the consumer response in Canada has been great.