TiVo unveiled a major overhaul to its Video on Demand platform this week, offering a vast improvement on TiVo's horrid Blockbuster video on demand service.
Along with a smoother interface, TiVo's new CASPA Video on Demand service offers a wealth of extra movies plus TV shows and music videos. There's a whole stack of free content, especially when it comes to kid's shows. Best of all, if you're with Internode, iiNet, Primus or Adam Internet then it's unmetered - so such shows are really free.
Foxtel's video download service requires a monthly Foxtel subscription, plus you have to pay for your data because it's not unmetered - not even for Telstra Bigpond customers.
Australia's free-to-air networks have finally all come to the party with a second standard-def channel, plus the ABC is even offering a third channel. Seven Two and Nine GO! are packed with popular repeats that feel a lot like Foxtel's TV1 - the kind of channel you can dip into any time of day or night in order to veg out.
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| TiVo: no monthly fees makes downloadable TV and movies even more attractive |
The networks are also increasing the amount of free content they put online, plus the Video on Demand services are starting to mature. Freeview is even working on a commercial TV equivalent to the ABC's impressive iView service (which is now available on the PS3).
The range of movies on Bigpond and TiVo Blockbuster is pathetic compared to the Australian iTunes store, but Robbee Minicola - chief executive of TiVo's Australian backer Hybrid TV - tells me TiVo is aiming to offer more content than iTunes. That would be an impressive feat, just about making TiVo the perfect home entertainment box.
If your ISP offers unmetered TiVo downloads then the TiVo PVR is probably the most attractive offering for you right now. To sweeten the deal, TiVo has even doubled the hard drive capacity in the new TiVo 320 while keeping the RRP at $699.
For the next few months TiVo is even throwing in the $199 home networking package for free. I'm told TiVo also intends to overhaul its online scheduling service. All up TiVo is evolving into a pretty attractive platform, with the bonus of no monthly fees.
If you're a Telstra Bigpond cable customer, it might be worth waiting for the reviews of Telstra's new T-Box HD PVR and VoD box - especially considering all downloads will be unmetered. For everyone else, TiVo has certainly raised the bar and is the one to watch.
Also in this series, Picking the Perfect Home Entertainment Box:
Part 11: Not all universal remotes are created equal
Part 10: Hulu blocks international access via Witopia
Part 9: What does Windows 7 offer in the lounge room?
Part 8: forget scratched DVDs, build a video jukebox instead
Part 7: Is Foxtel Download worth getting excited about?
Part 6: Is interference destroying your digital lounge room?
Part 5: Do you need a Freeview sticker?
Part 4: What's the best way to record your favourite shows?
Part 3: Networking your TV, PVR, console, set top box
Part 2: Creating a P2P season pass
Part 1: Internet video on the PS3
Buying a TV? Also see our series How to Pick a Great Flat Screen TV, And Not Get Sucked In By Marketing Hype