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Wednesday December 2, 2009 11:06 AM AEST
Skip Navigation LinksPC Authority > Reviews > Peripherals > Misc Peripherals > First Look: Is the TiVo Blockbuster video download service worth signing up for?

First Look: Is the TiVo Blockbuster video download service worth signing up for?

Friday May 08, 2009
Written by Adam Turner
Tags: TiVo | Blockbuster | video
AUD
$35
Price at time of review.
Australians have another way to hire movies from the couch with the launch of TiVo's Blockbuster movie download service
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Comments: 5
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
Noblejoker
May 11, 2009 11:44 PM
 TiVo service looks good and has lots of extras but will only ever work in Australia with free to air digital channels plus these 'added' services - most of which cost extra. It doesn't work with pay TV (Foxtel, Austar) and probably never will and will eventually falter here due to price and lack of options. $700 for the original unit is pretty dear for a PVR that doesn't work with pay tv


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
First Look: Is the TiVo Blockbuster video download service worth signing up for??
Australians have another way to hire movies from the couch with the launch of TiVo's Blockbuster movie download service

What do you think? Join the discussion.
mordie
May 12, 2009 9:07 AM
 *hugz his topfield*

seriously though the TiVo must have not looked at the uptake of foxtel/austar rates before marketing the machines here as it's not has big has you might think. the problem with TiVo is it's not offering much for the price ...unit cost then the monthly repayments for access and lets not for get the drama of the customers having to PAY for a unit update that was way over the price of the small file update that got sent out. ... It also requires ib on demand internet access via ADSL/Cable which is another monthly expense on top of the all the other costs involved - and only one provider is offering free content for the machines (internode) all others will be limited to the quota / speed of their choice of ISP. Until we get better speeds with better quotas it's not a really winner here in Australia...
Adam Turner
May 12, 2009 1:15 PM
 @mordie

I wouldn't hug a Topfield until its got its firmware storted out. Early adoptors of the 7100 got screwed, I think they've fixed it now.

Also, there are no "monthly repayments" for TiVo - once you buy the unit it's free unless your hire a movie or pay for the networking update. Most people are paying for internet anyway, so I wouldn't take that cost into consideration. iPrimus is also offerin unmetered TiVo traffic and I'm sure others will follow.
Adam Turner
May 12, 2009 1:17 PM
 also @mordie

I bet your Topfield cost more than a TiVo, yet it can't access Pay TV either and you need to pay for a service like IceTV if you want remote scheduling (which may not work coz Topfield's firmware is so crap).
Nat.W¿LL¿
May 17, 2009 7:32 PM
 yup tivo worth the money definantly being able to fst fwrd advertisements is excellent, two week (i think i cant remember..) advance tv guide, being able to record shows based on your preferences, i didnt like that at first but its actually good.
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