The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certified more than 1,000 TV models in North America, Europe, Korea and Japan as DLNA compliant in the first quarter of 2011 alone. That’s more than the total number certified in the first four years of the program, and brings the total number of certified models to over 4,000.

DLNA makes it easy to stream content between devices. A DLNA server, such as a PC with media files, can stream to any DLNA enabled client, such as a PS3 or DLNA certified HDTV. Since it is a standard, any compliant client can connect to a compliant server. A recent CableLabs Interop event shows that MVPDs are looking at using DLNA to allow their STBs to stream content to other devices in the home.

The entire CE industry seems to have embraced DLNA, there’s quite a list of supporters. There is a notable exception, TiVo. TiVo’s lack of DLNA support has been the source of disappointment and frustration for users, myself included. Unless they’re using DLNA for the as-yet-unreleased Premiere-to-Premiere streaming, which there is no indication of, there has been no sign of TiVo embracing DLNA.

If TiVo acted as a DLNA client consumers would be able to stream media off of their PC, or other DLNA server devices, quickly and easily. There would be no need to bend over backwards to make things work through TiVo Desktop, or to use reverse-engineered 3rd party products like kmttg, Streambaby, or pyTiVo.

And if TiVo acted as a DLNA server you could stream content off of your TiVo to DLNA client devices – like a PS3 or one of those 4,000 TV models. You could have instant multi-room viewing, a whole home DVR, without buying additional TiVo boxes – which is probably why they’re not doing it. But that’s a shame, DLNA is becoming almost standard in new CE devices and rather than locking users into TiVo, I think it will lock TiVo out of the larger DLNA ecosystem.

I’m hopeful that with cable MSOs looking toward DLNA, and TiVo establishing relationships with cable MSOs, TiVo will need to implement DLNA in their products to satisfy those MSOs. I love TiVo, but I hate walled gardens and TiVo feels increasingly walled off by comparison as other vendors become more open. I hope that changes, both for TiVo’s sake and for consumers.

Press release below:
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