In the wake of Microsoft’s failure to buy out Yahoo!, there has been rampant speculation as to Microsoft’s next move, primarily which company they may try to acquire instead of Yahoo!. Facebook is often bandied about in that context, but it probably isn’t surprising that TiVo has popped up amidst the speculation as well. As in this article in Financial Week:

The experience may prompt Messrs. Ballmer and Liddell to seek out home entertainment targets that better fit Microsoft’s culture. The logical choice, said [Stephen Smith, senior managing director at Arma Partners], is set-top box specialist TiVo, since the xBox could serve as the hardware for TiVo’s television-recording software. “TiVo is the Apple of that category,” he said. “And Microsoft could buy it without antitrust concerns.”

Perhaps, and TiVo is working with Nero on TiVo software for the Windows PC. So it might not be as difficult to port to the Xbox 360 as it would at first seem. And Microsoft has repeatedly tried to get into the cable STB software business, without much success. Having TiVo’s OCAP software, already picked up by Comcast and Cox, would certainly help in that arena.

But, really, I don’t see it happening. Microsoft already has Windows Media Center as the 800 pound gorilla in the PC market, and they can bring that interface to the 360 should they want to. I think it is just analyst speculation, looking for someone, anyone, that Microsoft could make a play for.