Home Media Features Now Part of Standard $12.95/Month Subscription for First TiVo DVR, $6.95/Month for Additional Boxes

TiVo is cutting service prices on home networking and recording services for its standalone boxes as it looks to further boost subscription rates.

The San Jose, Calif.-based company is expected to announce Wednesday at a New York event price cuts for services used with its Series2 standalone digital video recorders (DVRs). TiVo’s networking software–called Home Media Option and had previously cost $99–will become part of its standard service offering for both monthly and lifetime subscribers. The company will also offer those with multiple TiVo boxes a price cut for additional recorders. The monthly subscription rate for the first recorder will remain $12.95, but additional recorders will cost $6.95. Lifetime subscriptions will remain $299.

I think this ia a good thing. Including HMO as a standard part of the service gives them a competitive boost. And it gives them the online programming, transfer between units, and photo viewing ReplayTV has included for a while – plus MP3 playback.

I just hope there aren’t too many people whining about having paid for HMO. (I’ve paid for it on three units – I don’t expect any kind of refund, it is just how things are.)