Joshua covers a lot of interesting territory, with the primary focus being on TiVo’s app support. TiVo is focused on providing a consistent app environment across their platforms, be it retail or provider units. Today the focus on on the Adobe Air/Flash environment which is used on the retail and MSO Premiere units in the US, and the Virgin Media and ONO boxes in Europe. There is still support for the Java environment used on earlier platforms, as in HME, and TiVo is looking at other environments.

For developers seeking to get their app onto TiVo they work directly with TiVo for the retail market, but need to work with the providers for their TiVo units. TiVo can help facilitate those conversations for developers seeking to get their apps on multiple platforms, but it is up to the individual operators to approve an app for their customers.

He also talked a bit about working with different size operators, from giants like Comcast and Charter with millions of users, down to small MSOs with 150,000 subscribers. Definitely worth watching, IMHO. Now if we could just have the SDK released and actually start seeing more apps!

Via Broadband TV News

ONO’s Marketing TV Director, Fernando Meco, stated:

“Since the launch of our TiVo offering in Madrid and Barcelona we have seen an incredible response from customers that have embraced this new world of on demand and Internet-delivered content. We are thrilled to expand the TiVo solution to even more of our customers, building on ONO’s promise to provide best in class products and services thanks to our fiber optic network.”

Customers in ONO’s service areas can get more info from ONO’s website. TiVo’s MSO offerings have really been ticking along nicely.

• DirecTV will finally release the new THR22 DirecTiVo in “early December”.
• Charter will be launching retail “very soon”.
• Comcast OnDemand support is in field trials now.

I think the DirecTiVo news is the most anticipated, so in TiVo’s own words:

Additionally, DirecTV has informed us that they intend to initiate the launch of the TiVo-DIRECTV product in select markets in December with a nationwide rollout to follow early next year.

Still, don’t set your expectations too high. We know the new DirecTiVo is based on the old HR22 DVR and it will lack a number of features found in the current DirecTV DVRs. DirecTV really doesn’t seem to want to release it, but they’re obligated to do so. They’re clearly focused on their in-house units with their five-tuner DVR, new HD UI, and whole-home support.

In other news, TiVo has had their first increase in total subscriptions in four years – adding 117,000 subscribers compared to a 33,000 loss last quarter. This is mainly thanks to Virgin Media’s runaway success, but also growth from RCN & Suddenlink. With ONO, Grande Communications, and Charter coming online, and the new DirecTiVo finally shipping, the MSO subscribers will become even more significant going forward. And TiVo indicated further MSO deals are pending, with TiVo having responded to several Request for Proposals.

Conversely, the retail side continues to slide. They added 30,000 new subscribers, but lost 60,000 old ones – for a 30k net loss. MSOs actually added 147,000 – the lower 117,000 net add is due to this loss. The good news is the new subscribers are worth more to TiVo as the higher monthly fees increase revenue per customer. If & when Comcast launches VOD support on TiVo and provides some marketing and free installations, as promised, it may help the retail numbers. But it seems clear the MSO side of the house is going to be the real growth engine.

Oh, there was one other interesting point. Rogers mentioned that most of TiVo’s development now serves both MSO & retail. They’re building a common code base for all platforms, MSO and retail, to better leverage their R&D spending. In the past the two sides operated pretty much independently. Remember the soft-TiVo product for Comcast & Cox was a completely new Java code base. While retail boxes remained on the conventional development path. Now MSO & retail units will be running common, if not identical, software and hardware will also be shared.

We’re already seeing that with the TiVo Premiere Q for MSOs and TiVo Premiere Elite for retail. It is basically the same box with a different hard drive capacity. And the 14.x software used by MSOs, such as RCN, and the retail units is from a common base. This means that any feature TiVo develops can be released to retail and offered to their MSO partners simultaneously – contractual issues permitting of course. (See Netflix being unavailable on MSO units.) It is also makes things more efficient, you don’t need two development teams both implementing the same thing on different platforms. Even the software for Virgin Media and ONO, which runs on third party hardware, appears to be from the common code base.

One thing I was hoping to hear, but didn’t, was news on the TiVo Preview coming to retail. I really want this and it is annoying that it is available to MSOs but not retail. It is the perfect companion to the TiVo Premiere Elite.

Overall though, I thought it was a pretty good quarter.

YouTube user NeeoTV has kindly uploaded the first two spots:

Via InvestorVillage.

Well, now we have a hard launch, with a press release to back it up. TiVo is part of a larger push from ONO. Not only is TiVo acting as a DVR, it is also ONOs first STB offering HD and 3D content. And, like Virgin in the UK, ONO is offering extensive broadband content over a dedicated DOCSIS connection.

Full press release below:

ONO and TiVo Launch High-Definition Hybrid TV Solution in Spain

Spain’s Largest Cable Operator Offers Most Advanced TV Service With the Deployment of Its First High Definition Broadband-Connected Set Top Box With DVR

MADRID, SPAIN and ALVISO, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — 11/15/2011 — ONO, the largest cable operator in Spain and a leading provider of broadband communication and entertainment services, and TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for personal video recorders, today announced their next generation hybrid television offering is now available to ONO subscribers in major Spanish cities, Madrid and Barcelona. ONO plans to also extend TiVo to its entire fiber optic network within the coming months.

For the first time ever, ONO will deploy a set top box offering their customers not only support for high-definition (HD) and 3D video but also digital video recording (DVR) capabilities and all through the TiVo experience. In addition, ONO offers to TiVo customers thousands of hours of broadband-delivered on demand video. As a result, ONO customers are able to enjoy the most advanced television services available in Spain.

Specifically, this new broadband-connected DVR offering will provide customers the ability to watch and control all their traditional television HD programs, enjoy on-demand and broadband-delivered content, access internet video and services such as games, and use popular TiVo features like Season Pass® Recordings to automatically record their favorite programs all with one simple click of a remote.

Joshua Danovitz, VP & General Manager, International, TiVo Inc., said, “We are thrilled that through the TiVo service from ONO over seven million new homes, which ONO passes, will now have access to the most advanced TV offering in Spain. With this HD DVR ONO customers can access a new world of on demand and Internet delivered content and enjoy a hybrid television experience that is second to none.”

Fernando Meco, Marketing TV Director, ONO, added, “The launch of our TiVo offering is an important moment for ONO as we have now embraced a broadband-connected television solution that is going to dramatically change the way our subscribers think of television. The combination of ONO’s extensive television content, blazing fast broadband through its own fiber optic network, and High Definition TiVo DVR further shows ONO’s intent to provide the best in class products and services to the Spanish market.”

For more information about how to sign up for the TiVo DVR from ONO visit www.ono.es/tivo

About ONO
ONO is the leading broadband communication and entertainment provider in Spain. It offers integrated telephone, television and Internet services to its residential customers. In this segment, it has close to 1 million revenue television homes, approximately 4.3 million revenue generating units (RGUs) and 7 million homes in its service footprint. ONO also offers value-added telecommunications services to SMEs, large companies and institutions. ONO has the largest next generation fibre optic network available in Spain. ONO closed the year 2010 with total earnings of EUR 1.472 billion and operating profits of EUR M725 (EBITDA).

About TiVo
Founded in 1997, TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) developed the first commercially available digital video recorder (DVR). TiVo offers the TiVo service and TiVo DVRs directly to consumers online at www.tivo.com and through third-party retailers. TiVo also distributes its technology and services through solutions tailored for cable, satellite, and broadcasting companies. Since its founding, TiVo has evolved into the ultimate single solution media center by combining its patented DVR technologies and universal cable box capabilities with the ability to aggregate, search, and deliver millions of pieces of broadband, cable, and broadcast content directly to the television. An economical, one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment, TiVo’s intuitive functionality and ease of use puts viewers in control by enabling them to effortlessly navigate the best digital entertainment content available through one box, with one remote, and one user interface, delivering the most dynamic user experience on the market today. TiVo also continues to weave itself into the fabric of the media industry by providing interactive advertising solutions and audience research and measurement ratings services to the television industry. www.tivo.com.

TiVo, the TiVo Logo, Season Pass and WishList are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc.’s subsidiaries worldwide. © 2011 TiVo Inc. All rights reserved.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, specific TiVo products and timing of distribution of those products with ONO in Spain. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include delays in development, competitive service offerings and lack of market acceptance, as well as the other potential factors described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, as amended, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2011, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. TiVo disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Virgin in the UK, ONO in Spain, RCN, Suddenlink, and Grande Communications distributing TiVo and Charter just starting TiVo deployments in the US, other deals still in process – this is why MSO deals are of increasing importance to the future of TiVo, and the retail market relatively less important. I don’t think TiVo will pull out of retail or anything so drastic, but I do expect that future retail hardware will, like the Elite, most likely be designs primarily tailored for MSOs and repurposed for retail. Retail serves as a bit of a development lab, giving TiVo freedom to try new things or offer services that they may not be able to offer through MSOs – like Netflix, for example. But if these MSO deals are successful they will be driving the bulk of TiVo’s business, and will rightfully be their primary focus.

Via Broadband TV News.

Joshua Danovitz, VP & General Manager, International, TiVo Inc., added, “ONO’s launch of TiVo will transform Spanish TV, enabling consumers a comprehensive hybrid TV experience that fully demonstrates the power of ONO’s superior network infrastructure and extensive content offerings. With our second major European launch in a year, TiVo continues to demonstrate that we have a highly compelling and reliable proposition for pay television providers seeking to ignite their video services.”

Fernando Meco, Marketing TV Director, ONO: “Building on the fastest fibre optic broadband network in Spain, the launch of TiVo continues to show ONO’s leadership in providing integrated broadband and linear TV content, woven together in TiVo’s easy to use user experience. Teaming with TiVo has provided ONO with the best in class offering, delivered on schedule, enabling us to solidify our leading position as the premier provider of an advanced hybrid television service in Spain. TiVo, along with the superfast fibre optic network that ONO offers, is a revolution for the Spanish market and it is only provided on the ONO network.”

As previously announced, ONO is the exclusive distributor of TiVo’s advanced television services in Spain and TiVo will become the exclusive software provider for all next generation set-top boxes deployed by ONO.

Not to downplay it, the ONO launch is the next key launch for TiVo and if it is successful it could give them some real momentum with MSOs in Europe building on the already successful Virgin Media deployment.

Joshua Danovitz, Vice President, TiVo International, said, “Rolling out a hybrid-TV experience can be a difficult, time consuming, and expensive proposition for almost all operators to do on their own. However, it’s becoming increasingly evident, based on TiVo’s momentum with operators including Virgin Media and ONO in Europe and RCN and Suddenlink in the United States, that TiVo is fast becoming the go-to solution for operators looking to remain ahead of the curve and meet the needs of their subscribers as they continue to expect a growing variety of content options delivered to an increasingly diverse set of consumption devices.”

According to the press release, TiVo will be showcasing a number of their current and future capabilities. These include:

• TiVo’s high definition, Adobe Flash based user interface which seamlessly blends linear television content with a wide variety of Internet video content in an elegant, easy-to-navigate, single package
• Universal search & browse capabilities which allows viewers to quickly and easily find the content they want regardless of the source, encompassing linear TV, cable VOD, & MSO approved OTT
• Whole-Home Solution: TiVo software solutions that extend the world class TiVo experience to devices like non-PVR STBs, personal computers, connected TVs, tablets, and smartphones
• Interconnection of TiVo with mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and BlackBerry Phones
• TiVo’s unsurpassed ability to personalize the user experience and recommend content based on their previous viewing habits
• Personalized third party application support through Java & Flash — opening the door for limitless expansion of what TiVo can bring to the television screen
• Last but not least, TiVo’s unique advertising and measurement capabilities which provide unique monetization and targeting opportunities

See the full press release for more info.

Guillermo Mercader, Ono’s DG of residential services, says it will cost €10 a month, which confirms the earlier reports. No mention was made of the €150 installation fee mentioned previously. The launch of TiVo is also ONO’s launch of HD services, and the new service will include twelve HD channels. That is an extra incentive for new subscribers seeking HD content. The TiVo platform will also include Videoclub ONO, which offers over 2,700 hours of new releases and free content, including HD & 3D.

ONO has invested over €9 billion in their network and an additional €150 million has been earmarked for the deployment of DOCSIS 3.0 and development of TiVo. Alongside the TiVo launch ONO has also boosted their fiber network to support broadband subscriptions of 100Mbps download & 10Mbps upload, available to seven million homes.

Things seem to be going well for TiVo in Spain, I hope it continues to be smooth sailing.

Via Broadband TV News.

Via Rapid TV News.

Except it is already taken, by one Majan Fernandez Primitivo. He’s a rock musician who goes by the stage name ‘Tivo’, derived from his last name. And he registered Tivo.es back in 2005 to use for self-promotion. It currently redirects to his MySpace page.

According to Domain Name Wire, TiVo filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization to try to claim the domain. But the arbitrator sided with Primtivo. After all, it is his stage name and legitimately part of his legal name. And he is using the site for legitimate purposes, not infringing on TiVo’s trademarks at all.

Frankly, I’m glad. The domain name dispute system is meant to work this way. If you register a domain in bad faith, to profit from the reputation of a trademark holder for example, and you have no legitimate claim to the name, then under the policy you should lose it. The idea is to prevent domain squatters from claiming trademarked domains with the sole intention of holding it hostage for a high price, or unscrupulous types setting up a scam site trading off of a reputable trademark.

But if you register a domain in good faith and have a legitimate claim to it, just because a corporation may use the same name as a trademark doesn’t give them the right to take it away.

It isn’t clear from the article, but I’m hoping they didn’t turn to WIPO as their first option. The right thing to do would be to approach Primtivo with an offer to acquire the domain and to try to negotiate a reasonable solution. Maybe offering him free ONO service and a TiVo DVR (presuming he lives in their service area), buy him a new domain, etc.

Perhaps he turned them down and they decided to try to play hard ball, which frankly still doesn’t sit well with me – just accept it and move on. But if they didn’t try to negotiate before, that seems to be the option now and they’re probably not starting from a good position. After all, if someone tried to rip one of my domains out of my hands I wouldn’t be very inclined to view them favorably in a subsequent negotiation.

In any case, it looks like TiVo already grabbed mytivo.es in June, 2010. It redirects to the TiVo homepage. (Maybe someone should point that to the ONO sign up page instead? Wouldn’t that make more sense guys?)

Via Domain Name Wire.

Now, I took Spanish in high school but that was over 22 years ago and, frankly, I never really paid close attention and didn’t do very well. In fact, Spanish was my worst subject by far. So I’m relying on Google Translate, so there may be some ‘fuzziness’.

On the pre-registration forms it also seems like registering gets you entered in a drawing for a free iPad 2 – perhaps this indicates the iPad TiVo software is also coming? There is one thing though…

The original text reads:

Solo por dejarnos tus datos participas en el sorteo de un iPad 2

Just below that is:

Oferta limitada a los primeros 5.000 particulares pre-inscritos antes del 30 de septiembre 2011. La pre-inscripción no implica compromiso de contratación.

This translates to:

Just for your information, let us participate in the draw for a iPhone 2

And:

Offer limited to first 5,000 pre-registered individuals prior to September 30, 2011. Pre-Registration does not imply commitment of hiring.

Ignoring the iPad->iPhone translation error, based on the positioning of this text and the layout of the page I think the “first 5,000″ limitation is for the drawing. So you have a 1 in 5,000 chance to win the iPad 2. I don’t think they’re saying only 5,000 people can pre-register for the TiVo, that seems crazy – especially given Virgin Media had 50,000 pre-registrations.

We know ONO is using the same Cisco hardware that Virgin Media is using in the UK, with a similar fiber network. So we can probably expect a similar feature set over all. The software is from the same base, but localized for Spanish and ONO’s unique requirements. Interestingly the site states the unit can record two channels at once, while playing back a third recording. This is how the UK box launched, but later on the dormant third tuner was launched. Since ONO is using the same HW, perhaps they’re doing something similar?

Capacity is advertised as 200 hours. Remote scheduling is explicitly mentioned. They’re also making a big deal out of the HD & 3D content – which makes sense as ONO’s HDTV launch is centered on this TiVo. That’s good news for the TiVo service too. You want HDTV from ONO, you get the TiVo box.

Just like the UK box, ONO will be using the built-in cable modem and data usage from the TiVo will not affect other broadband users in the home. For broadband content they’ve partnered with rtve.es, TeleCinco, Televisio De Catalunya, Canal Cocina, Sol Musica, iVoox, Decasa, Rockola FM, and Picasa.

Looks like a solid first offering.

There’s also a video as part of the site:

Fortunately they offer more than TV services, for the same quarter they had 1,414,000 Internet service subscribers, up 0.6% and 4.3% from the previous quarter and year, respectively. 270,000, or 19% of broadband customers, opted for their 30Mbps or 50Mbps premium high speed services. Telephony subscribers grew 0.2% from Q1 to 1,711,000.

ONO is looking to the launch of TiVo in September to turn their TV subscriber losses into growth.

Via Broadband TV News.

Now we have new reports confirming the launch is on for September, and providing some more info. The launch of TiVo isn’t just adding TiVo to Ono’s existing service, Ono will be launching their first HDTV channels and TiVo will be the platform for the new service. That should provide a nice boost to TiVo demand.

Ono’s HDTV initial channels will be Mediapro’s Gol TV, News Corp.’s Fox, Sony’s AXN and Sony TV, Viacom’s MTV Live HD, Spain’s national public broadcaster TVE HD, Grupo Planeta’s national private broadcaster Antena 3, Mediaset España’s Telecinco HD and Mediapro’s laSexta HD. Those viewers in the Catalonia region will also have access to the public channel TV3 HD.

It is nice to see TiVo executing on these global deals, they have a number of them in the pipeline. We’ll see in a week if the Best Buy Insignia TiVo-loaded HDTVs launch as leaks indicate. TiVo has deals in the US with Cox, Charter, and Comcast working their way toward roll out. TiVo has DVR development deals in place with Technicolor and Samsung for the global market. And their next international carrier launch should be the largest satellite television provider in Northern Europe, Telenor’s Canal Digital, serving Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. I suspect that may involve the Technicolor and/or Samsung DVR deals as both are for European satellite DVRs.

Via Rapid TV News.