Last update coming for first TiVo DVRs
The first wave of TiVo digital video recorders are about to get a final "thumbs down."
Those Series 1 DVRs, first released in 1999, will get their last programming guide update on Sept. 15. That means after Sept. 29, the units will no longer record programs using the Season Pass feature.
TiVo DVRs, which at the time cost $500 or more, could be bought with a lifetime subscription to its software. But TiVo will soon begin delivering data that the older DVRs cannot handle, the company said in a statement.
“TiVo is upgrading the data associated with content from a user’s cable package," the company said. "The original TiVo Series1 DVR released more than a decade ago, will not operate with current software versions and will no longer be supported by the TiVo service.”
In the years leading up to an explosion of on-demand videos from Netflix and others, TiVo DVRs were the hottest way to watch pay TV shows. Owners of the device would schedule to record one or more episodes of their favorite show and then hunker down for an evening. An added lure: the ability to rewind to a winning shot or fast-forward through commercials.
TiVo's software also customizes programming recommendations for users, based on their click of a "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" on the remote. Viewers can also create a Season Pass to record current and future episodes of a TV show.
San Carlos, Calif.-based entertainment technology company Rovi acquired TiVo for about $1.1 billion in April and the deal is expected to close by the end of September. The combined company plans to improve the features and capabilities within the TiVo software, Rovi CEO Tom Carson said at the time the acquisition was announced. The service has 7 million paying subscribers, slightly less than streaming service Hulu.
Those hanging on to the earliest model are the ones facing changes. The company sent a letter to the 3,500 or so owners of the older TiVos, saying that the products have "had a great run and we're truly sorry to see them go."
To make up for it, TiVo is giving those owners a $75 prepaid Visa card that, presumably, many customers might use on a new TiVo. The company's suite of recorders runs from $150 to $400 depending on features and storage size.
"We know that this is disappointing, and we feel terrible about relaying this news," says the letter from TiVo Chief Marketing Officer Ira Bahr. "We understand how much you rely on your TiVo Series 1, and we appreciate you being a loyal TiVo owner. Please accept our apology."
The older TiVos will remain functional, but will not have up-to-date TV listings in its beloved guide. "So Series 1 owners will effectively be left with a digital VCR," wrote tech blogger Dave Zatz on ZatzNotFunny.com.
The new TiVo set-top boxes include the Bolt ($199.99-up), which handles streaming video services and 4K video, and the Roamio ($399.99), a 1-Terabyte DVR for recording over-the-air TV broadcasts and accessing streaming services.
Review: TiVo Bolt stream, DVR + cord shaver
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider