TiVo brings its mobile apps to cable providers, TiVo hardware not required
TiVo's mobile apps have so far been limited to those who use the company's DVRs, but that audience is about to get much larger. The company has just launched a "powered by TiVo" program that will bring the apps' Live Guide and content searching to cable TV providers, whether or not there's a TiVo box attached. While those with generic hardware will miss a large chunk of the original experience, the features are the same underneath -- recording and remote control are still around for the TiVo faithful. Atlantic Broadband will be the first to deploy a customized app in tandem with TiVo hardware in the fall, and we wouldn't be surprised if others follow suit.
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TiVo to Power Cable Operators' Mobile and Second Screen Experience
Mobile Companion App 'Powered by TiVo' Enables Operators to Efficiently Deliver Custom Branded Solution to Subscribers; Atlantic Broadband First Cable Operator to Announce Mobile Applications Deployment
WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwired) -- 06/10/13 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leader in the advanced television entertainment market, today announced its highly rated mobile app and second screen companion experience is now available for cable operators 'powered by TiVo.' The offering provides the ability to offer an operator's subscribers access to a powerful second screen experience specifically designed to support all households -- homes with and without TiVo devices. This increased flexibility for the operator will further engage subscribers via their mobile devices and enhance the value of the operator's video and broadband subscription.
Thomas Elam, Vice President and General Manager Service Provider Business, TiVo, said, "TiVo's operator solutions help the provider's subscribers realize the full value of their subscription and enhance content related transactions. We are excited to provide the full power of our mobile applications 'powered by TiVo' to our operator partners. This key part of our strategy to provide great media experiences on all screens will be a co-branded experience to promote customer retention -- especially for users who may not yet have a TiVo set-top box (STB) -- and provides our partners a competitive advantage in the TV Everywhere game."
Atlantic Broadband, who recently signed with TiVo, will be the first U.S. cable operator to put forward this tailored mobile experience for subscribers. When Atlantic Broadband launches their TiVo solution in the fall, it will include the TiVo mobile applications in addition to TiVo's complete STB solution (multi-room DVR and HD-STB).
The operator mobile apps 'powered by TiVo' provide cable subscribers an easy-to-use interface to find great stuff to watch, see what's coming up next through the TiVo Live Guide or browse/search TV and movies. And these features work for all operator users -- not just those with a TiVo STB. These customers can also explore and learn even more about their favorite TV shows, movies, actors and directors. For subscribers with TiVo devices, they will also have the ability to remotely schedule recordings, Wish List® and Season Pass® recordings, manage the DVR's To Do and Season Pass lists, and control their device with the mobile app's remote control functionality. Finally, when paired with a TiVo Stream and an iOS device, users can stream content within the home network and side-load recordings to take on the road.
TiVo's recently released "What to Watch Now" gives users a personalized dashboard combining recommendations and personal preferences to present viewers exactly the content they want most anytime they turn on their TV. The What to Watch Now feature displays suggestions in six columns categorized by what's popular based on viewership data and geography, sports on now (powered by Thuuz), movies on now, favorite channels, kids programming on now and surfaces your most recent recordings. This discovery feature enhances the value of cable packages by keeping customers engaged instead of turning away to other content sources.
Mobile apps 'powered by TiVo' are flexibly built so that the app is ready to integrate seamlessly into cable operator extensions (e.g. customer help, billing, account management, etc.). Additionally, the mobile apps' overall branding is easily customized so that operators' unique branding is front and center while still retaining the proven easy-to-use interface.
TiVo's applications are easy to deploy. The customer searches the appropriate App store for the MSO brand, finds the App and logs in using their existing MSO credentials via an integration with the operator identity system using SAML authentication (Security Assertion Markup Language).
