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Media Release
Hybrid TV launches new TiVo and premiers broadband portal
TiVo hard drive size doubles to make way for more free-to-air TV recordings plus access to movie, TV and music on-demand
Sydney, Australia, 26 November, 2009 - Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited, the exclusive licensee of TiVo® in Australia and New Zealand, today announced their new TiVo product and proprietary broadband entertainment portal, CASPA™ On-Demand.
The TiVo media device, launched in July 2008, originally came with 160GB on-board storage capacity. The TiVo hard drive has now doubled in size to 320GB to meet the recording demands of Australians wishing to capture programs across all the Freeview channels including new digital channels such as 7TWO, Go!, One Sport and the pending ABC Kids channel, ABC3.
The new product is branded the TiVo 320 Media Device and will replace the TiVo 160 Media Device from 1 December 2009.
To coincide with the launch of the TiVo 320 Media Device, the Home Networking Package will be included free-of-charge ($199 value) as a Holiday Edition release for RRP$699*. The original TiVo (160) Media Device will be re-price positioned from RRP$699 to RRP$599.
The Home Networking Package has never before been offered in retail stores and has experienced significant uptake by customers with more than 45% purchasing the software online.
The Home Networking Package provides three additional capabilities: 1. Allows TiVo owners to transfer their Freeview TV recordings from their TiVo device to their PC or portable devices such as an iPhone, iTouch or Playstation Personal (PSP); 2. Enables family photos, music libraries and home videos to be enjoyed on the TV; 3. Provides the ability to transfer and view recordings between two TiVo devices in the home.
In addition to the launch of the new TiVo 320 Media Device - all customers will have automatic access to Hybrid TV's proprietary content and service portal, CASPA™ On-Demand.
From 1 December 2009, the TiVo home page, TiVo Central, will replace "Video On-Demand" with "CASPA On-Demand". Through CASPA, all TiVo customers will have access to new release and library movies, hit TV programs and music videos, concerts and music artist interviews. The CASPA service will provide both free and pay-per-view content with advertiser-funded content playing a significant role from Q2 next year. At launch, there will be more than 1000 hours of broadband content available through the TiVo device and the content portfolio will continue to grow with cumulative hours reaching in the tens of thousands over time.
"The TiVo device is a true representation of the best of broadcast and broadband delivered directly to the living room for the enjoyment of you, your family and friends on the television. CASPA is our means of bringing Australians content and services that can be easily accessed through a TV remote and fairly priced or free, wherever possible. This new service proves the TiVo mandate of providing continuous features and benefits delivered over broadband as all our customers will be able to access CASPA from 1 December.
"With our proprietary broadband proposition it demonstrates how vital our internet partners, like Internode, Primus and iinet are, as they will unmeter CASPA downloads on the TiVo for customers on compatible plans. In addition some ISPs are providing larger capacity plans, unmetered plans or unmetered timebands like AAPTs 8pm to 8am all-you-can-download offering.
"Taking this one step further into our future NBN-world, where we will have ubiquitous high speed broadband connections over fibre-optics achieving speeds starting at 100Mbps. This makes our existing copper connections look like a dripping tap with its meager 512Kbps to 8Mbps.
"Internet speeds achieved through fibre-optics will mean that content consumption and service delivery can reach beyond PC screens and laptops and jump onto the television. We have a near 100% penetration of TVs - but not so with computers. With CASPA, Hybrid TV is poised to be Australia's premier telco-agnostic content service provider." said Robbee Minicola, Chief Executive of Hybrid TV.
Pricing and availability:
*Holiday Edition TiVo 320 including free HNP will be available until 31 January 2010 for RRP$699.
About Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited
Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited is the exclusive licensee of TiVo products in Australia and New Zealand. CASPA is a registered trademark of Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited. The TiVo media device is HD Digital Ready in accordance with the Australian Government's Digital Ready Scheme, Freeview compliant in Australia and Freeview|HD compatible in New Zealand. From 1 December 2009, the TiVo service combines access and control of digital terrestrial television with CASPA On-Demand broadband movies, TV, music, games and services.
The TiVo product was originally pioneered in 1997 in the USA by TiVo Inc. In 2008, TiVo technology was brought to Australia by Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited in August 2008 and was launched in New Zealand 1 November 2009. Hybrid TV is owned by the Seven Media Group (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand). For more information see www.mytivo.com.au or www.mytivo.co.nz
TiVo, 'TiVo, TV your way.', Season Pass, WishList, TiVoToGo, Stop||Watch, Power||Watch, and the TiVo Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. ©2009. TiVo Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Brooke Radich
PR Consultant
Tel +61 2 8986 1771
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