TiVo Lines up YouTube, Amazon

Doug Mohney — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:19:11 -0400

Over a 24-hour period, DVR icon TiVO announced deals with YouTube and Amazon.com to expand its Internet programming reach and open up revenue opportunities.

TiVo will make YouTube videos accessible on the TV through the company's DVRs, creating the ability for users to access hundreds of millions of short-forum, user generated videos. TiVo users can now search, browse and watch YouTube videos through TiVo and will soon be able to directly log into YouTube accounts through their TV to access their videos, channels and playlists.

Interestingly, the YouTube software upgrade is applicable to TiVo's higher end (Series3 and HD) devices, so this is another little way to nudge owners to upgrade older hardware.

To add to the bottom line, TiVo will be promoting products such as books, CDs, and DVDs seen on TV shows and making them available for purchase through the TiVo interface at Amazon.com. Ultimately, promo sales plugs might show up alongside product placements during a TV show. Financial terms of the sale have not been disclosed, but Amazon affiliates typically get 15 percent of a sale.

Working against TiVo is a current audience size of only 4 million users. The company has been working with Comcast and Cox to put its software onto set top boxes.

For more:
- YouTube delivered by TiVO release
- TiVo, Amazon tackle TV/Web integration

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Amazon Joins the Instant-on VOD Club

Revenue Opportunities

TiVo Lines up YouTube, Amazon