Tivo, Amazon unveil download deal

[dmiller68]

Owners of Tivo Inc.'s popular digital video recorders (DVR) will soon be able to download films and television shows for rental and purchase from Amazon.com Inc., the two companies announced Wednesday.

"Amazon Unbox on Tivo" is an extension of Amazon Unbox, the online retailer's digital download service launched in September. Neither company indicated a launch date for the service, except to indicate that it was now available for beta testing.

Tivo owners must have a Series 2 or Series 3 DVR, an Amazon.com account, and a broadband connection to use the service. Tivo said about 1.5 million of its machines are enabled to use it.

Episodes of television programs will sell for US$1.99 each, with films priced between $9.99 and $14.99. Films can be rented for $1.99. A record of all purchases will be kept both on the DVR and in the user's Amazon.com, account, the company said.

Amazon said content would be available from film and television studios including CBS Corp., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Source

[ZoomZoom71]

I wonder how these prices compare to what MS is proposing for their similar service? What about expiration of downloaded shows and offloading files to mass storage?

[dmiller68]

I would imagine the rentals are time bombed... I have a DVD burner in my Tivo and I thought about downloading a show and see if I can burn it and watch it on another TV.