[II Nawshus II]

We already mentioned that DVR will be coming to the PS3. But the software behind the technology—not always Sony’s strong suit—could be the driving force to make the platform actually succeed. Because it could be TiVo.

Many of us overlooked that Sony actually has licensing rights to use TiVo software in their products from an agreement dating way back to 2001. While this agreement is only good through October of 2008, that’s presumably enough time for Sony to launch their DVR product (and of course, that contract could be extended if Sony ponied up the cash). When TiVo was questioned about the potential integration, they responded with an either coy or contractually-obligated “no comment.”

I just preordered one of the new $299 TiVo HD systems and can’t wait for it to ship out. But if the PS3 could have given me the same thing—even for the same price—I’d have gone that route just to save a component in my setup. If Sony is looking for some serious legitimacy in the home DVR market, integrating TiVo would be a brilliant maneuver.

PT two Update

Sony Computer Entertainment America’s PlayStation 3 offers a hot list of capabilities including Bluetooth controllers, Blu-ray movie playback, WiFi internet connectivity and hard drives capable of storing demos and movie trailers. Yet, trailers seem like child’s play when compared to Xbox 360’s full movie download rentals and the future use of TV over IP (IPTV) over the Xbox Live service.

SCEA hasn’t said much about its intentions to get into video but a new head of marketing for SCE New Zealand recently said that digital video recorder (DVR) capabilities would soon be offered as the country gains Freeview terrestrial digital broadcast channels.

Just yesterday, we talked to SCEA’s Dave Karraker about the agreement that Sony Electronics, Inc. has with TiVo. Back in 2001, Sony and TiVo signed an agreement that would allow Sony to feature TiVo software. While Sony has offered standalone TiVo (SVR 2000 & 3000) machines along with a DirecTiVo (T60) receiver, Sony hasn’t made much use of the agreement.

Considering that the original contract is scheduled to end in October 2008, there’s still time. With TiVo’s growing list of patents and U.S.-based user base, which should grow as a TiVo-enabled Comcast digital receiver releases, adding DVR capabilities via a unit that would decode channels through the CableCard interface seems theoretically possible.

Sony has tried its hand at DVRs in Japan at the end of 2003 with the PlayStation 2-based unit known as the PSX. The 160 to 250 GB units introduced what was to become the PlayStation 3’s XMB (Cross Media Bar). Sales data regarding that unit’s success (or lack thereof) isn’t readily available, but a history of price drops after its original $950 MSRP suggest it failed to gain a large audience in Japan.

Given that the PlayStation 3 now supports the more HD-friendly H.264/MPEG4 video format versus the PSX’s MPEG2 standard format, it would seem as if Sony was gradually building features that resemble DVR functionality.

Karraker, again reiterated his comment from the day before, “We [SCEA] have no announcement regarding DVR capabilities for the PS3 in North America at this time.”

A representative for TiVo replied to GameDaily’s query with a friendly “no comment.”

As more information comes to light and we force PR people to start statements with something other than “no,” we’ll pass that along.

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TiVo?

wow i think that would be a genius move

but it hasnt been announced in the US yet so even if it comes in 08 we might not see it here in the good old US of A

[Menace II Society]

woah…Ps3 is going to be an entire home entertainment center for everyone

[II Nawshus II]

yeah crazy but thats IF they use the licesning agree ment they have with TiVo

if not they will probably use some other service which would be stupid

[Chauncy Talon]

yea sony been workin on that shyt fo a second……. and that shyt is already in the 80GB in Korea

I do not want Trophies, Money or not even a title saying I am number "1". You can have your cheap trophies, paper titles, and dingy headbands. I am a "STORY" to my peers, a "LEGEND" for your kids to hear, and a "FOLKLORE" to keep you from dieing with fear - [b]Calvin D. Kates aka Chauncy "TRU" Talon. [/b]

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