TiVo Testing Movie Downloads

TiVo is offering broad-band connected customers a free movie through the TiVo video download program. The movie is "Red Trousers," a documentary and short film by Tai Seng Entertainment.

Could this be the first signs of life for the TiVo/Netflix video-on-demand project called the Netflix Player?

Note: Only DVRs with TiVo Service Numbers beginning with the following characters are eligible:
110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 275, 540, 565, 590, and 595.

via The Netflix Fan Blog.

Comments

[Steve A]

With all of the TV shows being offered for download through Itunes and other methods, it would not surprise me if Netflix went forward with the online downloads of TV series. This could work. A lot has happened since Netflix said a month ago that the downloads would be delayed. TV shows and less popular movies could kick start the program and act as a great test at the same time.

[Rick H]

When did little Netflix get the rights to do downloads?????????????

Apple negotiated with ABC.

Comcast negotiated with CBS.

Direct TV or whoever negotiated with NBC.

AOL 'negotiated' with Time Warner.

Do you see the pattern here????????

[RayRay Tampa]

Its about time that TiVo is able to download movies (at least this one) I will let you know how it works out.
BTW Netflix are you watching? This could be you !!!

[Tony]

Rick H: Tivo negotiated a long time ago with Netflix. That deal was announced over a year ago. Since Netflix already has the content, it's just a matter of changing the distribution medium (in this case, downloads through Tivo.)

It was reported long ago that Netflix/Tivo were in the process of digitizing the Netflix catalog.

[Tony]

RayRay: it's very likely this *is* Netflix. Seem my previous reply.

Heh, I had red trousers on my netflix queue already - I'm very happy they chose that one as their proof-of-concept movie.

[Bruce]

I know it's a test, experimental, and all that, but I wish they had something more interesting for us than "Red Trousers." I went for the Army-Navy football programming they had for us just because I could, but I would prefer to try out something I really have interest in seeing.

[Rick H]

Tony

Reid himself directly addressed the problem of getting the rights to do downloads. You can't just change the distribution. Every channel is separately negotiated. I don't care if NFLX and Tivo negotiated 5000 years ago. They could only agree what they would do if they managed to get the rights. Guess what? The guys who own the rights are becoming competitors to NFLX. Why are there so many people on these threads who don't know shit? Is there another site for people who actually know the facts more than 60% of the time?

60% of the time?! That's practically 100% of the time!?! People on this board must be so smart!

[Rick H]

RICK H: HERE'S THE DEAL (FORGET ALL THE OTHER NOISE, THIS EXCERPT BELOW FROM MOTLEY FOOL SAYS IT SO WELL)

From Motley Fool

Vanishing Values
By Chuck Saletta
November 17, 2005

"...Unfortunately, at this point, the opportunity to profit from the market's discount on Netflix is long gone. Like so many values before it, that chance went to those who were prepared to make their move during a short window...
...Do you honestly believe that Netflix is more than a merely "OK" business? Go ahead and send me your criticisms. The fact is that Netflix, while a far more nimble company than its nemesis Blockbuster, faces pressure from all sides. On one hand, video-on-demand services allow cable operators like Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) and Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) to give customers a way to rent what they want when they want, without waiting for a disc to arrive. And with discount retailers like Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) constantly driving down the price of purchasing new DVDs, the savings that come from renting are rapidly evaporating. Things are tough, and they only look to get tougher as competitors start to take advantage of their economies of scale..."

[Nicholas Barnard]

So what if content providers are lining up with the distributors. Anyone remember the early days of music downloads? Every store had a really really really limited catalogue that of whoever their corporate owners were. Then Apple came in and got an agreement with most of the labels, very shortly everyone else followed suit.

Movies will like music come to a more or less standard contract and be licensed widely. It is in the content owners best interests to have every movie store carrying their movies, even if they don't own the store.

"Rick H: Tivo negotiated a long time ago with Netflix. That deal was announced over a year ago. Since Netflix already has the content, it's just a matter of changing the distribution medium (in this case, downloads through Tivo.)
It was reported long ago that Netflix/Tivo were in the process of digitizing the Netflix catalog.
Posted by: Tony | November 16, 2005 at 03:56 PM"

"Tony" you are so wrong it is incredible. Netflix CANNOT under any circumstances "digitalize" the "Netflix catalog." At leaste not with you buying several HUNDRED BILLION dollars worth of rights it doesn't have!

Maybe you don't understand the basics. What is the "Netflix Catalog"? It's catalog is its lists of dvd's not the content on them. Netflix has not and cannot "digitalize" (LOL at the term) ANY content from its DVDs ad charge to download them any more than you or I can!

Look, you may be a small netflix investor. great. But I suggest you get your information from sources better than yahoo rumor forums people by other investors with no knowledge.

And please don't spread BS here, people will just laugh.

The content providers are already negotiationg rights with the broadband providers.

.............
Nicholas Barnard, you are half right and that is exactly why Apple and a hundred other companies will be in a better positon than say for example Netflix.

Posted by: Nicholas Barnard |