Fresh from its announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last month, entertainment technology company Xperi says it has signed four broadband Internet providers to use its TiVo Broadband platform.
The four companies — Buckeye Broadband, Blue Stream Fiber, Blue Ridge Communications and Bluepeak — are now offering their broadband customers devices that operate on TiVo’s streaming television platform, which includes access to hundreds of third-party streaming apps like Netflix and Disney Plus; dozens of free, ad-supported channels through TiVo Plus; and custom linear channels tailored to each cable TV provider.
“Broadband providers have unique opportunities to harness the popularity of streaming to expand into new branded entertainment services,” Greg Ireland, the Future Consumer research director at market consulting firm International Data Corporation (IDC), said in a statement on Monday.
Ireland continued: “A robust entertainment experience platform running on a connected device offers broadband providers a way to deliver a rich variety of streaming services to customers.”
TiVo Broadband expands on Xperi’s TiVo-branded offerings to cable and broadband providers, some of whom have relied on TiVo’s traditional digital video recorders (DVRs) for years as an alternative to the usual cable set-top box.
TiVo Broadband offers a white-label managed solution that runs on different Android TV-powered devices instead of a set-top box, including Evolution Digital’s Stream TV Evo Force 1 set-top box and the Flex 4K Streaming Stick.
“Embracing the era of connectivity, we are enhancing the streaming video experience for broadband-only customers in new ways, across a full range of devices,” Jeffrey Glahn, the senior vice president of global sales at TiVo, said on Monday. “TiVo Broadband is an ally for operators seeking to advance their offerings to bring consumers to the content they love faster. The commitment of four operators, since the initial launch in January, shows a strong endorsement of our partners and their confidence in our ability to deliver and support innovation.”
Xperi provided the following information about its TiVo Broadband platform for cable and broadband operators:
The key features and benefits of TiVo Broadband include:
- Engaging User Interface: Provides customers with a visually-rich interface, designed to enhance personalized content recommendations, user engagement, and reduced churn.
- Enhanced Streaming Experience: Allows end-users to access their entire library of streaming apps seamlessly through TiVo’s platform, providing a unified and convenient streaming experience.
- TiVo Plus Integration: Includes TiVo Plus, which offers content curated from over 800 free ad-supported channels integrated within the content-centric user interface and electronic program guide.
- Content Flexibility: Enables specific operator-driven content and linear channels.
- Seamless Integration: Seamlessly integrates with existing broadband infrastructure, enabling quick deployment without major infrastructure overhauls and backed by TiVo’s technology, ensuring high-quality, scalable and reliable content delivery.
- Easy Deployment: Can be effortlessly implemented by operators as a turnkey solution without the complexity often associated with traditional solutions and ecosystem development.
Streamers don’t have to wait for their local cable or broadband provider to sign up for the TiVo Broadband program to enjoy the benefits of a TiVo Android TV device: The TiVo Stream 4K is widely available at most retailers, including Amazon, and offers the same third-party apps, TiVo Plus channel line-up and TiVo content recommendation engine as the TiVo Broadband devices.
TiVo Stream 4K retails for around $50, but is frequently on sale. As of this writing, Amazon is selling the TiVo Stream 4K for $30 with free same-day shipping for Prime members in most areas.
