Key Points
- Xperi is expanding TiVo OS with generative AI-powered discovery, additional FAST channels, improved sports navigation and DVB-I support.
- TiVo OS can now operate on devices with as little as 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of eMMC storage, which Xperi says could lower hardware costs for smart TV manufacturers.
- TiVo is adding interactive television capabilities through IRCODE, using AI and computer vision to support commerce, advertising and content discovery.
Xperi is expanding the capabilities of its TiVo OS smart television platform with new artificial intelligence-powered discovery tools and additional free streaming channels, and announced a new executive who will help oversee its various initiatives.
On Thursday, the company named Tal Bone as its new Senior Vice President and General Manager of TiVo OS as Xperi works to broaden adoption of its independent smart television operating system.
Bone most recently served as Vice President of Global Product and Chief Technology Officer at V (formerly VIDAA), the Hisense-backed television operating system. Xperi said Bone helped grow VIDAA to more than 40 million monthly active users worldwide. He previously led Fire TV product initiatives in Europe for Amazon and was co-Founder and CEO of technology startup Remoty.
The appointment comes as Xperi rolls out several upgrades to TiVo OS, including an expanded TiVo Channels offering with hundreds of additional global and local free ad-supported streaming television channels.
TiVo has also redesigned the TiVo Channels program guide, introduced a mini guide for faster navigation and added personalized content carousels intended to surface programming based on viewer interests.
Sports are receiving additional prominence across the platform. TiVo OS will surface live games and sporting events across search, recommendations and the home screen while promoting events in real time.
The operating system added support for DVB-I, a standard designed to allow broadcasters to deliver linear television services over broadband. TiVo said the integration will allow viewers in supported markets to discover and watch local broadcast channels without relying on a traditional terrestrial antenna.
Xperi is also targeting the economics of television hardware: Recent platform optimizations have reduced the memory and storage requirements for TiVo OS, allowing the software to run on devices with as little as 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of eMMC storage — an important development, given current industry shortage that has hamstrung memory and storage components.
Xperi itself noted this in their statement, saying the softer component requirements could help TV makers reduce their bill-of-materials costs if they opted to deploy TiVo OS across a broader range of lower-cost smart TVs and connected entertainment devices.
TiVo is separately partnering with IRCODE on interactive television features that use artificial intelligence and computer vision to identify content appearing on screen. Xperi said the technology could support commerce, advertising, content discovery and companion experiences while creating additional monetization opportunities for partners.
Another planned addition is Agent TiVo, a generative AI-powered discovery product that will allow viewers to search for programming through natural-language conversations rather than conventional keyword queries. TiVo said the system will interpret descriptions of what viewers want to watch and respond with personalized recommendations and guidance.
