Comments on: Amazon VOD in HD Finally Arrives (Roku & TiVo)

By: Leo

Leo — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:23:03 +0000

Question does Roku give me access to more Netflix movies than what I can see with my HD Tivo box?

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:00:30 +0000

FYI In response to an email inquiry… That TiVo image above is a graphic, not a screengrab or photograph. The reality probably isn’t so sharp and vivid.

By: Beezus

Beezus — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:16:34 +0000

It’s such a strange time when we have so many options. There’s Apple TV (lame), Playstation (NICE!!!), VUDU, Roku, hulu, and a few more ending in “U” I’m sure. I think Neflix’s strategy is right on, but just like the last format war, there needs to be a real fight and a clear winner at least for a while for things to prosper and evolve. It’s all so fringe otherwise.

By: alex

alex — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:16:31 +0000

Looks good but I hope they add more movies. Ive been holding off on seeing Iron man and Hulk just so i can see them in HD. I dont own blu ray so this will do for me.

By: Tom B.

Tom B. — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:59:46 +0000

Joseph, I’m the one tolling the bell for VUDU. I’m sure the system is awesome and I’d love it, I just don’t know how they’ll be able to survive in this economy with such a narrowcast audience, and that’s why I never seriously considered the investment.

Maybe they’ll figure out a way to streamline their overhead and turn a profit with a small core user base, but I’m doubtful. There are getting to be too many streaming options for the casual viewer. Churn might not be a problem because most owners I find are like you and love it, but new customer acquisition is going to be extremely difficult.

Maybe if they start getting bold and throw Boxee on there or something, and really open up the VUDU box to be a true IPTV solution, they’d have something, but with just the On Demand HD offering and really HDX as their only competitive differentiator, I don’t think they can survive.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:21:35 +0000

I don’t know about a death knell for VUDU, as a previous poster claimed.

The reason I bought my VUDU was because they have constantly been first to everything. I think they will continue to improve. The market is becoming saturated and it is only a matter of time before every movie is streamed in HD.

I don’t see any personal reason to get rid of my VUDU box. From what I have seen their HD quality is better, and the selection is bigger.

I hope as a VUDU customer they recognize their competition and come out with something better. We’ll see.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:49:50 +0000

Ivan, I don’t have any insider info on those survey questions. I assume TiVo still isn’t quite ready (and neither is the cable industry) for a tru2way retail DVR with a custom UI (versus cableco-provided). But TiVo needs to modernize their UI for HD sets and all the additional features (and advertising) they provide instead of continuing to glue things onto a 10 year old interface. They could roll that into a new platform as a means of generating sales and excitement.

By: Ivan Y

Ivan Y — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:39:05 +0000

The price of HD TV shows (esp. half-hour ones) needs to come down on all the platforms or, at least, have a discounted “season pass” that undercuts Blu-Ray — $40-45 for a season of 1-hr show (20-24 episodes typically).

@ Dave — any comments on TiVo Series 4 survey screenshots that came up last week?