Never enough time…

• Buy Slingbox, get mobile player free; MS Smart Phone SlingPlayer v1 out of beta; PPC SlingPlayer v1.1 beta now available. (jkOnTheRun)
• National Association of Evangelicals (who?) approves TiVo’s KidZone. (Christian Post)
• DVRs help voters avoid campaign ads. (Washington Post)
• Cisco buys VOD company Arroyo. (TechCrunch)

Never enough time… in Florida!

• TiVo co-founder Barton discusses Interactive Television Emmy. (TiVo)
• Guba lowers DVD download prices and I don’t care. (BusinessWeek)
• More discussion of advertising in the DVR age. (Washington Post)
• Final VC-1 patent licensing terms set by MPEG group. (HDBeat)

I’m not entirely sure what this is all about, but Tupperware TiVo lovers can now impress their heathen friends with corporate support comprised of “special programming, exclusive offers, and entertaining tips.” Provide your email, and they’ll get in touch when applications are being accepted.

TiVo House Party:

• You spread the word, share the love, and show your passion for TiVo.
• You enjoy entertaining with family and friends.
• Now you can do both by hosting a TiVo Party! Apply to join a select group of TiVo insiders.

(Thanks PW!)

(Thanks Pete!)

Never enough time…

• Microsoft Vista’s enhancements over XP MCE.  (Matt Goyer)
• NBC not interested in TiVo’s new metrics. (MediaPost)
• Hell freezes over, Metallica on iTunes. (CNN)
• Netgear acquires SkipJam. (eHomeUpgrade)

Never enough time…

• Time Warner Cable, Raleigh refuses to provide CableCARD for TiVo? (TiVo Blog)
• Amazon to launch movie download service next month? (Hacking Netflix)
• TiVo takes on Nielsen in providing granular advertising info. (TiVo Lovers)
• Motorola acquires video-on-demand company Broadbus Technologies. (Boston Globe)
• AM radio is still kicking. (LA Times)

Press Release: TiVo Showcases Increase Consumer Interaction and Help Advertisers Reach Fast- Forwarding Viewers

Sprite, America’s #1 lemon-lime soft drink and TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in advertising solutions and television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced a partnership that will feature a cutting-edge interactive advertisement on a TiVo Showcase. Beginning July 24th and running for two weeks, the Showcase will feature a part of Sprite’s “subLYMONal” campaign. This is Sprite’s first interactive advertising run on the TiVo platform.

The TiVo Showcase allows brand marketers to better engage consumers in a deeper, more involved dialogue through long form entertainment content. Sprite’s “subLYMONal” ads will have a “Gold Star Sponsorship” on TiVo Central. Viewers can follow a link to a Showcase where they can view Sprite ads and then, using TiVo’s Trick Play features, find out how to use Sprite “subLYMONal Codes.” TiVo also displays “interactive tags” in Sprite’s advertising as it appears on TiVo DVRs, allowing viewers to pause television and click-through to Sprite’s TiVo Showcase to view more Sprite content, without missing even a second of the TV show they were watching.

“TiVo has the only interactive advertising solution dedicated to DVR viewing and we are excited to add Sprite to our growing list of interactive advertising partners,” said Davina Kent, Vice President, National Advertising Sales at TiVo. “Providing the only platform for DVR-ready creative, TiVo is helping advertisers overcome commercial fast-forwards with unique and exciting advertisements that allow them to further connect with their target audience through the television and increase the overall awareness of the brand.”

“SubLYMONal” advertisements will feature special codes embedded in the content and only revealed if viewed in slow motion that can be entered at the brand’s new website, www.subLYMONal.com. The site allows people to interact with the advertising and provides different ways for consumers to create their own “subLYMONal” experiences.
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