First Macrovision DRM, now this… Tivo has gone the route of most cell phone providers with their updated service agreement. They’ll sell you hardware at a loss, but guarantee themselves service revenue to recoup those expenses. If you cancel service within a year of activating your unit, you’ll be penalized $150. No caveat for multi-Tivo homes has been posted or explained, though Tivo did use the word may in the new policy.

Tivo’s definitely learning how to become profitable, but at what cost? New ads and fees like this will likely alienate a percentage of customers.

Tivo says: WITH RESPECT TO ANY NEW TIVO SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION ACTIVATED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, YOU AGREE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIVO SERVICE FOR NO LESS THAN 12 MONTHS (THE “SERVICE COMMITMENT”). IF YOU FAIL TO MEET THE SERVICE COMMITMENT BY CANCELLING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE TIVO SERVICE (OR IF TIVO TERMINATES YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE TIVO SERVICE DUE TO A BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT), YOU AGREE THAT TIVO MAY CHARGE YOU A $150 EARLY TERMINATION FEE, AND YOU AGREE TO PAY ANY SUCH EARLY TERMINATION FEE.

And I thought this month couldn’t get any worse for Tivo… First they’re hammered with bad press due to Macrovision DRM. That was followed by Metron, the company handling Tivo’s phone and web orders, folding last Friday. Little did we know Tivo had a television and web advertising campaign beginning this week.

Sadly, Tivo is still unable to receive web or phone orders. They did list a new phone number, though I received a message stating the line is out of service. 1-877-BUY-TIVO has an updated recording indicating they plan to reopen for business 9/26.

Tivo says: Sorry, but we’re unable to take your order online at this time. Please order by phone now: Call 1-800-698-3530

FiOS TV has gone live in Texas with a huge selection of digital channels and VOD at very competitive prices. Verizon plans to expand service into Florida, California, and Virginia later this year. FiOS TV uses Verizon’s fat pipe fiber optics to provide IPTV via a set-top box.

Verizon says: FiOS TV subscribers will enjoy 100 percent digital programming, as well as access to a large selection of video-on-demand content. Expanded Basic delivers more than 180 video and music channels for $39.95 a month. This tier includes access to 600 on-demand titles now, with 1,800 by year end. This service requires a standard-definition set-top box or a high-definition set-top box for HD channels. Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $3.95 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.95 per month; and a digital video recorder set-top box with HD channels for $12.95 per month.

Diego’s Moxi Media Center, a dual tuner HD DVR, has integrated its existing Telephone functionality into UniTV’s cable services platform. Meaning you’ll be able to access your cable provider’s VoIP services, such as callerID and voicemail, directly through your set-top box.

Moxi says: �Interoperability with UniTV allows deployment of Moxi Telephone on a much wider scale,� said Bert Kolde, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Digeo, Inc. �Now operators can provide Moxi Telephone over both VoIP and traditional voice networks, allowing them to offer attractive bundling packages and potentially increase average revenue per user.�

In other Moxi news, Diego filled both their CEO and COO positions with seasoned Sony executives last month. Here’s to hoping these guys can speed up cable provider adoption of the Moxi platform.

Verizon’s FiOS TV has only been approved in a handful of jurisdictions, but that hasn’t stopped them from moving forward with content deals. Today Verizon inked a major agreement with Disney.

Verizon definitely needed ESPN to compete with traditional cable providers and satellite TV… And now they can - ssuming they get cleared to provide television service in more regions. Oh how I dream of the day that I can dump Comcast.

Verizon says: Under the agreement, Verizon will carry 12 television services on Verizon FiOS TV’s expanded basic, including ABC Family, ABC News Now, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Toon Disney and SOAPnet. Verizon will also be granted retransmission consent of ABC’s owned and operated television stations as part of the agreement.

As you may or may not know, I occasionally write for and provide tips to a variety of blogs. My hero, Peter Rojas of Engadget, has encouraged me to write for myself. And here we are… The web publishing technology is new to me, so it will take a few weeks before I’m functioning on all cylinders.

So please excuse the dust while I RTFM and work on the site aesthetics. Thank you for your attention.

If you happen to own SkipJam’s iMedia Center, you can harness the power of the your PSP as a whole-home remote control. SkipJam’s software utilizes the browser provided with 2.0 firmware and an Internet connection to provide a customized remote control interface. Sounds neat, but it’s nothing more than a low-resolution web page generated by SkipJam’s overpriced hardware.

SkipJam says: Using the PSP’s browser and internet connection, SkipJam iMedia users can now control any device in their home. The SkipJam iMedia software provides custom web pages which allow the PSP to function as a wireless remote for TVs, DVDs, Stereos, lighting and other consumer electronics throughout the home.

In a strange turn of events, Tivo is no longer accepting orders for DVR units via phone or web. Unconfirmed posts suggest the company they outsource sales duties to has folded. Upon calling 1-877-BUY-TIVO a recording informed me, We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please visit our website. However, potential web customers are being directed to Order at Best Buy and informed that we are temporarily unable to offer gift subscriptions. Furthermore Tivo no longer has an outlet to sell Tivo-branded accessories, such as replacement remotes, and is unable to fulfill TivoRewards.