Originally published February 7 2005
Competitive market for DVRs leads to heavy TiVO discounting
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The increasingly competitive DVR market has led TiVO to offer discounts and premiums that, for some users, could amount to getting a free unit. The company has offered a $100 rebate since last year, and now CompUSA offers a $100 rebate for customers who purchase a $199 base TiVO model along with a computer or TV worth more than $499. TiVO charges subscribers a monthly programming fee, or a one-time lifetime subscription fee.
Retailers CompUSA and The Good Guys are offering limited-time deals on TiVo digital video recorders.
In some cases, the deals can result in a free unit.
DVRs, which use hard drives to store large amounts of content, let viewers pause live shows and program their systems to record TV broadcasts.
Nationwide chain CompUSA is offering a $100 mail-in rebate when customers purchase a $199 40-hour Series2 TiVo digital video recorder plus any television, notebook or desktop computer worth at least $499.
CompUSA's rebate, in conjunction with a $100 mail-in rebate from TiVo, makes the DVRs free.
The promotion runs until Jan. 29, but excludes Apple computers.
TiVo has been offering a $100 mail-in rebate on all its DVRs since early last year.
The Good Guys, which is owned by CompUSA and concentrated on the West Coast, is running an instant 15 percent off rebate for all TiVo DVRs.
The $199 40-hour Series2 TiVo DVR, for example, is available for $70 after the instant 15 percent off from The Good Guys and the $100 mail-in rebate from TiVo.
The Good Guys rebate is good from Jan. 28 to Jan. 31.
Consumers also will have to pay for TiVo service.
A monthly subscription to TiVo's DVR service costs $12.95.
While practically a household name, San Jose, Calif.-based TiVo is fighting to match the success of its brand name with a lasting business model in an increasingly competitive DVR market.
Initially looking to partner with cable and satellite companies, TiVo is now looking to add new features to its innovative DVR service to drive unit sales.
TiVo representatives have not ruled out a Comcast deal and add that negotiations continue with Comcast and other service providers.
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