Millions of Americans now have digital video recorders (otherwise known as DVRs or PVRs) thanks to TiVo, ReplayTV and cable and satellite providers who offer PRVs in their satellite receiver boxes. Users who have PVRs are now calling the physical act of recording shows with their hard drive recorder “TiVo-ing” even if the service and hardware unit they are using is not actually a TiVo. This is remnisciant of how photocopying has become “Xeroxing” to many consumers and many people who blow their noses think they are using a Kleenex, when they are in fact most likely using a facial tissue. As much as consumers with PVRs rave about being able to “TiVo” their favorite shows and skip the commerials, TV executives and ad agencies are less excited. Free television content is created so that networks can sell ads. Now that model is being challenged by the progress of technology but a new ...

The DirecTV Group Inc., Hughes Network Systems Inc. and Thomson announced a long-term agreement that will provide the recently acquired DirecTV satellite TV and internet system with new set-top hardware. This announcement comes as Hughes recently released a tiny allotment of the highly sought after HDTV TiVo digital video recorders. Sources inside the consumer electronics retail market say the number of units released was as little as 4,000 units and all have been snatched up by hardcore home theater and HDTV enthusiasts who preorded the units months in advance.

The projected release for an HDTV TiVo from Hughes for DirecTV has been held firm at April 1, 2004, however the unit is not in stores as of yet. A quick call around to a number of Southern California mass market retailers confirmed that the announcement wasn’t an April fools joke and that the long awaited HDTV hard disc recording system for DirecTV with the TiVo interface will likely be on store shelves at dealers such as The Good Guys by April 12, 2004. The price will be around $1,000. Rumor has it that there will only be 4,000 to 5,000 units for shipment to launch the component to consumers. Many of the most hardcore HDTV enthusiasts have preordered their units months in advance. The difficulty of use of nearly all current HDTV receivers paired with the lack of being able to easily record the shows you want to see have made HDTV ...

Recent reports say the FCC is considering flagging HDTV signals in order to protect against users recording them at their high-resolution native resolutions. This comes as the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) is lobbying the FCC aggressively so that Hollywood’s best movies and TV programs are not easily recorded and duplicated at HDTV resolutions. While the FCC has not agreed to this flagging yet, fears of such a technological change have held up the much-anticipated launch of HDTV personal video recorders (PVRs). Over one year ago, Dish Network showed a PVR that could record HDTV at the CES trade show. They had the same black box at this year’s CES show just six weeks ago, yet none of the PVRs have been shipped to Dish Network consumers.

Korean-based Humax Co. has just announced plans for its US debut at the upcoming 2004 Consumer Electronics Show. At the show, executives will share the company’s US marketing strategy with members of the press, sales representatives and retailers, and unveil their 2004 line-up of flat panel televisions and digital video recorders. Humax was founded in 1989 and currently conducts business in over ninety countries and that it has signed a licensing agreement with TiVo to manufacturer DVR products in 2004. With Humax making PVRs featuring TiVo, the question begs to be asked - will they be first to market with the HDTV TiVo that consumers are clamoring for? Dish Network showed their proprietary HDTV PVR at last year's CES but have yet to sell a unit to their subscribers. Insiders tell AudioRevolution.com that DirecTV will have HDTV TiVo in q1, 2004. If Humax beats them to the punch they could have a runaway ...