TiVo, Amazon offer downloads straight to TVs

Expansion of service takes away need for PC

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 7/10/2007

JULY 10 | A new update added today allows TiVo subscribers to download movies from Amazon.com Unbox directly through their TiVo boxes.

In March, Amazon and TiVo joined to allow customers of both services to download movies from Amazon Unbox to their TiVo for viewing on the TV. Until today, users had to log onto Amazon.com on their PC to download movies to their TiVo box. Now they can use their TiVo remote to choose and download films.

Under the “Find Programs” screen on TiVo, users can browse through a narrow list of the most popular TV and movie rentals and downloads, recent releases, foreign films and kids and family programs.

“We are excited to make Amazon Unbox on TiVo even easier to use by making it possible to purchase and rent movies and TV shows not only on the Web but also with your remote control,” Amazon Unbox director Roy Price said.

Amazon claims to have more than 10,000 movies, TV shows and other digital content available for download, leading competitors such as Netflix and Vongo, which claim a couple thousand films in their download libraries.

However, not all of Amazon's titles are available on TiVo, and only a limited number can be ordered directly through the TiVo box.

Downloads that can be purchased through the TiVo include TiVo’s new Swivel Search, which allows users to link to other programs that have similar names, the same actors or other similar features for easier navigation.

Customers who buy a TiVo Series2 Dual Tuner box and service plan before July 23 will get a $15 credit for Amazon downloads and a wireless adapter to connect their box to the Internet.