In a move that may miff Comcast, Verizon and other pay TV providers, TiVo and Amazon.com plan to sell movies directly to TV viewers with TiVo receivers, starting Tuesday, the AP reported.
The two companies partnered in March to deliver Amazon’s Unbox download service with Series2 or Series3 receivers to buy movies from Amazon to TiVo machines, but subscribers first had to download the movies to a PC before transferring them to a digitlal video recorder.
Now, PC intervention would not be needed. Under the “Buy on TV” feature allows TiVo users to search Amazon’s video catalog and rent or purchase titles using their TiVo remote, and have the films downloaded directly to their TiVo DVRs.
Since the service relies on high-speed Internet connections from cable operators and telcos, it could draw the ire from broadband providers. It could also renew the debate on network neutrality.
Amazon has been one of several Internet providers that have pushed for network neutrality regulations that would prevent cable operators and telcos from limiting their ability to deliver content through their high-speed pipes.
In conjunction with the new feature, TiVo also developed a safeguard that requires users to punch in a five-digit password to complete the transaction, said Jim Denney, TiVo’s vice president of product marketing.
“We wanted to avoid the baby sitter scenario where you come home to find a bunch of movies on your TiVo that you did not order,” he said.
Amazon and TiVo have already cut deals with several top Hollywood studios to supply movies for the Unbox service, including Sony Pictures, MGM, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios.
The new feature is the latest example of how companies – including Microsoft Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Apple Inc. – are trying to find ways to deliver online videos to customers’ living rooms.