TiVo to Deliver YouTube to TV Sets

Leading Internet-Video Site Already Has Deal with Apple TV

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/12/2008 9:29:00 AM

Digital-video-recorder-supplier TiVo inked a deal with Google’s YouTube unit that will allow TiVo customers with broadband-connected units to directly access YouTube videos from their living-room TV sets.

The YouTube service, which will be available later this year, will allow TiVo users to search, browse and watch the thousands of new videos that are uploaded to YouTube each day. TiVo users will also be able to log into their YouTube accounts directly from their TiVo boxes and access their favorite YouTube channels and playlists.

The YouTube deal is just another example of how Alviso, Calif.-based TiVo is broadening the functionality of its hardware units to serve as “media extenders,” which can facilitate the viewing of Internet video, as well as providing traditional DVR functions.

During its earnings call last week, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said the broadband connection in late-model TiVo boxes could be an increasingly important delivery channel for content creators in the future, adding that TiVo broadband-enabled customers currently have access to 20,000 titles from Amazon.com and content from more than 40 TiVoCast content partners.

Partnering with YouTube, the most popular video Web site, is important as TiVo pursues this market, particularly since Apple’s Apple TV media-extender device already has a deal with YouTube.

"We're delighted to be working with the world's leading online-video community so that TiVo subscribers can access YouTube's popular content on the TV via the TiVo DVR," said Tara Maitra, vice president and general manager of content services at TiVo, in a statement. "Being able to make available YouTube videos to the TiVo subscriber base using one device, one remote and one user interface is another major step in our commitment to combine all of your television and Web-video viewing options in one easy-to-use service."