Opera Software and TiVo are integrating TiVo devices with the Opera Devices SDK, as well as open up the world of HTML5 TV apps through the Opera TV Store.
This partnership will enable TiVo to bring web and HTML5 content to cable operator customers and consumers, including business, entertainment, fashion, sports and gaming news, content and more, as well as provide developers with an SDK to create new apps for the TiVo platform for the App Store that TiVo is planning to launch later this year.
TiVo’s operator customers who are shipping TiVo devices based on the Roamio platform will be able to offer popular apps and content to their consumers through the Opera TV Store.
“Not only is Opera’s Devices SDK best-in-class, but its standards-compliant HTML5 engine will enable a household name like TiVo and its cable operator customers to bring the best and latest of OTT web content quickly to the end-user. We are looking forward to working with TiVo on further enhancing its operator solutions,” said Aneesh Rajaram, SVP, TV and Devices, Opera Software.
“In addition, app and content developers will have another avenue to reach many active and loyal TiVo users through their apps in the Opera TV Store.”
By early next year, TiVo plans to deploy the Opera TV Store, the company’s HTML5-based TV app store, currently showcasing hundreds of applications. This number is predicted to grow rapidly with Opera innovations such as Opera TV Snap, a tool to convert online videos into connected TV apps, as well as the developer SDK.
In addition to the applications available in the store, Opera works closely with popular content providers that are moving to HTML5, allowing TiVo to quickly adopt applications such as YouTube. This also gives opportunities for brands and agencies to reach millions of new subscribers on TiVo through this alliance with Opera.
“Consumers want to watch what they want, when they want it and it’s important to offer an easy-to-use interface capturing all the content possible, whether it be from cable TV or the web,” said Jim Denney, VP of Product Marketing at TiVo.
“We have selected Opera as a partner in this mission because it enables users in both the operator and retail segments a completely customized experience, along with a wide variety of local, national and global long-tail content and other applications from the Opera TV Store.”