TiVo has revealed the ‘limited edition’ TiVo Roamio OTA PVR with an initial retail price of $49.99 (EUR37.83), for those who do not have cable or satellite service, yet still want a PVR.
The introduction has already been hailed by US press as “the ideal solution for cord-cutters”, as it combines digital terrestrial reception with streaming OTT video services. The device also takes advantage of the increased availability of so-called “subchannels” on US DTT transmitters, which takes the number of available digital TV signals to between 60 – 80 in major urban market.
“Many top TV shows in America are available with a simple HD antenna,” said TiVo CMO Ira Bahr.
“TiVo is devoted to making the best possible cable TV user experience available through our operator partners and in retail, but we recognize some viewers opt not to receive the benefits a subscription with a cable provider offers.”
TiVo Roamio OTA enables consumers to record up to four shows simultaneously (thanks to four DTT tuners), storing 75 HD hours of programming on the 500 GB hard drive. The new hybrid antenna PVR and streaming device allows consumers to watch local TV stations, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and Univision over-the-air and popular streaming video services such as Netflix, YouTube, and many others.
TiVo Roamio OTA will initially be available in the US at select BestBuy stores. The limited product release will be offered in select markets for $49.99, with a $14.99 (EUR11.32) per month service and a one-year commitment.