Original TiVo going the way of the dodo
The first wave of TiVo digital video recorders is about to get a final “thumbs down.” Those Series 1 DVRs, first released in 1999, will get their last programming guide update on Sept. 15. That means after Sept. 29, the units will no longer record programs using the Season Pass feature. TiVo DVRs, which at the time cost $500 or more, could be bought with a lifetime subscription to its software. But TiVo will soon begin delivering data that the older DVRs cannot handle, the company said in a statement. “TiVo is upgrading the data associated with content from a user’s cable package,” the company said. “The original TiVo Series1 DVR, released more than a decade ago, will not operate with current software versions and will no longer be supported by the TiVo service.” In the years leading up to an explosion of on-demand videos from Netflix and others, TiVo DVRs were the hottest way to watch pay-TV shows. Owners of the device would schedule to record one or more episodes of their favorite show and then hunker down for an evening. An added lure: the ability to rewind to a winning shot or fast-forward through commercials. San Carlos, Calif.-based entertainment technology company Rovi acquired TiVo for about $1.1 billion in April, and the deal is expected to close by the end of September. Those hanging on to the earliest model are the ones facing changes. The company sent a letter to the 3,500 or so owners of the older TiVos, saying that the products have “had a great run and we’re truly sorry to see them go.” To make up for it, TiVo is giving those owners a $75 prepaid Visa card.