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TiVo, Amazon Test Video Delivery Service

Feb 7, 2007  •  Post A Comment

TiVo partnered with Amazon to test a new service that will link Amazon’s online video store UnBox to TiVo devices.

As part of the trial, TiVo users will be able to watch videos from UnBox on their TVs.

The deal follows Wal-Mart’s launch yesterday of its online video download service and represents another wrinkle in the increasingly competitive download-to-own market. Apple’s iTunes dominates that field, but now faces fresh competition from Wal-Mart and from the expansion of the UnBox service to the TV set.

The Amazon-TiVo deal also represents another effort in the ongoing quest to link PC content to the TV. Apple is playing in this space too with its Apple TV product that brings iTunes content to the TV, which is slated for a release later this year.

TiVo has attempted to bridge the computer and the TV set before through its TiVoCast service that brings broadband content to the TV.That service has struggled to ignite consumer interest, however.

The partners also face additional challenges. Consumers who use Amazon UnBox have complained about installation problems, download complications and a poor consumer experience. Also, some TV executives have privately expressed concern about the user experience and have opted not to partner with Amazon as a result.

(Editor: Gilbert)