TiVo is reportedly getting ready to launch video on demand (VOD) services for Cox Communications, and customers can expect the new service anytime soon.
TiVo and Cox have announced their partnership such a long time ago, specifically five years ago, that many people may have forgotten that the two companies were actually working together. However, a new report from Zatz Not Funny cites "trusted sources" who say TiVo has scored big once again with a renewed deal with Cox to deliver a custom-made VOD solution for the fifth largest cable operator in the U.S.
If the rumor is true, access to Cox's customers will give TiVo another slice of its ever-increasing share of the DVR market. The DVR maker previously announced that a similar partnership with Comcast to deliver its Xfinity On Demand service has helped TiVo boost its retail sales and customer retention ratings.
Not much is known about the rumored partnership. In 2010, TiVo and Cox jointly announced a similar partnership that quietly died away while other providers launched their own VOD services. At that time, the two companies said that their VOD solution will include a TiVo Premiere DVR that can be purchased from Cox, TiVo or other retailers and will be integrated with Cox's VOD service.
The partnership launched in 2011, and Cox became the first cable television company which agreed to make its entire library of broadcast content available via a retail DVR. It was also the first time that a cable company agreed to allow access to that content, while still letting customers access their favorite streaming movies and shows via services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.
"Making our video on demand library available to customers who are using TiVo Premiere ensures that they can continue to enjoy all of the great television and movie choices available through our offerings but now have it seamlessly combined with access to a myriad of broadband content in addition to what we offer today," Cox vice president of video strategy and product development Steve Necessary said at that time.
Unfortunately, the first TiVo-Cox partnership failed, giving way to other providers to launch their own DVR-based VOD services, including TiVo's custom-made solution for Comcast and the now TiVo-compatible Verizon FIOS.
Photo: Jamie McCaffrey | Flickr
