FCC Fines Cox, Time Warner For CableCARD Screw Ups > Idiots...

reply to magnushsi

Re: Idiots...

TiVo would have made a 2-way box a long time ago if the CableCos would have given then access to do so. But the CableCos insisted that customers had to use their interface, their parameters and pay them money to do so. TiVo thus couldn't do it because the whole reason for a competitive product is to give the customer a better interface.

What should have come w/ the cable card legislation was legislation requiring a single nationwide standard for all 2-way cable services, including VOD, so 3rd party developers could create their own hardware and interfaces to display that content.

The technology is moving fast.. cable wants to move fast, clearly as you're seeing here as they have to now take on the battle of phone.. yet, Tivo wants to move at their own pace.

Personally, I'm still for cable using their own interface.. it's their cable plant. The fact the government is getting involved in the business to this level pisses me off. If there is a need for this luxury service to be open, or a demand for that matter, then open up the franchises to others and let them come in and swoop up the customers on their open platform.

I won't take ANY of this serious until they do the same with ALL video providers.. Satellite, Fios, U-Verse, etc! Until then, what I'm seeing from the FCC is an over stepping of their alleged authority into a private industry.

And so you know, Tivo isn't in the business to give a consumer anything better.. they're in it for their own personal profits. Tivo is a bottom feeding company that can't survive with out another business being forced to bow to them. Tivo could have EASILY partnered with the company and resold their software to the companies direct like they are just now doing. But, they didn't, they wanted ALL the money to themselves and then went after congress to get the foot in someone elses door. Don't believe me? What happened with DirecTv gave Tivo the boot? It was about the end of Tivo which is why they started to give their hardware away and then started the cable tv deal. Now, they're relevant again.

Further - if it's not about "Tivo" then why can't I use their box, THAT I OWN, with out paying a monthly fee for a guide I really don't need. What Tivo and the DVR did was invalidate the VCR. I want a digital recorder where I can simply set a start and stop time, and channel and tell it to record or simply time shift live TV. Can't do that.. and, since they hold the VCR killing patent, tell me why congress or the FCC hasn't gone after Tivo to do away with the monthly fee and see them as dummy boxes with a subscription option.

So.. STOP GIVING TIVO ANY TEARS OR FREE PASSES!