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Frontier Will Start Offering TiVO Service
Frontier Communications and TiVO have struck a new deal that may give Frontier customers access to TiVO hardware and service. According to a company announcement, Frontier will begin to market and deploy co-branded versions of TiVo's suite of whole-home products and services -- including an industry-first deployment of the TiVo Roamio DVR with over-the-air (OTA) support -- starting sometime in the middle of this year. Frontier's going to target cord cutters with these services; the company never particularly bullish on offering TV services -- even though they just acquired Verizon's DSL and FiOS assets in CA, FL and TX.
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spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
·Consolidated Com..

1 recommendation

spewak

Premium Member

Tivo, schmivo

Here is how Frontier will charge you for over the air broadcasts being recorded on the Roamio: (Keep in mind, you can DIY it and have no charges other than those associated with the Roamio)

Recording Fees: $12.99
Terestrial radio fees: $14.99
Government USF: $1.28
Out of Market fee: $42.34
Anything else we can nickel and dime you for Fee: $23.90
Your Total bill: $95.50
Welcome to the new Frontier!
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

It sounds like a smart move to me. Assume their DSL is anemic (not much of a stretch), a Tivo box lightens the burden on their network for broadcast channels, and at the same time the Tivo has a great app ecosystem so the consumer is more apt to utilize say Netlifx or the like and drive network usage.

As the load goes up, they would have more investment $$$ and could then upgrade their networks.

And obviously there is nothing preventing someone from a DIY Tivo installation. Will it be more expensive, yes. Like cable modems at $7-$8 a month, some people prefer to pay and not worry. Frontier is now providing that OPTION.

Now in FiOS areas not sure on the arrangement but Tivo boxes (Roamio) use cablecard and have moca like the Quantam DVR but do much more than the Quantam DVR, again driving services.

For these smaller carriers it makes sense to partner w/ Tivo on R&D cost. I guess FTR is not really that small any more.

BTW the new Tivo model for their streaming devices (mini) can now be had for $149 and that includes lifetime service. Prior that was like $5 a month. NEVER has there been a better time to get into a Tivo ecosystem.

IMHO people dropping mad loot on subpar carrier DVR should start taking a look at Tivo.
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

Lifetime service on a "mini" streaming device "included?" That's nice, I guess... but what about their "regular" DVR boxes?
The subscription to these things has never made sense to me.

If they must have monthly service, how is that any different than paying the cable company? $20/mo. for cable company box vs. $15/mo. for a Tivo + "fees." You might save about $5/mo???

I mean, good for Frontier on partnering as I'm sure the boxes are nicer and all, but for folks that *buy* these Tivo boxes, I've just never quite understood the monthly fees.

Certainly these will only be slightly more per month than 'standard' boxes, at which point, it's probably within $5/mo. vs. buying your own... and still paying Tivo a monthly fee... so, in the grand scheme of things, it's probably a wash, Tivo makes more money, while customers get the choice of a different box.
buckweet1980
join:2011-12-31
Saint Petersburg, FL

buckweet1980

Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

I looked at buying a TIVO many times and could never come up with an ROI model that seemed attractive to me. I actually prefer my FIOS DVR interface over TIVO (I trialed a Roamio box), so it didn't blow me away enough that I just had to have it.

ROI was 3 or 4yrs (been a while since I did the math) for what I have now when factoring hardware and subscription fees for the devices. That long of an ROI is not attractive so I keep on paying that DVR fee.

The Engineer
@scansafe.net

The Engineer

Anon

Re: Tivo, schmivo

Go for a used TiVo with lifetime service off of Ebay. I've got a series 2 Tivo with lifetime (circa 2005 technology) that I've had for going on 10 years now. That lifetime subscription has paid for itself many times over. Of course, it looks like shit on my HDTV... it's mostly used by my wife at this point.
Merlin235
join:2014-10-14
USA

Merlin235 to buckweet1980

Member

to buckweet1980
The payback depends on how many TVs you want to hook up. With the life time service included the minis have a payback of little more than a year.

You also have to take in the superior user interface of the Tivo, six tuners, larger HD, ability to add an expansion drive and built in Apps for Netflix, Amazon, Pandora etc.

If these features don't have any value then staying with the FIOS DVR is probably the way to go.
buckweet1980
join:2011-12-31
Saint Petersburg, FL

buckweet1980

Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

Honestly I have to disagree with you on the user interface.. I prefer the FIOS DVR (I'm still VZ) user interface over TiVo.. When I tried the Roamio when it first came not all of the interface was even in HD format at, which hopefully that's changed by now.. But things that it really lacked was color code guide that I rely on. With the FIOS DVR it's color coded based on sports, movies, etc.. which really helps when you're skimming channels. Also FIOS has the channel logos which TiVo doesn't have (not sure if they do now).. I don't remember channel numbers, I just look for the logo.

There's a few other things I didn't like about it, but those are the main things I remember. And yes it has some apps, but typically they're outdated or slow.. I already have a Chromecast and Fire TV stick so I don't need the apps.. Some of my information I'm sure is outdated so no flaming on me for that, I'm just speaking to what my experience was when I had it.

I just checked and a TiVo Roamio Plus with 1yr of service and 2 Minis with lifetime are 850 + tax.. That's a lot of money up front. If you want more than a year of I believe you need to buy an extended warranty too.. So this has come down a bit since I looked 2yrs ago, it was well over 1100 i think then. Still tho, this is about a 2year RoI. And I still have to rent a cable card. I'd rather just spend the 35 to 40/mo now and pay for it over time and always have boxes that are under warranty.

I have no idea how the user interface is on the Frontier FIOS DVRs so my opinion might change once we get migrated over as to which is better. And hopefully TIVO will have updated the things I didn't like about it. I know if I was on Time Warner I'd switch, their DVR interface is awful.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

TiVo is hands down a better DVR than any cable company DVR system out there. A color coded guide is just visual pollution.

The apps have gotten a lot better. But even without the apps, TiVo is still just a better DVR than what any cable company can crank out.

When you do the math out, it works out to about a 36-month payback. You seem to be really hung up on the warranty/ replacement thing. It's not a big deal, as the only things that ever break in TiVos, or any other DVR for that matter, are the hard drives, or the PSUs. In the Roamios, the hard drives are much easier to replace than in previous models, and the PSUs are also fairly easy to replace.
buckweet1980
join:2011-12-31
Saint Petersburg, FL

buckweet1980

Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

And this is your opinion which I don't agree with it, but this is why it's great to have freedom of choices isn't it? If you want to spend all your money up front them go for it, I don't want to do that. The VZ FIOS DVR is quite good and I'm happy with it.

And yes warranty/replacement it is a huge thing.. If that box fails you have to go spend a large amount of $ out of your pocket to replace it, along with paying a transferal fee (if you have lifetime service) to the new box. Since you're renting that box from the cable company you will always get a replacement if it fails. So there is definite value in paying the rental fee.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

How long have you used TiVo? If you used it for a day and weren't used to it, then that doesn't really count. I've used iGuide for 4 years and TiVo almost continuously for 11, and I've played with X1 and other interfaces, specifically looking for the features that TiVo has, and none of them can get anywhere close. I'm not sure about Genie and Hopper, as I don't have much experience with them.

The motherboards virtually never fail. If a hard drive or power supply fails, you just replace it, and the unit still has lifetime service. You're making a big deal out of virtually nothing.

There is no value in paying a fee that's far higher than the amortized cost of a TiVo with Lifetime service. TiVo will win in the end by a large margin. As the guy in the Cree LED bulb ad says, "If you argue with math, you will lose".
buckweet1980
join:2011-12-31
Saint Petersburg, FL

buckweet1980

Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

I used a DirecTV TIVO for many years before the Direct TV HD DVRs came out, and yes that was a step down then, but this is 2015 not 2004. So I have more than 1 day of use, when trying out the Roamio the overall experience was the same as I remembered..

Once again, you have your opinion. I have mine. I value my money more in other areas than you do.. You go your way, I'll go mine.

Aren't freedom of choices the greatest thing we have?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

TiVo is the best cable experience, hands down. And TiVo is undeniably cheaper than the MSO DVR solutions. Math doesn't lie.
MikeRich88
join:2003-05-04
Houston, TX
ARRIS BGW210-700
ARRIS SB6190

MikeRich88 to amungus

Member

to amungus
said by amungus:

If they must have monthly service, how is that any different than paying the cable company? $20/mo. for cable company box vs. $15/mo. for a Tivo + "fees." You might save about $5/mo???

My TiVo Series 3 (2 tuners) was $50 off eBay. The cableco DVR was $20 per month for 2 tuners, my TiVo for a few years was $12.95 per month.

Because I used a TiVo, the cable company gave me a $2.50 discount per month for "customer owned equipment". The net cost was $10.45 per month. So I was able to save $9.55 per month.

Later, my apartment building was involuntarily disconnected from cable. I was eligible to convert my TiVo to lifetime for $99. Then I was able to use it on OTA free of charge. Since then I have had DISH, so I use the TiVo as "Additional tuners" and in my bedroom. I recently move and am thinking of going back to cable and I will save the whole $20 per month and still get the discount, which will be offset a bit for a DTA for the bedroom, but I still have a coax run and remote on my phone so I can view the TiVo upstairs as well.

This does not even begin to take into consideration how the TiVo interface is lightyears ahead of most cableco/telco DVRs.

caster
@sysvana.com

caster to elefante72

Anon

to elefante72
DIY Tivo will not have VOD and may need a SDV tuner in SDV areas.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Tivo, schmivo

FIOS doesn't use SDV.

cralt
join:2011-01-07
CT

cralt

Member

Wow

It will be interesting to see what happens when a customer buys a Frontier branded Tivo FROM frontier and then gets it installed by a Frontier tech on to Frontier's 1990's DSL running at 768k max. What will the excuse be there?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

This makes no sense

The whole OTA thing makes no sense. In the areas that Frontier has enough speed to support cord-cutting, they are one of the cord providers. In the areas where they aren't one of the cord providers, they don't have the bandwidth.

OTOH, TiVo would make a LOT of sense for their FIOS footprint.
vzguy
join:2008-10-12

vzguy

Member

Frontier has not acquired VZ in CA,FL, and TX.

It won't be done until 2016.

pjsutton
join:2013-06-25
Kempton, PA

pjsutton

Member

Confused

I don't understand this. They are going to offer TiVo in markets where they have TV service (FiOS and U-Verse)? Or they are just going to sell a Frontier-branded TiVo with only OTA capabilities? What's the purpose of that? Where will the VOD library come from? Does this somehow give them more leverage with programming contracts?

I seriously doubt that they are going to offer IPTV on most of the DSL network, because it just doesn't make sense. People who only have DSL as an option likely already have satellite - and likely in a bundle with Frontier DSL and POTS. I literally don't see the purpose of this.