TiVo service goes live in Canada

TiVo today announced its long-awaited Canadian service, bringing an alternative to viewers in the country who prefer alternatives to the digital video recorder boxes provided by cable and satellite providers. Like the American version, Canadian TiVo lets users both pick when to record shows or to use season passes to subscribe to shows that are explicitly included in TiVo's electronic guide. The TiVoToGo feature for transferring video to portable players works in addition to the multi-room streaming feature, the company says.

The launch starts with just one device, the Series 2 DT; the device connects to standard-definition analog or digital TV services and brings dual tuners to record one show while watching another, or record two at a time. Up to 80 hours of video can be saved on the system's hard drive. The box sells for $199 at Best Buy, Future Shop, and general stores such as London Drugs or The Brick; subscription rates are extra but should be equal to those in the US.