TiVo in a recently unearthed FCC filing (below) has already shown that the Premiere Q is coming to regular users. The quad-tuner DVR is only coming to providers like RCN and Suddenlink, but a new model, the Premiere Elite, will hopefully be sold "directly to consumers" instead of pushed through cable subscriptions. It would arrive sometime later in the year.
TiVo unveiled its first major set-top box updates in some time with its highest end DVR, a new entry box, and an updated iPad app. The Premiere Q is the first quad-tuner set-top box and, as hinted earlier, can tune or record as many as four shows at once, giving a whole home access to DVR. Those who want to use IP-based video can stream three HD feeds at once, either over Ethernet on the local network or the Multimedia over Cable Alliance format.
A premature reveal late Saturday has shown two new TiVo set-top boxes and a major update to the iPad app. The company will lead off with the Premiere Q, a quad-tuner version of the current Premiere devices that would be aimed at multi-room recording. The DVR could record as many as four feeds at once and take as many as three simultaneous IP-based streams in HD, either regular content over Ethernet or using the newer Multimedia over Coax Alliance standard.
While the Hulu Plus service is available on TiVo Premiere DVRs, it will not come to TiVo devices offered by cable providers, it was revealed on Tuesday. This includes Suddenlink, Cox and RCN, because of licensing fees. Netflix, a streaming service accessible from TiVo DVRs, cannot stream through a box leased by a cable company because its contract prevents it from doing so. A Hulu spokesperson confirmed this is also the case.
During a quarterly earnings call this week, DVR maker TiVo revealed that it is still working on bringing tru2way technology to its set-top boxes. This would allow two-way interaction over cable set-tops, including services such as games, chat, web browsing and shopping. At the same time, CEO Tom Rogers said DirecTV TiVo is still scheduled for a 2010 release, but there is now some doubt as to whether this can happen before 2011.
