NEWS: MediaWorks upsets 'TiVo plan'

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...sets-TiVo-plan

MediaWorks says TVNZ would require its permission if it wanted to include TV3 and C4 in any package of channels it offered to TiVo users in New Zealand.

This could effectively give the privately- owned broadcaster a veto over any plans TVNZ may have to create a profitable sideline from "on demand" television.

TVNZ is believed to be considering acquiring Tivo's New Zealand business from Australia's Seven Network, allowing the state-owned broadcaster to enter the pay-TV market either directly, or in conjunction with partners.

TiVo set-top boxes could double as Freeview decoders and devices that would let viewers download pay-TV programmes and films over the internet to watch on television.

Acquiring the rights to sell TiVo in New Zealand would also give TVNZ some control over electronic programming guides (EPGs), used by viewers to select channels to watch.

MediaWorks marketing director Roger Beaumont says TVNZ could not include MediaWorks' channels in TiVo's EPG without prior approval. "They would need to have a licensing agreement to do that, and there have been no talks to date."

He could not say whether MediaWorks would look favourably on such a request. "In the current environment you have got to assess every opportunity on its merits."

Mr Beaumont says MediaWorks has no immediate plans to do a similar deal of its own with a set-top box maker. "That is not to say we wouldn't be open to an appropriate opportunity if it came along."

Broadcasters are unlikely to be able to "print money" from selling Net-delivered content in this economic environment, he says. "These things can become very big distractions for minimal return."

TVNZ experimented briefly with selling programmes, such as soaps, over the internet for viewing on computers, through its TVNZ OnDemand service. It scrapped paid downloads in February last year because they proved unpopular.

Speculation concerning a possible tie-up between TVNZ and Tivo came weeks after Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman told NZ Infotech that the Government might curtail a sweeping review of broadcasting regulations initiated by the last government.

TVNZ had lobbied for the "operational separation" of Sky, arguing Sky should hive off its set-top box network into a separate division.

I feel somewhat better now knowing that Australia is not the only country that lets "empire building" and pissing competitions get in the way of technology progression :)

yadda yadda yadda.. which is why we all went to Tivos in the first place.. freedom to choose rather than being locked into packages by the man.