Satellite : TiVo Partners with DIRECTV for New HD DVR

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DIRECTV and TiVo announced Wednesday that they extended their relationship, a move that includes the development, marketing and distribution of a new HD DIRECTV DVR featuring TiVo's service.
The partnership also includes an extension of mutual intellectual property arrangements between the companies.

With the new HD DIRECTV DVR, DIRECTV and TiVo said they would work together to develop a version of the TiVo service for DIRECTV's broadband-enabled HD DVR platform. The product will include TiVo's Universal Swivel Search and TiVo KidZone.

The HD DVR is expected to launch in the second half of 2009.
DIRECTV said it will continue to develop and offer its own portfolio of set-top boxes. The TiVo box will be offered as an alternative choice to customers of the satellite TV service, the companies said.

DIRECTV and TiVo started their relationship in 2000 with the launch of the first DIRECTV DVR with TiVo service. In April 2006, the companies announced an extension of their commercial and advertising relationship. Still, DIRECTV has been selling its own DVR boxes, and TiVo's customer numbers with the DBS company have been on the decline.

The companies did not disclose financial terms of the new deal.