TGC to roll out new TiVo services in fourth quarter

TGC Inc (替您錄科技), distributor of the popular US digital video recorder TiVo, is poised to bring more services to local consumers in the next quarter in a bid to increase its user base, a top official said yesterday.

"We will bring in more features that are already available in the US in the fourth quarter. We are now modifying the new features and adding Chinese-language interfaces," Chien Ta-wei (錢大衛), president of TGC, told a media gathering.

TGC, set up in 2004, is a joint venture, with US-based TiVo Inc as the major shareholder. With offices in the US, Taiwan and Shanghai, TGC has exclusive rights to TiVo in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The new services include TiVoToGo, TiVoComeBack and Home Media Features, Chien said.

TiVoToGo will enable subscribers to transfer recorded shows to personal computers and portable media players such as Apple Computer Inc's popular iPod music players as well as Sony Corp's PlayStation Portable game consoles.

TiVoComeBack will allow programs to be viewed on a TV from files stored on a personal computer, while Home Media Features lets users view their photos and videos, or listen to music files on a TV from the Internet or a PC.

TiVo is basically a set-top box that can record TV programs digitally onto a hard disk. Viewers can then skip commercials and pause, rewind or fast-forward programs.

"We expect 20 percent of Taiwanese households will adopt digital video recording services within five years and hopefully TiVo will gain the largest share," Chien said.

The company brought in its first cable TV partner, Cable Giant (新店有線電視), last month, and is currently talking to other cable operators, broadband firms and content providers to enhance services, as quality and a variety of content are key to the success of TiVo, he said.

According to Chris Hung (洪春暉), senior analyst with Taipei-based researcher Market Intelligence Center (資訊市場情報中心), TiVo is going in the right direction by cooperating with cable TV providers, much like its team-up with US satellite TV broadcaster DIRECTV.

About 22 percent of DIRECTV's 14 million subscribers use TiVo, helping boost TiVo's members to 4.5 million in the US, according to TGC.

"It will be a win-win situation for both as working with cable TV operators will enable more users to become aware of what TiVo is about," said Hung, adding that the launch of more services would increase user adoption.

Meanwhile, TGC announced that it is scheduled to launch TiVo in China next month, making the country the second nation it has expanded to in Asia after Taiwan.

TiVo will be made available first in Shanghai and in Shandong Province, Chien said, adding that the company would partner with broadcasting firm Shanghai Media Group (上海文廣新聞傳媒) to offer value-added services.