Why do people pay for TiVo?

**JoeP** · 12-12-2014, 10:36 AM

I had toyed around with the idea of recording programming, simply for the convenience of skipping commercials. So instead of planting one's self in front of the TV from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and having to mute all the commercials, we could start when convenient and skip all the commercials.

Now that we have Netflix, that vision has simply fizzled and I don't see a compelling reason to have another device.

FWIW, I had also explored one of the Windows 7 versions that had/has built in support for recording media, provided you add a tuner card (we use an antenna). IIRC, there is also a way to request a cable card from your cable provider so the PC can tune into their stations.

**rigz** · 12-12-2014, 01:48 PM

To be able to watch and save any shows you want from any channel you want for as long as you want.

**kaysmom** · 12-12-2014, 02:13 PM

Paying for TiVo

When we had Cable, we had a TiVo. We loved it. Easy to record shows, speed through commercials, do our own instant replays, and pause live tv. Over the years many pay TV companies have introduced their own DVRs and made it difficult if not impossible to use TiVo. Currently we have UVerse and use their DVR. The cost is built into our package.

If we used an antennae or had a TV service that was compatible with TiVo, we'd have no problem paying for it. The whole searching and recording experience was so much better 10 years ago with TiVo than anything else we've used from two different satellite companies and UVerse since then.

And while there are many TV shows that you can currently get free online through Hulu or the network's website, CBS seems to be trying to change that with their All Access subscription. We'll have to see how that turns out.

**disneysteve** · 12-12-2014, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by rigz View Post

To be able to watch and save any shows you want from any channel you want for as long as you want.

I can't imagine any reason I would ever want to do that. There's nothing on TV that I would want to "own" indefinitely. Once I've watched it, I'm done with it. I suppose recording movies could be nice rather than buying DVDs but DVDs have no commercials and are portable. And with Netflix we can get almost anything if we want to see it again. We only buy at most 2 or 3 movies a year if that.

**LittleMissSplendid** · 12-12-2014, 04:04 PM

With the availability of DVR and online streaming I'm surprised TiVo is still in business. I recall looking into it when I had roommates and they insisted on tv service and it was way more expensive then adding DVR from our cable provider.

**corn18** · 12-12-2014, 04:50 PM

Sports. Record the game and then watch it in an hour vs. 4 hours when you have to sit through all the BS.

**disneysteve** · 12-12-2014, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by tomhole View Post

Sports. Record the game and then watch it in an hour vs. 4 hours when you have to sit through all the BS.

I have absolutely zero interest in sports but I guess I could see the appeal there for those that like to watch stuff like that.

**Zedon** · 12-14-2014, 01:30 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I can't imagine any reason I would ever want to do that. There's nothing on TV that I would want to "own" indefinitely. Once I've watched it, I'm done with it. I suppose recording movies could be nice rather than buying DVDs but DVDs have no commercials and are portable. And with Netflix we can get almost anything if we want to see it again. We only buy at most 2 or 3 movies a year if that.

Record anything you happen by while channel surfing, record entire series. Delete what you don't watch, always have it in HD. Record live things like sports and watch them at your own pace. Alot of things are not "On Demand" or netflix or amazon prime. I have them and they are very limited in their offerings. Those things are also dependent on your internet connection. It's really about convenience. I would probably never get to watch any tv if it weren't for tivo/dvr. I don't use the actual tivo system anymore but it was more user friendly when I used it. I think it is my favorite recent innovation. I also record my favorite movies to watch at my convenience later as often as I want. Half my dvr is full of my favorite movies in HD with no commercials.

I'm sure there are some people that don't find it useful but for me I don't think I could do without it unless I decided not to watch tv anymore.

I often wish I had a tivo like function on my car radio, so I could pause things I am listening to or go back and relisten.

**corn18** · 12-14-2014, 01:38 AM

I recorded the Army Navy game yesterday. I worked outside until I knew it was about half time and then came in and watched the first half in 45 minutes. Tied at 7 each, I hit pause and left to see my daughter's Xmas show choir show. Listened to NPR on the way over just to make sure I didn't hear someone announce the final score as the game was actually over in real time.

Was enjoying the show choir show and made it to intermission where my friend came up to me and congratulated me. Not sure what he was congratulating me for, I askd and he said "Your Navy boys did well." Thus endeth my evening of watching the rest of the game. Takes all the enjoyment away when you know who won.

**feh** · 12-16-2014, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I have absolutely zero interest in sports but I guess I could see the appeal there for those that like to watch stuff like that.

This is one of the ways we use our DVR - turns a 3 hour football game into 2 hours.

We don't pay for Tivo; we have an old laptop running Windows Media Center.

**disneysteve** · 12-16-2014, 07:09 AM

Originally posted by Zedon View Post

Record anything you happen by while channel surfing, record entire series. Delete what you don't watch, always have it in HD. Record live things like sports and watch them at your own pace.

I'm sure there are some people that don't find it useful but for me I don't think I could do without it unless I decided not to watch tv anymore.

I guess this is why I don't see the point. I don't watch that much TV. I don't need to have hours and hours of stuff recorded. When I do want to watch something, if there's nothing on, I'll pull up something on demand or on Netflix. I recently finished the whole Breaking Bad series. My wife and I just finished Sherlock and started Blacklist. There is a lifetime of content on demand and on Netflix, more than enough to occupy me. Plus, much of the time that I watch "TV", it's actually while I'm on the treadmill watching on my phone or iPad so the DVR wouldn't even matter.

**JoeP** · 12-16-2014, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I guess this is why I don't see the point. I don't watch that much TV. I don't need to have hours and hours of stuff recorded. When I do want to watch something, if there's nothing on, I'll pull up something on demand or on Netflix. I recently finished the whole Breaking Bad series. My wife and I just finished Sherlock and started Blacklist. There is a lifetime of content on demand and on Netflix, more than enough to occupy me. Plus, much of the time that I watch "TV", it's actually while I'm on the treadmill watching on my phone or iPad so the DVR wouldn't even matter.

TV programming has really changed a lot. We now get about 90% of our viewing from our Roku, about 5% from Redbox, and the rest is either local/national news or the occasional football game if we have company and they're sports fans. I would like to get my hour long news fix over with in 30 minutes, but it doesn't bother me enough to get a TiVo.

**disneysteve** · 12-16-2014, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by JoeP View Post

I would like to get my hour long news fix over with in 30 minutes

TV news drives me nuts. They spend an hour talking about stuff that could easily be covered in 10-15 minutes. Broadcasts that used to be 30 minutes are now an hour and longer. I can't stand to watch anymore. If I want to know anything, I look online or on my phone. I can get the weather forecast in 5 seconds instead of 10 minutes of high-tech radar and doppler and 3-D animation when all I want to know is "Is it going to rain?"

**rigz** · 12-16-2014, 01:51 PM

Disneysteve : correct me if im wrong but you seem to be asking "why do people spend money on something that I specifically don't like?"

How can you not understand why people would spend money on TiVo/DVR even though you don't? Couldn't a similar question be asked for much of what you spend your money on? In fact if it isn't 100% a necessity of life, you could ask the question for any purchase.

Basically tivo/DVR is a really useful and awesome technology for millions of people.

Why do people pay for TiVo?