General Communication Inc., a midsize operator that is Alaska's largest telecommunications company, has picked TiVo to exclusively provide GCI's next-generation whole-home TV and multiscreen video solutions, the companies announced Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. GCI, which had 122,500 basic video subs at the end of the second quarter of 2012, intends to begin initial deployment later in 2012 and offer TiVo across its footprint in early 2013.
In the U.S., TiVo also has agreements with Charter Communications, Suddenlink Communications, RCN and Grande Communications.
GCI plans to offer subscribers TiVo's Premiere Q four-tuner gateway DVR, plus the "TiVo Mini" low-cost IP set-tops and TiVo Stream, which enables Wi-Fi access to content across tablets and smart-phones in the home. GCI also plans to be one of the first operators to use the TiVo software and service in conjunction with Pace's XG1 multi-tuner gateway with integrated DOCSIS and video-transcoding capabilities.
"GCI customers deserve the very best television viewing experience possible and the advanced features of the TiVo product will allow us to provide that," GCI vice president of content and product management Bob Ormberg said in a statement.
According to Ormberg, after evaluating various advanced TV user interface options, "we determined that TiVo's advanced user interface, leading whole home solution and hardware flexibility combined to create the best option available. Additionally, the simplicity with which TiVo presents a vast world of content to every screen, including tablets and smart phones, not only meets our needs today, but is an ideal fit for the future as television evolves."
TiVo is scheduled to report earnings for the second quarter ended July 31 next Wednesday, Aug. 29.
