TiVo Inc. continued its pursuit of proprietary cable-network content for its broadband-based, video-downloading trial by reaching a deal to distribute college-football programming from College Sports Television.
Beginning next week, TiVo subscribers with “TiVo Series 2” boxes can download via broadband six to nine CSTV-produced video clips leading up to the network’s Oct. 8 Navy-Air Force telecast, according to TiVo director of corporate development Joshua Danovitz.
After the game, TiVo will make available additional video programming related to the event. Overall, TiVo will make available around one hour’s worth of CSTV programming.
“If you’re not a CSTV subscriber, then you’ll still be able get and enjoy CSTV programming,” Danovitz said. “We think CSTV is an exciting partner, and we see a lot of ways for TiVo to work with sports content in a similar way in the future.”
This pact marks TiVo’s second distribution deal with a cable network. In August, the digital-video-recorder vendor teamed up with The Independent Film Channel to make available for download to TiVo subscribers the network’s first-ever scripted series -- Hopeless Pictures, Greg the Bunny and The Festival -- in advance of their IFC debuts.
Danovitz deemed that trial “successful,” but he would not reveal specific performance numbers.
