TiVo Inc. has inked a agreement that will make its Premiere product the exclusive DVR promoted by Grande Communications.
Under the deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, TiVo Premiere DVRs and its multi-room solutions will become part of Grande's advanced television offerings.
Scheduled to launch later this year, TiVo Premiere from will bring together traditional television, Internet-delivered video and interactive applications, as well as Grande's video on demand offerings, in one user interface. The products offered by the overbuilder, which serves consumers in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Midland, Odessa, San Antonio, San Marcos and Waco, Texas, will be based on TiVo's industry-leading family of whole home and multi-room products.
In addition to Grande, TiVo has commitments for its Premiere product with Charter Communications, Suddenlink Communications and RCN Corp.
A Grande spokesman said TiVo Premiere will be supplemental to the current in-house DVR product. It will be included and promoted as part of the double- and triple-play bundles the overbuilder offers. Currently, Grande includes DVR service as part of its Ideal Double Play and Ultimate Double Play, which carry monthly retail rates of $89.99 and $109.99, respectively, as well as its Ideal Triple Play ($109.99) and Ultimate Triple Play ($129.99).
The initial TiVo Premiere rollouts will occur in select metro markets within a couple of months. The TiVo launch is expected to be completed during the first part of the year, according to the spokesman.
He also noted that current Grande customers will have the option to upgrade to the TiVo Premiere from the current DVR product.
"The ability to deliver a truly differentiated video service in an already crowded environment is by no means an easy task," said Grande president Matt Murphy in a statement. "For us, the search for a partner to help us bring the most dynamic advanced television viewing experience to our customers began and ended with TiVo. TiVo's deep understanding of how to successfully integrate cable and broadband content on a single set-top platform will enable our viewers to easily navigate, search and discover content from across traditional television channels, the Internet and our own VOD library in a simple, intuitive fashion that is unlike anything else available on the market today."
Noted David Sandford, vice president and general manager for TiVo's U.S. MSO Business: "Operators are increasingly turning to TiVo to help them customize and deploy an advanced television offering that is cost effective for the operator, flexible and can be brought to market quickly. We are eager to begin working with Grande as they share our vision for the future of television and how best to deliver it to viewers."
