DirecTV and TiVo together again: Offering TiVo HD DVR nationally

DirecTV, which has partnered on and off with TiVo for more than a decade, is hoping that this time the relationship will stick, with an expansion of a recent 10-market trial that offered its customers the option of a TiVo HD DVR that integrates with the DirecTV service.

Back in December DirecTV began offering the TiVo HD DVR in 10 markets, including Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix, but starting today the program expands nationwide. The TiVo HD DVR (model THR22) can record two shows at once and can hold up to 100 hours of HD programming or 400 hours of standard-definition shows, the companies say. It can also access 7,000 movies on demand.

To get TiVo, though, you'll have to pay a $5 premium each month, plus $199 for the TiVo DVR. According to information from DirecTV's website, the $5 monthly TiVo service charge is on top of DirecTV's $7-per-month DVR fee and $10-per-month HD charge, bringing the total monthly charge to $23. By comparison, TiVo charges $20 per month or $500 for a lifetime subscription.

Another possible concern: On its website, DirecTV says that several features—including its whole-home DVR service, live TV streaming, 3D capability, DirecTV Cinema (satellite downloads), YouTube, and the DirecTV iPad app remote control—are not available on the TiVo DVR. We've asked TiVo for clarification, since some of these features are available on TiVo DVRs—and TiVo's press release says DirecTV Cinema is included—but we haven't heard back yet.

What users will get, however, is TiVo's easy-to-use interface, the peanut-shaped TiVo remote control, and some advanced features. These include Swivel Search, which lets you locate favorite shows in HD across television and on DirecTV CINEMA, and Season Pass, which lets you automatically record a full season of favorite TV shows.

The DirecTV offering includes some other TiVo features, including Wish List searches (recordings based on keywords such as a favorite actor or topic), as well as TiVo Suggestions, which makes new, similar recommendations based on a viewer's favorite shows and your Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down ratings.

It's not clear whether TiVo 's great interface and a few unique features will be enough to convince DirecTV customers to cough up an extra $60 per year for the privilege. If you'd like to see how TiVo stacks up against DirecTV's other DVRs, you can check out this comparison table on the company's website. We'd like to know whether you find the DirecTV TiVo option compelling.

—James K. Willcox