Back in 2008, before the site’s hiatus, I covered TiVo’s launch in Australia. Since then they’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and lately mostly downs. The main investor, Seven Network, pulled back, and Hybrid Television Services, the TiVo licensee for Australia and New Zealand, laid off a majority of their staff. But there has been some good news, TiVo took the largest share of the DVR market in Australia in 2010. I just think the total sales were less than they were hoping for.
Despite the struggles, Hybrid TV Services claims that TiVo is in it for the long haul in ANZ. Hybrid is looking to the Australian government’s plans to disable analog broadcasts over the next few years as an opportunity. The switch to digital means that consumers will need digital-capable tuners, a roll TiVo is more than happy to fill.
In the meantime, hopefully Hybrid can sustain enough subscriber growth to keep the business viable and maintain the service for their existing subscribers, who are understandably tense after past events.
Via iTech Report.
