DVR maker TiVo announced Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with cable provider Comcast, the first cable company to partner with the service. TiVo will provide a specialized version of its DVR beginning in mid-2006 to most of the Comcast's 21 million plus subscribers.

Under the agreement, the two companies will work to make a version of the TiVo service available on Comcast's existing DVR platform. The new service will be marketed using the TiVo brand.

"Broad deployment to millions of Comcast homes nationwide will enhance TiVo's recurring revenues," said Mike Ramsay, Chairman and CEO of TiVo. "Together, both companies will work to offer customers the best and most convenient premium television service."

Some analysts view the deal as critical to TiVo's future success, as in recent months its partnership with DirecTV has been called into question. DirecTV is reportedly developing a DVR based on in-house technology.

Investors have chided TiVo for relying on its partnership with DirecTV for much of its subscriber growth, as a large majority of its 3 million users are through that partnership. Reports have even suggested that the company may be an attractive buyout target for Apple.

Also announced on Tuesday was that TiVo will work with Comcast to make its interactive advertising program more widely available to the company's subscribers. The platform allows a TiVo user to find out more about a product by hitting the "thumbs up" key on the remote during a commercial.