TiVo Adding New Web Video Features

TiVo will announce Tuesday that it is expanding the capabilities of its set-top DVR boxes to allow users to download video from the Internet and then watch it on their television sets. New functionality to be added to the TiVo Desktop software would both convert and organize the videos.

Although a free upgrade for existing users of the software, new users would be charged $24.95 USD. It was not immediately clear whether the service would be also provided for the Macintosh version of the TiVo Desktop application.

Formats to be supported include QuickTime, Windows Media and MPEG-4. Copy protected files would not be able to be viewed, therefore videos purchased from stores such as iTunes would be incompatible. TiVo is attempting to work out deals with these services, however.

In order for the feature to work, a user must download the video into the TiVo folder on the computer containing TiVo Desktop. From there, the video is recoded into MPEG-2, the format used by the company's devices. Videos would also be searchable through the TiVo service.

In addition, users can share the downloaded videos with other TiVo boxes using a local network. The company is using technology from partner One True Media, which is also allowing users to share their own videos with the entire community.

This content would show up in the "Homemade Movies" section of TiVoCast, a feature added to Series2 boxes earlier this year.

In related news, TiVo is also set to announce a partnership with CBS to add broadband video content from its Internet properties to the service. Other content deals are also expected to follow.