I have four Series1 TiVos, one was purchased early 2000, the second one a few years later, followed by another two. Two are production (they are two important to alter, because they have a job to do!), and two are research and developement.
if you’ve never seen what a TiVo looks like, it’s a metal silver/gold box, these are pictures of my four, not very interesting, just boxes
On the 4th Feb 2011, this was the first message we received from the TiVo Team.
From: The TiVo Team
Date: Fri 4th Feb 2011
Expire: Fri 18th Feb 2011
If you are on the cable footprint, you can get Virgin Media’s top TV package and a brand new TiVo box at a very special price. Find out about more and be one of the first to get this offer at virginmedia.com/tivoupgrade.
It would seem that TiVo had struck a deal with Virgin Media to offer new TiVo boxes at very special prices to existing TiVo customers, that’s okay if you live in a cable footprint area, but of no value if you don’t live in a cable footprint area.
On Valentine’s Day we had another special message from TiVo HQ.
Subject: Free Service Continues until 1 June 2011
From: The TiVo Team
Date: Mon 14th Feb 2011
Expire: Mon 28th Feb 2011
On 1 June 2011, TiVo will be discontinuing the service for Series1 TiVo Recorders in the UK. Your current service will continue to be provided until that time at no charge. For further information, go to tivo.com/UKSeries1.
So that’s it, TiVo US have dumped us, and from the 1st June 2011, these silver/gold boxes will become door steps after 11 years of use, and still the BEST ever PVR on the market.
The reason for this blog, so UK Series 1 TiVo users can continue to receive service after 1 June 2011, and continue using our beloved TiVos, a group of us from the TiVo Community have banded together to try and replace the service. We our gathering at TiVoland.com.
We will need resources, TiVo testers, and if you have a TiVo which you can loan or donate to the effort, it will be returned once the new service is up and running. Contact me or head over to the forums and register.
If you are also interested in receving details of the new service in the future, also contact me.