TVNZ to buy TiVo share, claims report

An Australian news website is reporting TVNZ has shelled out A$15 million (NZ$19.3 million) for a third share of digital video recording company TiVo in Australia and New Zealand.

TiVo is operated by Hybrid Television Services in the ANZ region, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Seven Network.

The Crikey website in Australia says TVNZ is believed to have spent A$15 million "in cash and airtime" to buy a third of the company from Seven.

"Seven owns the remaining two thirds and is looking to offload another one third share if a suitable investor can be found," Crikey reports. "Why not Prime Media, its non-Queensland regional affiliate, even though it's struggling? New Zealand industry sources wonder how state-owned TVNZ can justify the TiVo investment at a time of falling revenues and staff layoffs."

TVNZ is not denying the report.

A spokeswoman says the company does not comment on speculation about its commercial activities. She says TVNZ has a good working relationship with Seven, "one of many with international broadcasters".

A buy would provide TVNZ with another digital recording platform independent of Sky and the Freeview service and also an electronic programming guide. TiVo ANZ last year opened the device to game and application developers.

In May 2007, when Seven secured the licence, reports said the TiVo platform would be available for use by other broadcasters and broadband content owners to create an interactive, free to air digital terrestrial telivision offering. The reports said the TiVo service would be available across Australia and include features like SeasonPass recordings and WishList searches and allow users to access broadband content on their TVs.

According to Wikipedia, TiVo service is available in New Zealand now through modified digital video recorders.