# of dish DVRs isn't all that big, really. So no, I don't think things would be much different. I think if TiVo ever gets the cash from the lawsuit, it's nice for TiVo but doesn't really change the impact on the business model.

Comcast is in deals with TiVo (they aren't producing good TiVo on Comcast boxes yet, but still), but I believe this isn't good for TiVo. Comcast sits back, gives its DVR away, charges a lower monthly fee than TiVo and sits back and waits until it can acquire TiVo on the cheap.

Competing with “free” is a dopey business to be in. Being in the licensing/IP business is a fine business for it to be in, but TiVo's desire to be in the hardware and service business is a bad business to be in.

I usually enjoy BuddyTV reviews, especially their regular Supernatural columnist. In three seasons I have almost never disagreed with his assessments.

DISH wouldn't have had to license the software like DTV, but if DISH had licensed the patents in the early 2000's, I believe DTV would have continued their work with TiVo to this day. Instead, with DISH developing DVRs in complete disregard of patents, DTV, under new ownership felt comfortable enough to drop TiVo.

And all those generic DVR manufacturers/providers? Why bother licensing IP when DISH is getting away with it.

So in hindsight, with DISH stealing what they did, yes, TiVo's business model didn't play out and all the TiVo naysayers can have a field day with the way things have turned out.

But if DISH had licensed the IP and/or the Courts hadn't allowed DISH years to play this out, years ago TiVo would have been able to:

a) generate revenue from every DVR out there
b) develop more partnerships like the one with DTV where TiVo-lite service was offered
c) use the cash from a and b to successfully market the full-service standalone box.

See how long your business stays around when a big company steals what you offer, sells it for less and forces you to spend millions over 4 years trying to set things right.

Only after DISH is forced to pay hundreds of millions to TiVo and TiVo can use their Court-tested IP to bring others to the table, will we then see what TiVo's business model is worth.

I rarely “mostly” agree with anyone (ask Bill!), I'm probably more in-line in my viewing habits with Tim Goodman's picks than Mo Ryan's, but I like seeing the diversity of opinion and especially for the purposes of this blog it is useful to soak in all the diverse opinions.

Oh, and I had TiVo, and the freaking thing never worked properly. It never automatically adjusted when shows started late or ran late. My RCN DVR does.

By the way, I have a TiVo and a cable company DVR. Despite what the TiVo cult says, the cable company DVR is better (at least my Scientific Atlanta is better than my TiVo Series 2 machine, which represents most of the TiVo boxes in service). Bottom line, while watching a recorded show off the TiVo hard drive, you can't do anything else, like see what else is on or program the damn thing – -even a $40 VCR can do that!).

Any business model is tough when patented technology is stolen and as a result a company is forced to make cut-rate deals until the courts finally get around to enforcing the patent.

But DISH will be forced to pay hundreds of millions to TiVo soon and those other 4 to 6 DVRs that Bill mentions will soon be paying some sort of licensing fee to TiVo. How's that for a business model? Ask Qualcomm how it's working for them.

# of dish DVRs isn't all that big, really. So no, I don't think things would be much different. I think if TiVo ever gets the cash from the lawsuit, it's nice for TiVo but doesn't really change the impact on the business model.

Comcast is in deals with TiVo (they aren't producing good TiVo on Comcast boxes yet, but still), but I believe this isn't good for TiVo. Comcast sits back, gives its DVR away, charges a lower monthly fee than TiVo and sits back and waits until it can acquire TiVo on the cheap.

Competing with “free” is a dopey business to be in. Being in the licensing/IP business is a fine business for it to be in, but TiVo's desire to be in the hardware and service business is a bad business to be in.

I usually enjoy BuddyTV reviews, especially their regular Supernatural columnist. In three seasons I have almost never disagreed with his assessments.

BTW, if you have the data, please update this chart:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2007/09/11/dvr-installed-base-august-2007/619

Oh, and the idea that 1 in 5 DVRs in the US is a TiVo is a bit outdated. It’s at least 1 in 6 and perhaps closer to 1 in 7.

But boy, do they have great PR.