TiVo soon to be released in Canada

The infamous TiVo recording device, made popular or at least more well known to Canadians from being in the TV series Sex and the City, will soon hit the Canadian market. Coming to Canada this December, just in time for your holiday shopping or wish list.

ALVISO, Calif.,- TiVo Inc. has indicated that this all American TV recording device will soon hit the Canadian marketplace. This December we Canadians could soon be enjoying the popular TV recording device that not only records all TV programs, but does so across all carriers regardless of who they are. Gotta love this as most carrier PVR (Personal Video Recorder) devices can only be used with that particular carrier. Smart invention for TiVo and excellent for Canadians. For those of you who don't know TiVo or never watched Sex and the City, this TV recording device can record one program while you watch another. It will record 80 hours of TV and do it all commercial free. It is loaded with special features, but the neat thing here is

The device can also be hooked up to a broadband connection, which allows the viewer to remotely program it to record using a computer. The TiVo service also allows users to transfer their recordings onto a laptop, iPod or PlayStation Portable.

This device has some nice advantages over the cable companies PVR's, so it may be time to switch. The cost of this device will be around $199 which drastically competes with Roger's and Bell's PVR versions which run around $300 each. The catch here is that you will need to subscribe to the TiVo service which will run you $12.95 a month. Of course this will not be available in Quebec (why I am not sure) but will be sold through all other provinces at Best Buy, Future Shop, The Brick and London Drug stores. But beware, subscribers to HD programming will not be able to record HD TV as this device for release in Canada will not do that (??). Again not sure why as there are HD TiVo devices available in the USA. At least this device is now coming to Canada and could soon be just as popular here as it is in the USA. The thing I like is that it is not carrier specific, which is probably a thorn in Bell and Roger's sides as they like to remain in control. Could this also be why the release does not include HD recording? Hmmmm... But this is a step in the right direction for offering Canadians an alternative to carrier specific PVR's. Not sure how many will dig the subscription service though, even with discounts for 1, 2, & 3 year subscriptions. Time will tell. Other links: Newswire.ca TiVo.com Canada promotion A guide to the complete Canadian Tivo Features can be found here (opens in PDF) You may also try to win your very own TiVo HD here Good luck!