For the holidays this year, in lieu of cash bonuses, we bought most everyone at WebLinc Tivo DVRs with lifetime subscriptions. [For those employees without TV or cable, we got iPods, but that's besides the point.]
The TiVos were purchased through the company with the billing address of the office. The subscriptions were purchased on a different credit card with a different billing address. Now 6 months later, we are now receiving TV Guide subscriptions to the office, one for each TiVo console purchased direct from TiVo.
I can understand the idea that TiVo owners are more likely to care about television that your average Joe, but TiVo really does eliminate the need for TV Guide. I can’t believe that someone thought that this would be a good marketing strategy.
0 responses so far ↓
1 Ed // Jul 8, 2003 at 6:55 pm
I would never have thought about getting TV guide until Tivo. Since I don’t have to watch commercials I never know what’s on. I watched the Wilco movie last night only because I saw a TV guide in a hotel room last week. Thank you TV guide.
However culturally i’m not ready to sink into the lazyboy each week with my TV guide book and my highlighter. My self respect is forcing me to wait until TV Guide owns the TiVo showcase section.
I like your blog but miss the remaindered links and constant discussion of your friends anil and meg and evan et al, please bring these back.
2 JHill // Jul 9, 2003 at 1:21 am
All of our copies have stayed at the office, but I haven’t been reading them.
When I posted this, I had forgotten that Tivo and Gemstar, the parent company of TV Guide, were locked in a patent suit over the Electronic Programming Guide. It’s since been settled, so your self respect may win out.
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-1014674.html?tag=fd_top
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