TiVo Delivers Latest Release Of TiVo 2000

TiVo's Service Enhancements Enrich Viewer Experience, Mean No Hidden Phone Charges For TiVo Customers

7-Apr-00

TiVo, Inc., (NASDAQ: TIVO) the creator of personal television, announced its latest service update. In addition to delivering enhancements that will make it even easier to find television programs TiVo customers love to watch, it will improve delivery efficiencies, expanding TiVo's Service capabilities to support the company's growing customer base. New features include local phone access, demonstration capabilities at retail, ""TiVomatic""ô interactive previews, bookmarks in paused programming and automatic detection of changing channel line-ups. The upgraded features will be provided to customers automatically and free of charge as part of their existing subscription to the TiVo PersonalTVô Service. In an effort to improve consumer ease-of-use and increase efficiency in delivering its service, TiVo will be providing local dial-in numbers for its subscribers. This change will enable the company to scale its service and reduce costly toll-free costs, without burdening customers with long distance phone charges. ""This is good news for current and future TiVo customers. As we expand our service it becomes richer and more reliable. TiVo customers do not have to incur hidden phone charges from long distance calls to our service. They will always have a local or toll free number to use as part of their basic TiVo subscription,"" said Mike Ramsay, TiVo's President and CEO. ""Our ability to scale to meet the growing demand for our service means consumers will always get the best value with the TiVo Personal TV Service.""""TiVo continues to provide value for customers with great new service capabilities that make it easier than ever to find and record programs for a better TV experience,"" continued Ramsay. ""Adding to our commitment to provide better entertainment we are working to make the process for receiving the TiVo service simple, transparent and cost effective for every TiVo customer. The ability to grow our service efficiently is a real competitive advantage for us as the category of personal television grows."" Also, included in the latest release of TiVo's 2000 update is a new demonstration capability for retail outlets, which enhances the point-of-sale experience for potential TiVo customers. This addition to the service is critical as TiVo's consumer electronics partners prepare to launch multiple products into the retail channel in the coming months.New Service CapabilitiesTiVo has developed the new capabilities based on the issues and features most important to customers and its growing business including: TiVomatic Interactive PreviewsTiVomatic simplifies recording even more. TiVo viewers will see the TiVomatic icon pop up in the corner of their TV screen when they are watching a TiVomatic preview. By simply pressing ""Select"" on the TiVo remote, viewers are given the opportunity to schedule the recording when it airs. Previously announced as Ipreview, this feature allows consumers to record shows on impulse from the previews for those shows. Partners NBC, Showtime and Encore will be the first to implement this interactive convenience for consumers. Automatic Pause This feature bookmarks a viewers' place when watching a recorded TV program. When the viewer exits a show, TiVo automatically bookmarks the spot so viewers can pick up where they left off when they resume watching the program at a later time. Automatic Detection Of Channel Lineup ChangesTiVo viewers no longer need to go through a lengthy ""Guided Set-Up"" to correct channel-lineup changes that occur when broadcasters decide to switch channel numbers or content. TiVo automatically detects these changes, notifies the viewer of the change via a service message, and updates the ""To Do List"" if the new channel lineup affects a planned recording.Local Telephone Access (Point-Of-Presence)This feature was added to further increase reliability and drive efficiency in the TiVo service as the volume of TiVo subscribers grows. Viewers are asked to enter an area code that helps TiVo determine the best local access number for the daily telephone connection to the TiVo service. A national toll-free number is still available when local numbers aren't accessible in their area.Built-In TiVo DemonstrationTiVo's new ""Demo Mode"" will provide retailers with an additional tool for in-store demos with or without phone connections, and help generate more sales and better product education at the point of sale. The demo also helps prospective customers become better informed about the TiVo service.Pricing And Availability TiVo offers customers a choice in service options. A lifetime subscription to the TiVo service with no monthly fees can be purchased with a single payment of $199. For customers who want to keep their up front costs to a minimum, Personal TV is available as a monthly subscription to the TiVo service for $9.95. TiVo offers a flexible personal television service with the choice to pay as you go or no monthly fees. The TiVo Service is currently available on stand-alone personal video recorders from Philips for $399 and can be purchased at retail outlets nationwide including, Best Buy, Circuit City and Sears or online at Amazon.com, ROXY.com or 800.com.About TiVo TiVo is the creator of the TiVo Personal TV Service, which lets consumers take control of their television viewing by allowing them to watch what they want, when they want it. As part of TiVo's easy-to-use service and unique technology, viewers can time-shift their favorite television shows and create a customized television line-up for viewing at anytime. With TiVo's Thumbs Upô Thumbs Downô buttons, viewers can teach TiVo what shows they like and dislike. Using these preferences, TiVo automatically records programs the viewer may want to see. TiVo also enables consumers to pause, rewind, instantly replay and playback in slow motion any live television broadcast. In addition, TiVo has developed in the United States a technology that serves as a platform for new and interactive entertainment content and services. To ensure viewer privacy, TiVo has established strict policies to help protect the personal information of consumers, while providing a valuable personalized TV experience. TiVo-enabled stand-alone personal video recorders are widely available for purchase in the US. Founded in August 1997 and headquartered in San Jose, California, TiVo is a creator of personal television. TiVo can be reached on the World Wide Web at www.tivo.com.

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