The TiVo Streaming Stick is Coming in 2020

The TiVo Streaming Stick is coming in 2020 and will be similar to the Roku sticks and the Amazon Fire TV sticks. And just like the Roku sticks and Amazon Fire TV sticks, the primary purpose of the TiVo Streaming Stick will be to stream TV shows and movies from streaming providers like Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

It really isn’t surprising that TiVo would make a move into making streaming sticks. Streaming sticks are very popular with consumers because they are relatively inexpensive and allow streaming of TV shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime.

And as a bonus, some streaming services have “cloud” DVRs, so you don’t need to buy a physical DVR like a TiVo. “Cloud” DVRs are available with Live TV streaming services like Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and fubo TV.

Read more about how to Stream Live TV.

TiVo is Planning a Streaming Stick

Next year, TiVo plans to release a new streaming stick based on the Android TV platform. TiVo’s target price for the new TiVo streaming stick is around $50. While the TiVo streaming stick isn’t as cheap as other streaming sticks, it is in the ballpark.

With the TiVo Streaming Stick, TiVo will be competing directly with Roku and Amazon. Roku makes a popular line of Roku Players, Roku Sticks, and Roku TVs. Amazon has the Fire TV platform that supports Fire TV Sticks, Fire TV Cube, and the Fire TV Edition (TV).

Finding DVRs to record shows isn’t as hard as it used to be. There have been strong rivals like the Tablo DVR. And recent new devices from AirTV & DVR (Sling) and Amazon Fire TV Recast DVR.

Expect at some point to see that the TiVo Streaming Stick will also be able to integrate with TiVo DVRs.

The Cost of TiVo

Let’s look at the reason TiVo is making a streaming stick. Because of the cost of TiVo.

It’s no secret that the cost of TiVo can be pretty expensive. Especially if you want to set-up multiple rooms with a DVR.

Consumers have always been price sensitive to the cost of a TiVo DVR.

A TiVo DVR alone costs about $200. Then you will also need to pay for TiVo service. The TiVo service is a monthly, annual, or a one-time lifetime charge for a online TV guide and is required for the TiVo DVR to work.

For the TiVo OTA DVR that is designed to be low cost for Cord Cutters, the monthly service starts at $6.99 per month, $69.99 per year, or you can buy a lifetime “All In Service Plan” for $249.99.

And then, if you want to watch a recorded show from your DVR in another room, be ready to shell out another $180 for a TiVo Mini.

While most agree that TiVo is a very nice premium DVR, the start-up cost of a TiVo system can make you think twice and consider other optons.

TiVo+

Along with the TiVo Streaming Stick, TiVo is releasing a new service called TiVo+.

TiVo+ will be a new service designed to curate and aggregate content from different streaming services – and potentially from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

The TiVo+ service is expected to be free, at least initially.

It’s almost certain though that the TiVo+ technology is being created for use in the new TiVo streaming sticks.

TiVo Ads Are Coming (…oh my!)

And in more TiVo news… TiVo Ads are coming!

Yep, TiVo is going to be showing Ads just before the start of a recorded DVR show.

There is no doubt that TiVo users are going to be upset about the pre-show Ads. Being able to skip the Ads is one of the best and most important features of a DVR. And skipping ads is why so many TiVo customers bought a TiVo over another DVR brand.

TiVo Experience 4 (Hydra) – Ads

TiVo has confirmed that all TiVo Experience 4 (Hydra) DVRs will now get Ads prior to watching a recorded show on the DVR. TiVo Ads will include customers that have paid for a DVR lifetime subscription plans.

So if you have a TiVo running the Hydra software version, expect to see Ads just before the show starts.

TiVo Experience 3 (Roamio) – No Ads, Yet

While other TiVo models such as the TiVo Experience 3 (Roamio) that have not been upgraded to Hydra may not get pre-show commercials yet, TiVo has not been ruled it out.

Press the Skip Button

The good news is that you will be able to skip those pre-show Ads by using the current skip-mode technology.

TiVo customers will still be upset, regardless of being able to skip the TiVo pre-show Ads.