TiVo, YouTube to Bring Online Videos to TVs

Well, didn't we say that now that YouTube has released a new set of APIs we would be seeing partner announcements in the near future? Honestly, this was alluded to, though not detailed, in YouTube's press release.

What TiVo announced in a separate press release is access to YouTube videos directly from a TV through a TiVo DVR.

The service will be launched at the vaguely worded "later this year" to TiVo Series3 DVRs.

In the press release, TiVo described the service as follows:

Upon launch of the TiVo-YouTube service, TiVo users will be able to search, browse and watch these videos directly on their television sets through their broadband connected TiVo DVRs. The combination of having the YouTube experience with the convenience and familiarity of TiVo's intuitive user interface will provide TiVo subscribers with the ability to discover and enjoy the most shared and most discussed web videos in the world on their televisions. Importantly, users will be able to log into their YouTube accounts directly from their TiVo boxes and access their favorite YouTube channels and playlists.

"We're delighted to be working with the world's leading online video community so that TiVo subscribers can access YouTube's popular content on the TV via the TiVo DVR," said Tara Maitra, Vice President and GM of Content Services at TiVo Inc. "Being able to make available YouTube videos to the TiVo subscriber base using one device, one remote and one user interface is another major step in our commitment to combine all of your television and web video viewing options in one easy to use service."

So, how long before other DVRs get this? Since DirecTV dropped the DirecTiVo I've had to start using their DVR, and while it's fine, it obviously doesn't benefit from this announcement. Nor, of course, will other DVRs such as Dish Networks'. And Comcast customers will be wondering if their TiVo-developed (though still to roll out nationwide) DVRs will get this, too (probably not, based on experience with the DirecTiVo and feature upgrades for their "regular" units).

Now that we've seen the first announcement, next please.