February 24th 2005

TiVo Shares Rise On The Back Of Apple Takeover Rumour

Apple Mac Mini - will it soon be running TiVo software?

Why not discuss TiVo Shares Rise On The Back Of Apple Takeover Rumour in the DVD Recorder World Forums?

Other TiVo news stories

TiVo Announces First Standalone Dual Tuner Box >> Get TiVo For Just $99 >> Comcast and TiVo Get Into Bed Together >>

UK visitors click here to check prices

TiVo shares have risen sharply on the back of rumours that Apple is targeting the struggling PVR company for a takeover.

Although it should be noted that a lot of companies are noted as potentially being interetsed in TiVo, it is Apple who is generating the most excitement and, therefore, share price increase.

On the face of it there would seem to be a lot of mutual benefit from such a takeover. TiVo have received acclaim for their product, but criticism for their (relative) failure to convert that into subscribers. Apple, on the other hand, can do no wrong with their sales figures, but seem to be moving slowly into the digital home market with the launch of the Mac Mini.

Technically, there is synergy. TiVo is built on a Linux platform, whereas Apple's OSX is based on a variety of the NetBSD operating system. There are theoretically very few hurdles to porting the TiVo software over to the Mac.

Both companies engender an almost religous zeal for their products with a fanatical fan base. 'Once bitten forever smitten' seems to be the case.

Whether or not TiVo and Apple are smitten with each other remains to be seen with the rumours remaining uncommented on by both parties. Watch this space.