In what has to be termed a “no-brainer” move, TiVo has decided to align itself with a search engine. It’s just not sure which one yet.
The timing couldn’t be better. Video search has become the latest chum in the search waters, sending the industry into yet another high-stakes frenzy. Google and Yahoo! have been circling each other for the past few months, building competing video search offerings.
TiVo has officially opened talks with both companies, claiming a desire to build a solution that finally bridges the gap between television and the internet. The possibilities are endless – imagine conducting a media search (video, audio, image… pick your poison) and immediately transmitting it over to your set-top box for viewing.
This, finally, is the stuff of the Jetsons. Can the flying car be far behind?
TiVo would not only give the engines an idea platform for media delivery, it also gives them a way to begin cataloging TV content. The hackles of every TV executive must be rising, as they call their friends at the MPAA and RIAA to kvetch and wring hands.
Back to the deal: While the suitor hasn’t been decided on yet, company spokespeople claim that the partnership will likely be exclusive, and that in addition to a potential equity investment, TiVo might even be acquired outright, if the price is right.
And in a market where neither Google or Yahoo! is willing to concede even the slightest competitive edge, we think they’ll end up getting their price.
