Humax, Tivo and the UK

Rumours that Humax were investigating launching a Tivo-based PVR in the UK have been circulating for some time, probably due to this news from the USA

Humax, an international leader of digital satellite set-top box manufacturing, disclosed details of its plan to sell DVRs and DVD recordable products powered by TiVo. Humax has licensed TiVo-technology that will be incorporated into a full line of digital video recorders and DVD recordable products. In the start of the second quarter of 2004, Humax will introduce two standalone TiVo Series 2 DVRs consisting of an entry-level 80-hour model and a step-up 250-hour model.

Later in the third quarter, Humax plans to deliver two combination DVD recordable models integrated with TiVo's best-of-breed service and robust features including home networking capability, progressive scan output and DV input.

From emedialive.

When Humax UK were contacted about the possibility, they replied with

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your kind interest in Humax products. We are aware that there are 18000 subscribers in UK using Tivo olution.

Kindly note that we are currently in discussion with Tivo about entering the UK market.

We have yet to decide whether the product should have DVD-recordable, or Freeview Terrestrial tuner, or just simple HDD-recording function.

Are you a subscriber of Sky or NTL (or other cable) or do you watch Freeview, or are you just interested in a new Tivo-powered HDD-recordable machine? Do you think the current Tivo subscribers will upgrade their machine if new product appears?

Your feedback is most welcome.

It all sounded so good that Digital Spy Forums even started a poll on what sort of features this possible product should have. A lot of people (myself included) got excited at the prospect of a twin Freeview PVR with Tivo software.

Unfortunatlely, it all seems to have been a mix up. In a statement from Dale Heathcote, Humax UK's commercial director, the company said that it "wishes to make it very clear that it does not have a relationship with TiVo in the UK. Humax has licensed TiVo and will launch TiVo products in the USA; however, the company has no current plans to introduce a TiVo product in the UK in any format at this time.”

Sad news for Tivo fans, indeed.